Bred and raced by the Elite Racing Club and trained by Sir Mark Prescott, Marsha made the first nine starts of her career at eight different venues across England and Ireland, winning listed events at Ayr and York in the summer of 2016 before venturing beyond the borders of the United Kingdom for the first time. She made the final two starts of her 3-year-old season at Chantilly, finishing runner-up in the G3 Prix du Petit Couvert before causing a 23-1 boilover in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye.

Never out of the top three in her first six appearances as a 4-year-old in 2017, Marsha won the G3 Palace House S. on seasonal debut ahead of a third-place effort to Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) when favoured in the G1 King's Stand S. at the Royal meeting. Placed in the G2 Sapphire S. at the Curragh and in the G2 Qatar S. at Goodwood, she reversed form with Lady Aurelia in the G1 Nunthorpe S. prior to a runner-up effort to Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the Abbaye. She was unplaced in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and retired with a record of 10-5-2-2 for earnings of $496,881.

Marsha proved the star turn at the 2017 Tattersalls December Mare Sale, hammering to M.V. Magnier for 6 million guineas (nearly $8.5 million), a record price for a horse sold at auction in Europe. Her first foal, the 3-year-old filly Tender Kiss (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was well-beaten on Leopardstown debut this past April and her two most recent foals are by Frankel (GB)–a yearling filly and a colt foal.

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“The Hall of Fame is a great initiative that promotes the best in our sport and stimulates further interest in the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket,” Prescott said. “I'm surprised and honoured to be invited to join such a tip-top Hall of Fame judging panel, and to be tasked with making such important decisions.”

Inductions are decided upon by a panel of horseracing experts. This year's class will be announced ahead of the QIPCO Guineas Festival, while the ceremony will take place during that event in May. The National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket will also unveil an updated Hall of Fame exhibition at that time.

Click here for more information.

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Ironically, 2022 was by one measure his least successful season for the last 12 years, as his final tally was 'only' 103 winners. But it was of course his most significantly prestigious year, with his gallant grey partner providing him with three Group 1 victories, in France and Britain, to add to the trio of German Group 1 titles collected the previous year, culminating in one of the most emotional Arc victories in living memory. 

“Going to Longchamp on that day, I'm realistic enough, I know I'm not really going to ride a favourite or a second favourite probably in the Arc again in my career,” he reflects. “So I was very relaxed about it and I just wanted to enjoy the day, enjoy the moment. And I'd gone through everything with a fine-tooth comb, and I just wanted to leave no stone unturned. Because you only get one shot at these sort of things. So it was so nice when everything worked out exactly how we hoped and how we planned, really.”

Alpinista is not, of course, the only good horse with whom Morris has been associated in a riding career which is heading towards the 20-year mark. Gilt Edge Girl (GB) (Monsieur Bond {Ire}) was his first Group 1 winner, at the same track, for Clive Cox in the Prix de l'Abbaye back in 2010. Six years later he was back at 'lucky Longchamp' to claim the same race aboard the Prescott-trained Marsha (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). That lightning-fast filly would go on to win another two group races the following year, including the G1 Nunthorpe S., but even her achievements must pale slightly when set against the record of Alpinista, on whose dam Alwilda (GB) (Hernando {Fr}) Morris won three races, and whose grand-dam Albanova (GB) (Alzao) was another to heap Group 1 successes on Prescott's Heath House Stables.

Morris says, “I've ridden lots of the dams of the fillies we get from Lanwades and Miss Rausing. And, for me, it was hugely rewarding to be able to almost repay the faith that Sir Mark and Miss Rausing had put into me by giving me the job with Sir Mark at a very young age. I think it was only my second year out of my claim and I had ridden a Group 1 winner but I hadn't had many opportunities in big races. Sir Mark gave me opportunities for big owner-breeders at a young stage of my career. And to be able to repay him and Miss Rausing was something special to me.”

An Arc victory would be a highlight on any jockey's CV, but one senses that Morris takes pride in every winner. Last week he reached another important milestone in his career when riding his 2,000th winner in Britain, a feat which has only been achieved by five other jockeys currently riding in the country: Frankie Dettori, Joe Fanning, Paul Hanagan, Ryan Moore and Jamie Spencer.

“Last year was a year I'll never forget,” he says. “And to ride 2,000 winners has been on my radar for probably a couple of years now. There are five or six other jockeys who are still riding who have done it and I think just about every one of them has been a champion jockey. So it's something I'm immensely proud of, and it just spurs me on to keep working harder to ride more winners, and to try and ride good winners as well.”

It is hard to imagine how Morris would find the time to work harder than he does already. While many of his contemporaries in the weighing-room are enjoying less taxing winter-riding gigs in warmer climes, he is driving through the freezing fog currently engulfing Britain to take full books of rides on the all-weather tracks. As we speak, he is about to head to Southwell's evening meeting to ride six horses for six different trainers. It is the kind of punishing schedule a jockey on the way up must adhere to if the rides are available, but the tall, lean Morris, now 34, has long since proved his worth. His right foot does not look like it will be easing off the accelerator any time soon, however. 

“Weight-wise, I'm quite lucky in that I naturally sit around 8st 4, so generally I don't have to sweat or lose too much weight, but being busy all the time just means I never really get the chance to put any weight on, so that suits me well,” he says. “And since I first started out, from my first, probably even before my first ride, I always had a fear of failure. So I've never given myself a chance to fail, really.

“I remember the days when I was 12 or 13, I used to ride out every day before school for Michael Bell, and even when we had the six-week summer holidays, I told my parents I wouldn't be allowed a day off. Because it was more important that I was in there riding out every day, rather than going on a family holiday.”

Plenty of parents would be delighted to see a similar work ethic in their teenage children, and Morris's dedicated approach is clearly one which sits well with his long-term employer, who expects loyalty from those connected to his stable, but gives the same in return.

