The sixth Cartier Horse of the Year for the Coolmore partners since the awards began in 1991, the Aidan O'Brien trainee joins the illustrious company of stablemates Giant's Causeway (Storm Cat) (2000), Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire) (Danehill) (2002), Hurricane Run (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) (2005), Dylan Thomas (Ire) (Danehill) (2007) and Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (2016).

A winner of the G1 Dewhurst S. at two, the Robert Scarborough-bred completed an unbeaten campaign in 2021 including a brace of French Classic wins in the G1 French 2000 Guineas and G1 Prix du Jockey Club. The 1.3 million gns Tattersalls October Yearling then won a thrilling renewal of the G1 Eclipse S. and defeated 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Turf heroine Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G1 Irish Champion S. to end his career. At the beginning of November, it was announced he would join the Coolmore Stud roster for 2022.

The other nominees for Cartier Horse of the Year were Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) and Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Of that trio, Baaeed and Hurricane Lane, along with G1 Derby hero Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), were nominated in the Cartier 3-Year-Old Colt category.

Raced and trained by the same connections as St Mark's Basilica, Classic heroine Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was given the nod as the Cartier 3-Year-Old Filly. A brilliant winner of the G3 Musidora S. in May, the bay added the G1 Oaks by a record 16 lengths in June at Epsom. The margin of her G1 Irish Oaks victory was 8 1/2 lengths, and she was eased to a four-length win versus her elders in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks in the summer. She was second in the G1 Prix Vermeille in France and third in the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. at Ascot to end her year.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) was named the Cartier Older Horse. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the Highclere Stud and Floors Farming-bred was named the Cartier 3-Year-Old Colt in 2020. After a season that saw him win two Group 1s over a mile last term, he swept all before him in his season opener-the G2 bet365 Mile at Sandown in April. He added the G1 Lockinge S. to his resume later that spring and defeated all comers in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot. After scoring in his second consecutive G1 Prix Jacques le Marois in France, Palace Pier finished his career with a second in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. to Cartier 3-Year-Old Colt nominee Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). He will stand at under the Darley banner at Dalham Hall Stud.

Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) earned Cartier 2-Year-Old Colt honours after a flawless campaign for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby. Bred by Haras d'Haspel, the bay brought 210,000gns at the 2021 Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale and was quickly off the mark at first asking at Sandown. The G2 Superlative S. went his way at Newmarket, and then he traveled to Ireland to face off with fellow Cartier juvenile colt nominee, Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in the G1 National S. at The Curragh. Despite the high quality of opposition, the result was the same, with Native Trail running out a 3 1/2-length winner. In his final start of the season, the colt was first past the post in the G1 Dewhurst S. back at HQ in October, the same Group 1 double achieved by former Godolphin star and young sire Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal).

Cheveley Park homebred Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was named the Cartier 2-Year-Old Filly. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the daughter of G1 1000 Guineas bridesmaid Starscope (GB) (Selkirk) carries an unbeaten record into her sophomore season. Successful on debut at Newmarket in June, she landed the Listed Star S. at Sandown a month later and took the G2 May Hill S. at Doncaster in September. She capped 2021 with a 2 1/2-length victory in the G1 Fillies' Mile in October.

Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), a homebred for David Ward, was honoured with the Cartier Sprinter award. A winner of the G2 Duke of York S. in May where he downed 2020 G1 July Cup winner Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}), the 4-year-old colt was back in action in the G1 July Cup at Newmarket. In that race he overcame a troubled trip to win by 1 1/4 lengths and gave his owner and trainer, Ed Walker, a first win at the highest level. It was announced in October that he would stand at Tally-Ho Stud for 2022.

After claiming three major staying prizes in 2021, Singula Partnership's Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) was named the Cartier Stayer. Trainer Alan King was given his first Group 1 success on the Flat in the G1 Goodwood Cup by the 5-year-old gelding. Ridden by Hollie Doyle in that prize, Trueshan reveled in the testing conditions of the G1 Prix du Cadran on Arc weekend, to defeat three-time Cartier Stayer Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). After returning from France, Trueshan, bred by Didier Blot, defended his crown in the G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup.

The Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit was awarded to David Elsworth, one of the most successful dual-purpose trainers in Britain. Besides Flat Classic success, Elsworth has parlayed his 67-year career into victories in the Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup. Licenced in 1978 and still going strong at 83, some of Elsworth's best horses included star jumper Desert Orchid (GB) (Grey Mirage I {GB}), standout stayer Persian Punch (Ire) (Persian Heights {GB}), the crack sprinter Indian Ridge (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}) and Irish Classic heroine In The Groove (GB) (Night Shift). Named Champion National Hunt Trainer in 1987/88, Elsworth has trained seven Group 1 winners on the Flat and has 16 Royal Ascot winners to his name. His filly Arabian Queen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) shocked Derby/Arc hero Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in the G1 Juddmonte International S. at 50-1 in 2015.

Harry Herbert, Cartier's Racing Consultant said, “The 2021 European Flat season has once again highlighted all that is wonderful in this great sport.

“With capacity crowds back at racecourses and some brilliant equine performances, we were ultimately rewarded with a season to savour.

“Racing cannot continue without the ongoing support of owners and I would like to extend my congratulations to tonight's winners–Coolmore, Godolphin, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Cheveley Park Stud, David Ward and the Singula Partnership.

“David Elsworth has truly reached the summit of his profession and is the perfect recipient for the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit in 2021. A man whose life has been steeped in racing, Elsworth's career spans 67 years and has scaled the heights of both Jump and Flat racing. One of the most successful dual-purpose trainers Britain has produced, the sport is lucky to call him one of our own.

“Cartier's support of these prestigious awards stretches right back to 1991 and is ongoing as we once again enjoy all coming together at the Dorchester Hotel for such a wonderful event. We are truly blessed to be able to enjoy such tremendous support.”

Laurent Feniou, Managing Director of Cartier UK, added, “The 2021 European Flat season has lived up to its billing as horseracing once again highlighted the magic and brilliance of the sport following a challenging 2020.

“I am delighted for the Cartier Racing Awards to be taking place once again at the Dorchester Hotel celebrating another wonderful year of sport.

“It is an honour to celebrate the very best of horseracing and it is a privilege for Cartier to be celebrating the 31st anniversary of the Cartier Racing Awards. My heartfelt congratulations go out to this year's exceptional winners.

Horses earned points in Pattern races (30%), combined at the end of season with the opinions of a panel of racing journalists/handicappers (35%) and votes from readers of Racing Post and The Daily Telegraph (35%) to be considered for the awards. Highlights of the 31st annual Cartier Racing Awards will be shown on Sky Sports Racing on the evening of Friday, Nov. 12.

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Eshaada, who had been beaten 3/4 of a length by the subsequent G1 Prix de Royallieu winner Loving Dream (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) in the course-and-distance Ribblesdale, had finished last of seven in the Yorkshire Oaks as Snowfall dominated Albaflora and Loving Dream had been sixth. An entirely different proposition in this race staged in contrasting conditions, the bay proved what can happen in only a matter of weeks as fillies begin to strengthen heading to the autumn. “York was her only poor performance and the Ribblesdale form had worked out very well two weeks ago,” Varian said. “Everything went right today and she always had a good position. The discussion as to whether she will stay in training will be had with the team at Shadwell, but obviously I'd like to have her around for another year. She's a great big, scopy filly who is very lightly-raced, so you'd think her best days are perhaps still ahead of her. She doesn't look like a sprinter–she is leggy with plenty of stamina on the dam's side and Muhaarar seem to be getting a bit beyond sprint distances.”

Jim Crowley said, “I had a very willing partner–she tried very hard and loves that ground. She was unlucky here at Royal Ascot, I just got a bit far back on her but we had the perfect trip round today and she toughed it out.” Ralph Beckett said of Albaflora, “It was just a very good horserace, wasn't it? I'm thrilled with her, but disappointed to run so well and not win! We were beaten by a better filly on the day, it's as simple as that. She's a good filly and it was a great effort by both of them.”

Aidan O'Brien said of the beaten favourite, “She ran an okay race, obviously you would be disappointed she didn't win. She's had plenty of racing and it was a steadily-enough run race. They quickened and she followed them, but she just didn't get to them. Ryan said he would have preferred the pace to be a bit stronger early. Snowfall was slow away and didn't want to come out and around them. There you go–that's the way it is. We'll see how she is, but that is probably it this year.”