“Sir Mark has had three jockeys in 53 years of training,” notes Morris, who followed George Duffield and Seb Sanders in the role. “He expects you to be extremely professional, to work hard, and he's the same. So, like I say, I can't thank Sir Mark enough for what he's done for my career, and I'd like to think riding for him, since I joined him, I've stepped up my game, because his traits have rubbed off on me. We've got some really nice yearlings this year from good owner-breeders again, so you just hope that there's going to be another good one along soon.”

In the meantime, Morris is using what little spare time he has to nurture his own breeding ambitions. He spent the December Mares' Sale pounding the yards at Tattersalls in search of a mare with the help of Joseph Burke.

“After Alpinista won the Arc, I said I'd treat myself to a relatively nice broodmare,” he explains. “We saw some [at Tattersalls], and we underbid a few but didn't have much luck. So Joe went off to Arqana and we got a mare called Clara Luna.”

Clara Luna (Ire), a daughter of Muhtathir (GB) and half-sister to the G2 Prix Muguet winner Don Bosco (Fr) (Barathea {Ire}), has already produced the GIII Pin Oak Valley View S. winner Colonia (Fr) (Champs Elysees {GB}). The name of another Arc winner, Enable (GB), appears under her third dam, Fleet Girl (Ire), who was an early acquisition for Prince Khalid Abdullah when he bought Ferrans Stud in 1982. And a touch of loyalty to Lanwades is exhibited by the fact that Clara Luna was bought in foal to Sea The Moon (Ger).

“I've been interested in bloodstock and racing since I was six years old and I've been wanting to get a mare, but when the time was right. So she stays at home for most of the year and then will go off to foal. It's hugely exciting on a different spectrum, really,” says Morris.

“I hadn't met Joe before, but he'd come highly recommended and I spent a week walking around the mares with him before I went racing every day. I couldn't believe how much I learnt in a week walking around with him, because I might know a bit about form, but looking at mares I was a little bit lost and Joe taught me plenty in that week. I don't really have many hobbies outside racing, so it's my hobby, not that it's really outside of racing, but it feels that way.”

He adds, “Once she foals to Sea The Moon, she'll return to Study Of Man, who is obviously a son of Deep Impact, and from what Saxon Warrior has done, we very much hope that he'll follow that path. I studied the Return of Mares, and Miss Rausing's sent some good mares to him, so hopefully he can reward her and reward everyone that supports him.”

Morris may yet have the pleasure of riding the offspring of Study Of Man and Alpinista, with Rausing having stated that the mare would visit the young stallion during her second season after a potential first mating with Dubawi (Ire).

Luke Morris, age seven, with Flemensfirth

Along with a fledgling equine breeding project, Morris has his own young family to keep him busy, and his 13-month-old son Henry has already taken to the saddle in the hunting field over Christmas. The jockey's own passion for horses was sparked when he moved to Newmarket at the age of six and walked to school alongside the town's horse walks as members of the racing community went about their daily work. Before long, he was one of them.

“My stepdad worked for John Gosden and he used to look after Flemensfirth and ride him every day. So every day of the school holidays, I used to go and watch Flemensfirth swim, and give him a pat, and it almost felt like I was part of the team then. So that was probably where I really got hooked,” he recalls.

“I've always had a passion for horse racing. If wasn't a jockey, I'd be a massive horse racing fan because I love horses, and I just feel lucky that I've found something to do as a career that is very much like a hobby to me.”

That old saying may go, 'do something that you love and you'll never work a day in your life,' but don't be fooled. It is hard work that got Luke Morris to where he is today, and hard work will doubtless keep him at the top of his profession for years to come. That he derives so much pleasure from that position is a much-deserved benefit. 

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Though he currently sits on 94 winners for the year, Morris has brought up better than 100 each year since 2011.

Eight of Morris's nine career Group 1 winners has come for Alpinista's trainer Sir Mark Prescott, who told Sporting Life: “Its a great tribute to his professionalism, reliability and work ethic. The eight Group 1 winners he has ridden for me show how good he is on the big day as well. However, both he and I have somewhere to go before we reach the 700-plus winners George Duffield rode for me!”

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The 5-year-old, bred and owned by Kirsten Rausing and trained by Sir Mark Prescott, recorded her six top-level wins in consecutive starts in Germany, England and France in the last two seasons, taking her unbeaten stretch to eight races in 16 months. In total, she ran 15 times for 10 wins and two runner-up finishes, earning prize-money in excess of £3.3 million.

Following her emotional success at ParisLongchamp in early October, Alpinista had remained in training at Prescott's Heath House Stables in Newmarket with a possible swansong in Tokyo on the cards, but a decision was taken to retire her on Thursday morning after she sustained a minor injury.

Rausing, who was honoured with the Cartier/Daily Telepgraph Award of Merit at the Cartier Awards in London on Wednesday evening, said of her homebred, “She's exceptional. She is extra special to me and to anyone who has ever been around her. I feel guilty for wrenching her away from [rider/groom] Annabel Willis but, as I keep saying to Annabel, she is only going to be three miles up the road so she can come to see her any time.

“It will be great to have her home. She and her contemporary Albaflora (GB), who was twice Group 1-placed, will have pride of place here at Lanwades. They are two beauty queens and we will parade them at the stallion show during the December Sales.

“People ask me if she was my horse of a lifetime, and in many ways yes she is, but so was her grandaunt Alborada (GB), and so was Petoski (GB) before her. So, maybe every 25 or 30 years they come along, if you're lucky.”

Sir Mark Prescott, who also trained Alpinista's dam Alwilda (GB) (Hernando {Fr}) and treble Group 1-winning granddam Albanova (GB) (Alzao), said, “She had a bit of heat in her leg last night when I was at the Cartier Awards dinner. William [Butler, assistant trainer] looked round and thought there was heat in the leg. When I looked at her first thing this morning, I wasn't happy, so that's it–she retires.

“She has been marvellous and hasn't been beaten for two years, she won six Group 1s in three different countries. She has been fantastic. She will join a wonderful broodmare band at Miss Rausing's.”

On the scuppered plans for the Japan Cup, he added, “The other terrible thing is the Japanese have bent over backwards to help us and I feel very guilty. They have done absolutely everything they could to make things easy for us. I felt as guilty letting them know as I did poor Miss Rausing.

“She took it well. She never flinches. But when you are 5-2 to win six million [dollars], whoever you are, it is a blow. It would have been a big thrill to win. I think, for Miss Rausing, almost there is a tinge of relief, because the filly has done so well and it would have been so awful if something had gone wrong out there. It is never easy travelling that far and the thought of looking at her every morning over your garden fence is not a bad thought. If it is the highest-rated filly in the world outside your back door, it must give you tremendous satisfaction.

“So, it is a moderate morning. I won't find one as good as her–it has taken me 53 years to find this one.”

Alpinista is a fourth-generation descendant of the noted Lanwades matriarch Alruccaba (Ire) (Crystal Palace {Fr}), who was bought as a 3-year-old from her breeder the Aga Khan by Kirsten Rausing and Sonia Rogers. The identity of the stallion for her first mating next year has not yet been confirmed, though  Rausing had previously hinted that she may visit the champion sire-elect, Dubawi (Ire), whose fee was announced yesterday as £350,000.

Reflecting on her Cartier Award of Merit, which is awarded annually to the person deemed to have “done the most for European racing and/or breeding either over their lifetime or within the past 12 months”, Rausing added, “I was totally taken aback by the whole thing. I really would like to see the video again because you're so overwhelmed you can't really take it all in.

“It has been an absolutely extraordinary year. It's all come together but as far as I'm concerned it is all down to my marvellous home team at the three studs–Lanwades, St Simon and Staffordstown–and their combined many hundreds of years of horsemanship. A lot of my people have been with me for 25 years or more, so I am very fortunate, and of course we have been joined by young Mr. Oxx as well.”

This year, Lanwades Stud has been represented by four Group 1-winning graduates, Alpinista being joined by the St Leger winner Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the Australian-trained duo of Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) and Durston (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}).

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Taking the eye throughout as she made easy work of the swiftly-deteriorating conditions under Luke Morris, who had been in action on the all-weather at Wolverhampton the night before, the 10-3 favourite waited with all the learned patience of such a beautifully-nurtured 5-year-old for the quartet in front to feel the pinch. As that inevitably happened, there followed a few glorious moments as she came to embody her owner-breeder's life's labour in this sphere and Sir Mark Prescott's unique art of equine education and care.

Although the homebred had arrived on the lead with Morris sitting motionless, her last 1 1/2 furlongs in front were not without tension as Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) chased her hard to the line along with last year's hero Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}). Despite the sterling efforts of The Aga Khan's Jockey Club and Eclipse hero and Auenquelle's German flagship, this was a result already carved into the precious stone that adorns Prescott's storied Heath House stables. At the line, the mare had bridged a surprising 85-year gap to the last of her age and sex to achieve glory in the famed Corrida, denying Vadeni by half a length and Torquator Tasso by a further neck.

“It's absolutely marvellous and an enormous relief,” Prescott said. “Luke has ridden for us for 11 years and Miss Rausing has had horses with me for 36, so I'm just very lucky. I trained her grandmother and it's hard to think of a better day. You felt she was always going to win, but it was a relief when she got there. It's a wonderful change to have one that can really go and she has been perfect. The race went like a dream. If it hadn't been my horse, I would have thought it was going to win every inch of the way, but when it's your own of course it's a nightmare. I didn't think all that rain would help, but she's never travelled better and has come on with each race.”

Morris added, “Things went lovely and smooth–I had all the confidence in her and she's not put a foot wrong. She is so versatile and so tough and I couldn't believe how well she was going–I had to take her back two out. She dug very deep for me and was very tough when I needed her. This is the pinnacle of my career–there are not many times when I'm teary-eyed, but I was having to hold back the tears today. Sir Mark's had an unbelievable effect on my career and is an unbelievable trainer and person, so I'm honoured to ride for him. Miss Rausing is a very generous lady with what she's done for the sport and I'm very fortunate.”

Alpinista, who started her career with a shot across the bows at Epsom in July 2019, skipped over ground officially described as firm when winning her first black-type race, Salisbury's Listed Upavon Fillies' S., the following August before chasing home Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) a week later in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks. Remarkably, her next start was her last defeat as Antonia De Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) mastered her in Newmarket's G3 Princess Royal S. a month later and even the biggest dreamer could not have predicted what was to follow.

Foot-perfect through the 2021 G2 Lancashire Oaks and the path of the Grosser Preis von Berlin-Preis von Europa-Grosser Preis Von Bayern Group 1 treble laid down by her second dam Albanova (GB) (Alzao), all reasoned knowledge accepted that the grey had probably used up all her career's fortune at that stage. Alpinista knew better, however, and her pursuit of a personal coronation among her incredible dynasty of Alruccaba (Ire) (Crystal Palace {Fr}) grew ever more impatient as she dashed several Arc hopes on her return in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. Her next stop back in the Yorkshire Oaks could have been her apex, but now we know that was just a launchpad to this key moment.

While the Arc is no stranger to testing ground and autumnal framing, this edition was really something else with the turf and soil flying from an early stage and many visibly struggling before halfway. As expected, the Japanese wonder Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) was sent forward with Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) predictably on his case and after the first minute of action the order was settled. Rouget's Al Hakeem (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) was well placed in third, with Alpinista tracking him and by the time they reached the false straight the conditions had truly separated the haves and the have-nots.