Eshaada, who beat Albaflora to the bragging rights of becoming Muhaarar's first group 1 winner, is the third foal out of Muhawalah (Ire) (Nayef) who is a full-sister to the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois and G1 Prix Jean Prat-winning sire Tamayuz (GB). Their dam Al Ishq (Fr) (Nureyev) also produced the listed-placed Thamarat (GB) (Anabaa), who is in turn responsible for the Listed Grand Prix de Compiegne winner and G1 Prix du Jockey Club third Motamarris (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}) and is the second dam of last year's G1 Irish Derby hero Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}), this race's protagonist La Joconde (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) who had been third in the Yorkshire Oaks and in the G1 Prix Vermeille, and the day's G3 Killavullan S. winner Glounthaune (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}).

The third dam Allez Les Trois (Riverman), who annexed the G3 Prix de Flore before throwing the G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Anabaa Blue (GB) by Thamarat's sire, is kin to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine and legendary producer Urban Sea (Miswaki). That links the winner to the Epsom Derby heroes and stellar sires Galileo (Ire) and Sea the Stars (Ire) and to the G1 2000 Guineas hero and sire King's Best (Kingmambo) and this month's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}). This family has been boosted in recent months by the G3 Newcastle Gold Cup win of Great House (Ire) by Galileo, the Listed Ingabelle S. success of Panama Red (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) and the G1 Sun Chariot S. second of Half Light (Ire) (Shamardal). Muhawalah also has an unraced 2-year-old full-brother to Eshaada named Moonis (GB) and a filly foal by
Kingman (GB).

Saturday, Ascot, Britain
QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS FILLIES & MARES S.-G1, £500,000, Ascot, 10-16, 3yo/up, f/m, 11f 211yT, 2:34.05, g/s.
1–ESHAADA (GB), 125, f, 3, by Muhaarar (GB)
     1st Dam: Muhawalah (Ire), by Nayef
     2nd Dam: Al Ishq (Fr), by Nureyev
     3rd Dam: Allez Les Trois, by Riverman
1ST GROUP WIN, 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Limited (GB); T-Roger Varian; J-Jim Crowley. £283,550. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, $503,275. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Albaflora (GB), 131, f, 4, Muhaarar (GB)–Almiranta (GB), by Galileo (Ire). O/B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. £107,500.
3–Snowfall (Jpn), 125, f, 3, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Best In the World (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Roncon, Chelston Ire, Wynatt (JPN); T-Aidan O'Brien. £53,800.
Margins: NO, 3HF, 5HF. Odds: 16.00, 3.00, 0.73.
Also Ran: La Joconde (Ire), Invite (Ire), Tribal Craft (GB), Lady Hayes (Ire), Mystery Angel (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Fourth in last Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp, the homebred has given all the right signals in the interim period and adds substance to a renewal robbed of Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) who has been re-routed to take the place of the absent Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. Drawn in nine, Adayar is set to re-engage the King George runner-up Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB})–who has stall two–with only Mohamed Obaida's supplemented Aug. 14 G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano and Oct. 2 G2 Prix Dollar scorer Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride of Dubai {Aus}) wider out.

Appleby revealed that connections were buoyed by an impressive piece of work on Wednesday.

“It was an easy piece of work to confirm his wellbeing and he did it so well,” he explained. “We discussed it with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and the decision was taken to run. We are all looking forward to the rematch with Mishriff, particularly over this trip. Adayar beat Mishriff comfortably in the King George and then Mishriff came out and dominated the Juddmonte International at York over the distance of Saturday's race. We are happy to meet him over the mile and a quarter, which is the trip where we believe Adayar's potential lies next year.”

Aidan O'Brien revealed that Love returned an unsatisfactory blood result on Thursday, leading to the shift of the June 4 G1 Epsom Oaks, July 17 G1 Irish Oaks and Aug. 19 G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Snowfall to the Fillies & Mares which has attracted a field of eight. Ballydoyle's May 2 G1 1000 Guineas and Aug. 3 G1 Prix Rothschild heroine Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) will take on Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's five-times group 1-winning Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and the Sept. 5 G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp hero Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the 10-runner G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. sponsored by QIPCO.