Surprisingly, Vadeni who carried perhaps the greatest stamina doubts into the race and who would arguably not been placed in the line-up had connections been able to foresee the amount of rain in the final minutes of the build-up was the one who came out of the pack with the most gusto. While his progress though the mud was hardly smooth, it was as dynamic as it gets in this kind of terrain and for a brief spell Alpinista looked vulnerable. Soumillon gave his all and Frankie managed to get Torquator Tasso close enough, but the grey had the stars aligned for her and her uncanny streak proved unbreakable.

She has now earned a berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland in November, should connections wish it. The only remaining question is whether the Alpinista story is at an end and both Prescott and Rausing were non-committal afterwards. “Can she go on again? I don't know what Ms. Rausing will do,” the trainer said. There's the [G1] Japan Cup and the [GI] Breeders' Cup [Turf] to consider, so we'll see.”

Her owner-breeder added, “She will come back to our stud next year. As for the Breeders' Cup or the Japan Cup, we want to go home and talk about it.”

Vadeni fully justified the about-turn of connections to take part and Georges Rimaud commented, “We were very pleased with his run and we were obviously beaten by a very good opponent. Christophe had a good run through the whole race and thought he was going to win, but the mare found more. He's proved he stays the trip in soft ground, so we will go away and discuss what will happen in the next few days.”

Jean Claude Rouget said of the runner-up and of Al Hakeem, who clung on for fourth, “I am proud of my two horses–they ran great races, handled the ground and stayed well. It was a deep field with many possible winners and both finished in the first four so it is a very good day. They will come back stronger next year. I am very happy for Sir Mark Prescott–I've known him well for a long time and I just love this man.”

Dettori said of Torquator Tasso, “He finished really strong and ran a super race. The draw didn't help, but it's his style of racing to run on the outer. I thought for a moment I might get to them, but they were too strong for me.”

Ralph Beckett said of the sixth-placed Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), “He ran a good race, he had the perfect position alongside the winner and ran on well in the straight. He was struggling on the ground–you could see that. Hopefully he will come back stronger next year.”

Aidan O'Brien had some unwelcome news about Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who is back on the easy list after a gruelling experience. “Obviously he got stuck in the ground, he pulled a muscle off his near-hip and is sore enough now,” he explained. “Hopefully we can take him home, but he'll be sore for a while. It will heal in time and hopefully we can look forward to next season. I'd say that will almost certainly be it this season.”

Pedigree Notes

Alpinista, who was providing Frankel with his first Arc success, is the first foal out of the Listed Silbernes Band der Ruhr winner Alwilda (GB) (Hernando {Fr}), whose 3-year-old filly Alpenblume (GB) (Kendargent {Fr}) was second at listed level at Hanover this term. Her aforementioned pathfinder dam Albanova is also responsible for the G3 Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup winner Algometer (GB) (Archipenko), the Listed Stand Cup scorer and G3 Geoffrey Freer S.-placed Alignak (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and the triple French listed winner All At Sea (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). In a twist of fate, the latter is in turn the dam of last month's G1 St Leger hero Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), making it another key period in the distinguished family's history.

The third dam is the Listed Oyster S. winner Alouette (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), who also produced Albanova's high-achieving full-sister Alborada (GB) who pulled off her own remarkable feat when capturing back-to-back editions of the G1 Champion S. when it was staged at Newmarket. Among her descendants are the G2 City Of York S. winner Shine So Bright (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and G Yorkshire Oaks runner-up Albaflora (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}). This is also the family of Allegretto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who had her own day in the headlines at this venue when winning the G1 Prix Royal-Oak, and the talented G2 Nassau S. winner Last Second (Ire) also by Alzao, who later produced the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains-winning sire Aussie Rules (Danehill). Alwilda's 2020 colt by Oasis Dream (GB) unfortunately died last year, while she also has a filly foal by Iffraaj {GB).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX DE L'ARC DE TRIOMPHE-G1, €5,000,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-2, 3yo/up, c/f, 12fT, 2:35.71, vsf.
1–ALPINISTA (GB), 128, m, 5, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Alwilda (GB) (SW-Ger & SP-Eng), by Hernando (Fr)
2nd Dam: Albanova (GB), by Alzao
3rd Dam: Alouette (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
O/B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-Sir Mark Prescott; J-Luke Morris. €2,857,000. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Ger & G1SW-Eng, 15-10-2-0, €3,926,843. *1/2 to Alpenblume (GB) (Kendargent {Fr}), SP-Ger. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Vadeni (Fr), 125, c, 3, Churchill (Ire)–Vaderana (Fr), by Monsun (Ger). O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €1,143,000.
3–Torquator Tasso (Ger), 132, h, 5, Adlerflug (Ger)–Tijuana (Ger), by Toylsome (GB). (€24,000 Ylg '18 BBAGO). O-Gestut Auenquelle; B-Paul H Vandeberg (GER); T-Marcel Weiss. €571,500.
Margins: HF, NK, 2. Odds: 3.40, 7.80, 8.10.
Also Ran: Al Hakeem (GB), Grand Glory (GB), Westover (GB), Luxembourg (Ire), Broome (Ire), Alenquer (Fr), Onesto (Ire), Titleholder (Jpn), Mendocino (Ger), Mishriff (Ire), Stay Foolish (Jpn), Mare Australis (Ire), Sealiway (Fr), Bubble Gift (Fr), Deep Bond (Jpn), Do Deuce (Jpn), Mostahdaf (Ire). Video, sponsored by TVG.

WHAT A MARE! Congratulations @Lanwades, @HeathHouseNkt, @Luke_Morris88 & @AnnabelWillis4!
pic.twitter.com/Uow3of4vuR

— TDN (@theTDN) October 2, 2022

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When it comes to being a benevolent dictator, the Prescott pendulum has, by his own admission, swung more from dictatorship towards benevolence in recent years and, more than anyone involved in British racing, the master of Heath House cares deeply for the history of the sport, its milestones, and its continuing traditions.