There will be 20 runners in a wide-open renewal of the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S., where Yoshiro Kubota's 'TDN Rising Star' Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) bids to atone for a series of top-level near-misses, while the opening G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup sees the G1 Prix du Cadran one-two Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) and Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) square up again. The latter has been given the green light by the Gosdens and owner-breeder Bjorn Nielsen to attempt to repeat his 2018 win in the race which saw Moyglare Stud's Search For a Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) left out of the reckoning by Dermot Weld. Other high-profile absentees alongside her and Love are the Fillies & Mares-targeted La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler of the World {Ire}) and Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

William Haggas has already had a season to savour and the barometer for his stable's health is the fact that he has a trio engaged in the Champion, headed by last year's winner Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's title-holder is coming back off a 105-day absence, having finished runner-up in the G1 Eclipse S. at Sandown July 3.

“Addeybb's ideal ground is when it passes an inspection on the morning of the race and he sloshes through that,” Haggas said. “This is going to be soft, but I'm not sure it will be soft enough for him. He stays well and his record right-handed is fantastic, but this is a hugely competitive, fantastic race. We weren't able to get a prep into him, but he's taken a lot of graft this year and his record fresh is excellent. We think we've got him pretty ready.”

Shadwell's Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has suffered three defeats since his impressive wins in the Apr. 18 G3 John Porter S. and May 15 G3 Aston Park S. at Newbury, with a latest fourth in that venue's Sept. 18 G3 Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup his most deflating. His trainer has long held him in the highest affection and said, “We all know that Al Aasy doesn't find as much under pressure as it looks like he might, so I hope his jockey waits a bit. At Newbury, he went three and a half from home and it exposed him. The horse is much better than that, he should have won there and we'll see what he has to offer as he's a strong stayer at a mile and a quarter. He may not be good enough, but he's talented and he's no mug even in a race of this quality. I love him and he's a very good horse who has been rubbished by everyone, so I'd love to see him run a good race.”

Of Dubai Honour, who is one of six 3-year-olds in the feature, he added, “He won really easily in the Guillaume d'Ornano, but they went really hard there whereas in the Dollar they went slow and he showed a real turn of foot. There's nothing else for him until Hong Kong in December and when I suggested it, the owner nearly bit my hand off. He's an intriguing runner, but Mishriff was awesome at York and I could do without Adayar. He's a bloody good horse and I'd be frightened of him, even over a mile and a quarter. He'll be hard to pass. This year we have nine runners on the day, when we normally have one or two, so we are blessed to have so many nice horses and we've hopefully got them in good shape.”

All bar the retired Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) return to defend their crowns in their respective races this year, with Trueshan and Addeybb joined by the Sprint winner Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Al Asayl France's The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who heads back to the QEII. It is in the latter contest that Haggas saddles what could be his leading contender on the fixture in the unbeaten Baaeed, who could arguably be the most exciting of the eight Group 1 winners in the line-up for what looks the strongest race on the card and the mile championship decider of 2021. Despite his profile, the head of Somerville Lodge is not getting carried away.

“Whilst I've been very impressed with what he's done in such a short space of time, he's got a big task on Saturday,” he said of the Shadwell homebred. “Not only is there Palace Pier, who is a remarkably consistent and tough horse, but there's Alcohol Free, Mother Earth, The Revenant and Benbatl–it's a hell of a strong race with lots of good horses. Without undermining those behind him in the Moulin, we'd had a little hiccup and a rushed preparation for that and I'm pretty sure we didn't see him at his best. The bit none of us know is what he's got left, but Jim [Crowley] is very fond of him and he's a lovely horse to deal with. He's as fit as we want him and ready to go in what is probably the best mile race of the season.”

Nick Smith, Ascot's director of racing and communications, is keen for the 10th Champions Day to play out to an expected crowd of around of 25,000.

“You couldn't have asked for a lot better,” he said after the declarations were made on Thursday morning. “The weather is pretty sound, so it will probably be the best renewal we've had since Excelebration and Frankel kind of bookended the card early on. The final declarations are great. The stayers' race is looking like the race of the year over that trip, which is slightly unexpected after a strong Cadran, but great to see. The Champion S. and the QEII are probably joint highlights with Adayar running now against Mishriff–the King George one and two. You've got to say that now has become the outstanding clash. It's not bad to have Baaeed and Palace Pier as the appetiser, so we're really thrilled. It's going to be a great day.”