Prescott will certainly be enjoying the fact that Haggas currently has the best horse in the world in his clutches, Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who notched his perfect ten in the Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday, earning a provisional Timeform rating of 137 with his imperious six-and-half-length romp over last year's winner, Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}).

But when it came to moments of exultation on the Knavesmire last week, there was as much jubilation for the victory of the Prescott-trained Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Yorkshire Oaks as there was for Baaeed. Alpinista had been runner-up to the Oaks winner Love (Ire) in the Yorkshire Oaks of 2020 and, despite adding British Listed and Group 2 victories to her tally since then, her big-race successes had all come overseas until last Thursday.

Even if Kirsten Rausing's grey mare had retired last year at the end of her 4-year-old season she would still have been a treble Group 1 winner who had  achieved the remarkable feat of emulating her own grand-dam, Albanova (GB), by winning the Grosser Preis von Berlin – famously beating subsequent Arc winner Torquator Tasso (Ger) – then the Preis von Europa and Grosser Preis von Bayern. But we were treated to an extra season, and what a year it has been so far for the current star of the prolific Lanwades breeding programme. Two-for-two in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and Yorkshire Oaks, Alpinista looks set for a rematch with Torquator Tasso at Longchamp on the first weekend of October. Whether or not she will also face Baaeed in the Arc remains in doubt. The crowd are certainly baying for it, and indeed the manner in which the Shadwell homebred won the Juddmonte International did nothing to suggest he would not see out another two furlongs. Haggas raised the idea that the Irish Champion S. could be the colt's next port of call for what looks likely to be his penultimate race, but wherever and however he ends his career Baaeed will surely be Horse of the Year.

Maybe because he didn't race at two and isn't a Classic winner, Baaeed is somehow not afforded the level of adulation deserving of a horse of his calibre, which is a shame, because let's face it, he's bloody brilliant. Naturally he is most often compared to two previous winners of the International in his own sire Sea The Stars, for whom it was one of six consecutive Group 1 wins in 2009, starting with the 2,000 Guineas and ending with the Arc, and Frankel, who brought York to a standstill a decade ago with his seven-length victory.

The debate will rage endlessly among racing folk as it which of those two greats was the greatest, but it doesn't really matter. What is more important is that both Sea The Stars and Frankel have gone on to be important sires in their own right, with their offspring lighting up racecourses around the world, just as Baaeed and Alpinista did last week at York.

And in the case of those two most recent Group 1 winners, equally important is that they both represent families which have been the cornerstone of their respective breeders' empires for generations. From Sheikh Hamdan's purchase of Height Of Fashion (Fr) from the Queen in 1982 stems Baaeed, while the purchase of Alpinista's fourth dam Alruccaba (Ire) in 1985 by Kirsten Rausing and Sonia Rogers from the Aga Khan has resulted in an impressive dynasty being assembled largely, but by no means solely, at Rausing's Lanwades Stud. Alpinista's run of success is all the more special to those who enjoy the continuity of the great families for it being the centenary of the Aga Khan Studs, an operation which owes much of its own success to her tenth dam, one of the greatest greys of all time, Mumtaz Mahal (GB), who was born 101 years ago and still exerts such influence over the breed.

Trevaunance at the Double

On the subject of anniversaries, the 60th year of Moyglare Stud continues to be marked with great success on the track. As well as an Irish 1,000 Guineas victory for Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), and racing the top stayer in Europe, homebred Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), in partnership with Coolmore, Eva-Maria Bucher-Haefner's operation celebrated back-to-back group wins for Trevaunance (Ire) in the G2 Prix de la Nonette. Trained by Jessica Harrington, the daughter of Muhaarar (GB) had previously won the G3 Prix de Psyche at Deauville's opening meeting 18 days earlier.

Trevaunance marks the blending of two notable Irish stud farms. Her dam Liber Nauticus (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) was bought by Moyglare from the Ballymacoll Stud dispersal of 2017, and is from a celebrated family which includes dual Breeders' Cup hero Conduit (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and Irish 2,000 Guineas and Champion S. winner Spectrum (Ire) (Rainbow Quest).

Never Again – and Again

Nine years ago No Nay Never bounced from victory in a Keeneland maiden to the G2 Norfolk S. followed by the G1 Darley Prix Morny, and he is now the sire of a Morny winner following the success of Blackbeard (Ire) on Sunday.

It has to be said that a five-runner Prix Morny with no French-bred or -trained horse was a little disappointing, but there is nothing disappointing about the winner himself, who has had a busy first campaign and has now won five of his seven starts for Aidan O'Brien, including the G2 Prix Robert Papin. 

Twenty-four hours earlier, No Nay Never had been represented by a Group 2 juvenile double at the Curragh, courtesy of the exquisite-looking Meditate (Ire) and Aesop's Fables (Ire), both Ballydoyle stable-mates of Blackbeard and the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. winner Little Big Bear (Ire). No Nay Never is steaming ahead as the leading sire of juveniles in Europe this year, with Whitsbury Manor Stud's freshman Havana Grey (GB) in determined pursuit.

Deauville's other group races on Sunday fell to Richard Hannon, with the Rathasker Stud-bred Aristia (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) going one better than her finish behind Nashwa (GB) in the G1 Nassau S. to win the G1 Prix Jean Romanet, and to William Haggas, who completed a fantastic week in style with simultaneous victories in the G2 Prix de Pomone with Sea La Rosa (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and G3 Tally-Ho Stud Ballyogan S. at Naas with Perfect News (GB) (Frankel {GB}). 

Sea La Rosa also brought up an impressive double for both her dam Soho Rose (GB) (Hernando {Fr}) and breeder Guy Heald following the win of her brother Deauville Legend (Ire) in the G2 Dante S. at York. 

Only Yann Barberot managed to keep a group race at home for the French trainers this weekend, and that has been a theme in Deauville again this summer, with 13 of the 17 group races having been won by British or Irish trainers, including all five Group 1 contests.

Golden Moments

Both Nathaniel (Ire) and Golden Horn (GB) have covered a number of National Hunt mares this year, and indeed the latter is now officially standing as a dual-purpose sire at Overbury Stud from next season. But both are still eminently capable of getting decent Flat runners, as exemplified by results at York this week.

Godolphin's Trawlerman (GB) landed the valuable Ebor H. under Frankie Dettori, while Haskoy (GB) became the second of Golden Horn's daughters to win the Listed Galtres S. The Juddmonte-bred filly, who was making just her second start, is out of a mare by Nathaniel, who also featured as the damsire of G3 Solario S. winner Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), the first foal of Group 1 winner God Given (GB).

Meanwhile, though the G2 Lonsdale Cup was drastically depleted by the defections of Stradivarius (Ire) and Trueshan (Fr), there was plenty to enjoy about the emphatic victory of Nathaniel's five-year-old son Quickthorn (GB) for his owner/breeder Lady Blyth.

While we are handing out bouquets, the mighty mare Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) deserves an extra-large one for winning back-to-back Group 1s in Deauville and York within 12 days, to take her tally to 11 wins from 29 starts for her owner/breeder John Fairley and trainer John Quinn.

Another should go to the Whitsbury Manor Stud broodmare Suelita (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), who added the G3 Acomb S. winner Chaldean  (GB) (Frankel {GB}) – a rare non-homebred runner for Juddmonte – to her list of black-type performers which now numbers five and includes the G2 Mill Reef S winner Alkumait (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). 

Finally, one trainer who almost certainly hasn't been bashed over the head with a frying pan by Sir Mark Prescott, but who, like Haggas, has enjoyed a fruitful week, is Ralph Beckett. Within five minutes on Saturday his stable was represented by the G2 City of York S. winner Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Listed Chester S. victrix River of Stars (Ire), who was one of five stakes winners for Sea The Stars last week. Beckett's good week also included the aforementioned Haskoy among his seven winners.

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“They are all great, but Group 1 races are hard to come by and, for a smallish stable, every five or six years you get good ones come along and it's tremendous when it happens,” said Prescott. “We trained this one's dam, granddam and great granddam. It's been a marvellous family. The original intention was to go [G1] Coronation Cup and [G1] King George [VI & Queen Elizabeth S.], but she wouldn't come in her coat in time for the Coronation, so it then became Saint-Cloud and then either here or the [G1 Prix] Vermeille. Miss Rausing was very keen to come here as she hadn't won a Group 1 in England. She has really done it all now, she's won Group 1s in England, France and Germany.”

Looking ahead, the veteran Heath House conditioner added, “The [G1 Prix de l'] Arc [de Triomphe] has always been her aim. Last year we rather patted ourselves on the back for being so clever winning three Group 1s in Germany, then, when the one behind us [Torquator Tasso] came and won the Arc, we rather felt we might not have been as clever as we thought we were. When she stayed in training this year that was always the aim.”

Winning jockey Luke Morris is also relishing the prospect of going to ParisLongchamp on the first Sunday in October. “Since she has been on better ground this year she has looked like a filly with more class so we can dream about Paris now,” he said. “Generally the Yorkshire Oaks can look a little top heavy with a superstar of Aidan's, but I thought it had a lot of depth and she had to give nine pounds away to the second. I thought it was a great performance and it's great she's been able to show in Britain what she is capable of. It's a massive effort from the teams at Heath House and Lanwades Stud. I'm just the lucky one that gets to sit on her a couple of times a year.”

Aidan O'Brien was not too downcast, despite Tuesday's defeat, and looked ahead to future targets after the G1 Oaks heroine failed to reel in the winner. “She will go on Irish Champions weekend somewhere, whether she will stay here [in England], or whether she will go to Ireland or whether she will go to France or whatever. Hopefully she will go somewhere. We were happy enough with that. It was her first run back, she ran very well and I don't think she was losing any ground going to the line. She has come back to form after [finishing fourth in the G1 Irish Derby at] the Curragh. She was a bit hot before the race, but I didn't mind that as I was hot myself. She is in the mix for the Arc and other races.”

Team Valor's La Petite Coco would have preferred more juice in the ground, but nonetheless produced a display of star quality in third. “She is not the type to set the pace, but nobody else wanted to so that was somewhat less than ideal,” admitted Barry Irwin. “I think the difference between her finishing right there with the first two and where she did finish was somewhat quality, because they are two fantastic horses for sure, but our filly needs the soft. The ground had a good cover on top, but underneath it was firm and she can't lay her body down like that. On soft turf, not that the others would not have run as well, I think we would have been able to hang with them better if the ground was softer. The fact that the race turned into something of a sprint, and that she wasn't going to let herself down as well, played against her somewhat.” It's unlikely connections will be tempted into a rematch with Alpinista in Paris. “Paddy [Twomey] is talking about the [G1] Prix de l'Opera or the [G1] Champion S. [at Ascot]. That is what he is looking at, we need to wait for the ground to soften and we are going to forget about the Arc this year. When she won at the Curragh it was like a miracle, where it rained just before the race and she got her ground. Even though she wasn't really totally fit, she was able to win anyway because of the ground.”

Alpinista, kin to a 2-year-old colt by Oasis Dream (GB) and a weanling filly by Iffraaj (GB), is the first of four foals and one of two winners produced by a stakes-winning half-sister to four black-type performers out of the aforementioned Albanova (GB) (Alzao). The quartet includes G3 Legacy Cup victor Algometer (GB) (Archipenko), stakes-winning G3 Geoffrey Freer S. third Alignak (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and multiple stakes scorer All At Sea (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). Albanova is one of four black-type performers thrown by G1 Moyglare Stud S. third Alouette (GB) (Darshaan {GB}), whose descendants also include dual G1 Champion S. heroine Alborada (GB) (Alzao) and stakes-winning G1 Epsom Derby runner-up Dragon Dancer (GB) (Sadler's Wells). Alouette is a half-sister to G3 Doncaster Cup vixtrix Alleluia (GB) Caerleon), who produced G1 Prix Royal-Oak heroine Allegretto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G2 Nassau S. winner Last Second (Ire) (Alzao), with the latter being the dam of G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains-winning sire Aussie Rules (Danehill).

Thursday, York, Britain
DARLEY YORKSHIRE OAKS-G1, £533,750, York, 8-18, 3yo/up, f, 11f 188yT, 2:29.92, gd.
1–ALPINISTA (GB), 135, m, 5, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Alwilda (GB) (SW-Ger & SP-Eng), by Hernando (Fr)
2nd Dam: Albanova (GB), by Alzao
3rd Dam: Alouette (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
O/B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-Sir Mark Prescott; J-Luke Morris. £302,690. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Ger & G1SW-Fr, 14-9-2-0, $1,165,186. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tuesday (Ire), 126, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Lillie Langtry (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £114,756.
3–La Petite Coco (Ire), 135, f, 4, Ruler Of The World (Ire)–La Petite Virginia (Ger), by Konigstiger (Ger). O-Team Valor International LLC; B-Mr B Schone (IRE); T-Paddy Twomey. £57,432.
Margins: 1, 1 3/4, 2HF. Odds: 1.75, 3.50, 4.00.
Also Ran: Lilac Road (Ire), Magical Lagoon (Ire), Raclette (GB), Poptronic (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

Yorkshire Oaks (G1)
2380m, 533.750 GBP, for 3yo+ mares
York

Alpinista (GB)
(5M Frankel – Alwilda, by Hernando)
J :Luke Morris
T :Mark Sir Prescott
O :Miss K Rausing
Tuesday (Galileo)
La Petite Coco (Ruler Of The World)pic.twitter.com/DtE4SaY7Cy

— (@WorldRacing1) August 18, 2022

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NTF Chief Executive Paul Johnson said, “This video series is an excellent initiative by GBRI on behalf of British trainers, as it showcases all the elements that we do so very well in Britain–the heritage, the facilities, the training environment, the behind-the-scenes experience and the raceday experience. Exhibiting each of these elements to prospective international investors can only be a positive for the industry.”

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France and England exchanged Group 1 races at the weekend: on Saturday it was a case of veni, vidi, vici for Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), who gave France a first victory in the race since 1960, when it was won by the Percy Carter-trained Javelot (Fr) (Fast Fox {Fr}). The prize had also gone to France the year before Javelot when the winner was Saint Crespin (Fr) (Aureole {GB}), trained by Alec Head for Prince Aly Khan, the father of Vadeni's owner/breeder HH Aga Khan IV.

Then, in a stellar comeback performance in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on Sunday, Kirsten Rausing's lovely grey mare Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) added yet another win to her unbroken string which now extends to six, including four Group 1s. 

Hundred Up

There can be few better ways to celebrate 100 years of Aga Khan Studs breeding than by providing the sport with the pre-eminent 3-year-old colt of the season so far, and that is how we must view Vadeni following his success in the Prix du Jockey Club against his peers and subsequent Eclipse success. 

When Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) lined up for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and then returned to scale in tandem after finishing first and second, it was hard to split them on looks. Both dark bay colts are big, strong and solid, and Native Trail appeared to have come on again when glimpsed in the paddock before the Eclipse. As befits a race of its status, it was a good-looking field, albeit none of the six runners were brought into the pre-parade ring, to the disappointment of a significant number of people who had gathered there to see them. With the numbers through the gates at racecourses falling this year it seems madness to disappoint the faithful and serious racegoers by depriving them of one of the most important aspects of a day at the races: the opportunity to inspect the runners parading before they are saddled. It is not just Sandown where this has slipped, as a number of runners in both the Derby and the Oaks came up so late to the parade ring at Epsom that they took only one turn before going to post.

That grumble aside, once in the main parade ring, Native Trail, Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}) and Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {Ire}) were the three most imposing colts. It has to be said that the smaller and quite slight Vadeni did not match this trio on looks, but handsome is as handsome does, and the whippet in the pack of greyhounds was given the perfect slipstream ride by Christophe Soumillon, who produced him with a flourish to make a devastating challenge two furlongs from home to win what will surely be one of the best races of the year.

Vadeni's grand-dam, the G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Vadawina (Ire) (Unfuwain), was one of 74 horses in training purchased among a batch of 222 horses which formed the entire racing and breeding operation of the late Jean-Luc Lagardere in 2005, including his stallion, Linamix (Fr). The amalgamation of the Lagardere bloodlines with the Aga Khan stock, following earlier acquisitions from fellow influential breeders Marcel Boussac and Francois Dupre, has continued to revitalise the Aga Khan Studs broodmare band while working in tandem with lines that have been nurtured by the operation throughout the last century. 

Jean-Claude Rouget is no stranger to big-race success in his home country but Vadeni was his first Group 1 winner in Britain since Almanzor (Fr) landed the Champion S. in 2016. Vadeni has drawn favourable comparisons with that former Rouget stable star and it seems likely that he will attempt to emulate him in the Irish Champion S. come September. 

Alpinista Scales New Heights

As we wait to see if Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) or Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) can get the better of their elders in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. later this month, two serious challengers for that race announced their fine form over the weekend. Alpinista, who has her roots in an Aga Khan family through her fourth dam Alruccaba (Ire) (Crystal Palace {FR}), last met Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) when trouncing him by almost three lengths in the Grosser Preis von Berlin last August. That was the first of her three Group 1 wins in Germany last term and, as if to silence those that can be sniffy about German form, Torquator Tasso went on to win the Grosser Preis von Baden followed by the Arc, while Alpinista has now continued her unstoppable run of six victories with a rousing victory over fellow Frankel-sired Baratti (GB) at Saint-Cloud.

“She's in better form than the trainer,” Sir Mark Prescott told the TDN on Monday as the dust settled on Alpinista's first racecourse appearance in 238 days. She had originally been entered for the Coronation Cup but had been withdrawn from that potential engagement with Prescott feeling she wasn't ready for her seasonal resumption. Even ahead of Sunday he wasn't sure that the 5-year-old was quite there.

“Her coat wasn't as good as I would have liked and I felt she was still a gallop short but I was probably wrong on the way she won,” he continued. “I think it's the first time she has really impressed. She's been jolly good at winning races but perhaps not at impressing people. 

“It's a real pleasure to have her. With a filly, everything they put on in black type enhances them tremendously and even if they are beaten it's not a catastrophe because they are remembered for their best. Whereas a colt is remembered for his worst and if you get it wrong you can knock astronomical sums off their value. So I think all trainers would agree with me that training a top-class filly is a lot less pressure than training a top-class colt.”

Prescott knows plenty about top-class fillies, and from this high-achieving Lanwades family in particular. In the yard at his Heath House stand the statues of Alpinista's grand-dam Albanova (GB) (Alzao) and her full-sister Alborada (GB), who between them won five Group 1 races for the stable. Like her grand-daughter, Albanova's trio of top-flight wins were recorded in Germany, while Alborada won back-to-back runnings of the Champion S in its original (and rightful) home of Newmarket. She also won the G2 Nassau S. and G2 Pretty Polly S. of 1998, both of which have subsequently been promoted to Group 1 status. 

Prescott also trained Alpinista's dam, Alwilda (GB) (Hernando {Fr}). He recalled, “Her mother was little but very tough and straightforward, very genuine. She won her Listed race more by application than ability. This one [Alpinista] has plenty of ability. When she shot clear I think everybody among her supporters let out a cheer for her.”

That we did. And now we can hope to see her at Ascot for the King George, with the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe her longer-range target. Last year's Arc winner Torquator Tasso clearly needs a bit of warming up from his winter breaks as he has finished sixth in his last two seasonal debuts before clicking into top gear. On Saturday at Hamburg he put his tardy start behind him with an eased-down victory in the G2 Grosser Hansa-Preis.

Peter Michael Endres, representing his owner Karl-Dieter Ellerbracke's Gestut Auenquelle, mapped out a clear plan after the race which takes in the King George, followed by return raids on Baden-Baden and ParisLongchamp for his last two starts ahead of a stud career.

Sammarco: 'The Dream Of My Life'

When Torquator Tasso eventually retires to Gestut Auenquelle he has big shoes to fill if he is to follow the example of the stud's resident stallion Soldier Hollow, who has been champion sire and champion broodmare sire in Germany on multiple occasions. 

It was in the latter role that he featured in the pedigree of the winner of Sunday's G1 Deutsches Derby, Sammarco (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who is owned and was bred by Helmut von Finck of Gestut Park Wiedingen, who also raced and still owns Soldier Hollow.

Von Finck, who has 15 broodmares at his farm in northern Germany, on Monday reflected on a Classic victory that was the culmination of decades of breeding.

“He's such a good horse, very relaxed at home but such a fighter on the track,” he said of the Peter Schiergen-trained Sammarco. “It has been my dream for 35 years to get the Derby winner and now I have done it as an owner and breeder with a horse from my own stud who is from a mare by my stallion. It is the dream of my life. It fulfils 35 years of work.”

He continued, “Sammarco is really well this morning and lost only a few kilos in the race. He's happy and very relaxed out in the paddock. He has had four starts for three wins and a second, and now he has won the Derby on his fourth start. Everything is perfect.”

The breeder, who will be offering Sammarco's half-brother by Areion (Ger) at the BBAG Yearling Sale in early September, outlined a potential clash with Torquator Tasso at Baden-Baden on the weekend immediately following the sale.

He continued, “I would like to give him a break from racing for eight weeks and then go to the Grosser Preis von Baden. I don't want him to do too much as a 3-year-old as my plan is to race him at four.”

Von Finck currently has five mares in foal to his treble champion sire Soldier Hollow, whose sons Pastorius (Ger) and Weltstar (Ger) are both German Derby winners. Now 22, he currently leads the German broodmares sires' table ahead of another former Auenquelle resident, the late Big Shuffle. 

He added, “Soldier Hollow is also the broodmare sire of Schnell Meister, a Grade I winner in Japan. I'm very proud of him going towards his third championship as broodmare sire. He covered 45 mares last year and I am happy to have five mares in foal to him. He's not the youngest but he is very well and still capable of covering that number.”

Hollie in Hamburg

The offspring of the Gestut Rottgen mare Wellenspiel (Ger) (Sternkoenig {Ire}) have played starring roles on German Derby weekend right from the off, with her first two foals, Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}) and Weltstar (Ger}) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), winning the Derby in 2017 and 2018 respectively. Their younger half-sister Well Disposed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) has now added more kudos to the family by landing the G3 Mehl-Mulhens Trophy on the Derby undercard. 

Her victory marked the first in the country for Classic-winning jockey Hollie Doyle, who also rode for Gestut Rottgen in the Derby aboard the filly Wagnis (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}). She fared less well in this Classic, which suffered a near 30-minute delay while the rails were realigned with the runners at the post, and Doyle was lucky to remain in the saddle when Wagnis stumbled badly on the turn. Winner of the G3 Diana Trial by five lengths on her previous start, the filly regained her composure and ran on to be 11th of the 20 runners. 

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