On the climax to the close race for the Flat jockeys' championship between Oisin Murphy and William Buick, Smith added, “It will probably go to the wire now. It's an intriguing added dimension, especially if it ended up going to the Balmoral [H]. It's fascinating really. The declarations didn't need another story, but it certainly is another thread. We'll have a crowd of about 25,000 with the weather looking set. It will still seem reasonably comfortable. It will be a tremendous day and a fantastic way to see the season out with a real bang.”

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Godolphin's Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) has perhaps shown the greatest appetite for significant ease in the surface and has the stamina capacity to promote his chances, while The Aga Khan's Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) overcame heavy ground to barnstorm the G1 Prix de l'Opera on this fixture 12 months ago. Epsom marvels Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) pounded through rain-afflicted going in the first week of June, but this is the first week of October and there will be no feedback from the turf if the whole of the predicted 30-plus millimetres descends from the leaden skies.

Japan's quest to end decades of hurt depends not only on the relative skillsets of Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) and Deep Bond (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), but also on their ability to carry themselves on going that is significantly softer than they have encountered in competitive action. Undone in all but four of the domestic middle-distance Group 1s in 2021 and with that quartet absent from this line-up, France appear to have surrendered all hope of landing the precious centennial renewal but at least their outsiders with a squeak understand how to operate on this ground. In the year that Sheikh Hamdan was lost to the racing world, it is not impossible that the talented filly Raabihah (Sea the Stars {Ire}) could provide a romantic fable in the Shadwell silks.

This ability to endure the final drag of a long season is what makes the Arc the most formidable of all racing's peaks and crests. It is the strength to make the summit which separates the legends from the almost mighty and so we go again towards the culmination of the ultimate ambition. There is very little separating what is largely viewed as the leading quartet, with Godolphin's aider and abbettor looking to add to their remarkable combined haul of Epsom Derby, Irish Derby, Grand Prix de Paris, King George and St Leger; Dermot Weld's fully-mature cruise missile seeking to implement her trainer's masterplan; and Ballydoyle's prima ballerina poised to leap in as she did when tearing up the established Group 1 script in the Oaks.

As the first representatives of Frankel to go to the Arc with leading prospects, there is a weight of expectation on the able shoulders of Adayar and Hurricane Lane and little in the way of past precedent to dampen the flames. As an awesome combination, they are Godolphin's best chance of winning this prize since the great Sakhee (Bahri) a whole 20 years ago. Hurricane Lane came alive on very soft ground when ripping up the course-and-distance Grand Prix de Paris July 14 and carried his class over the extreme Classic trip of Doncaster's G1 St Leger Sept. 11, so further easing underfoot only serves to strengthen his credentials. Adayar was so impressive when holding Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) when it was fast at Ascot July 24 that it seems almost improbable that he can translate that superiority to the other extreme, but at present he retains the freak factor his illustrious sire made his trademark.

Charlie Appleby was interviewed as he awaited the opening group race at the track on Saturday–in which he enjoyed a one-two as a welcome portent–and he admitted that a serious worsening of the ground may swing the balance in Hurricane Lane's favour. “Both Frankie and James said it's holding ground, so we'll just have to see how things play out,” he said. “They're predicting up to 40 millimetres of rain. If that arrives on top of opened-up ground, whether you can find a fresh strip or not it'll be heavy, there's no doubt about it. The only horse I would say will probably like it is Hurricane Lane. He will like soft ground and it's going to become a staying race, isn't it? We know the soft ground is going to suit him and we know if it becomes a stamina-sapping Arc, he has already proven he has stamina in abundance. It's a double positive for him.”

“Adayar is in great order and we've seen him win on good-to-soft and he won his maiden last year on soft, but obviously that was not the same level. We are certainly happier being on soft rather than quick ground going into an Arc, but if it got heavy it wouldn't be a positive for him.”

As is the case with many of The Aga Khan's products, Tarnawa gets ample stamina from her distaff side and showed that deep ground does not blunt her finishing surge as it can lesser lights in the Opera 12 months ago. Her ostentatious comeback over this trip came on yielding-to-soft in the G3 Ballyroan S. at Leopardstown Aug. 5, but there is a chance that a severe stamina test in this echelon may stretch the elastic of a daughter of Shamardal beyond its capacity. Christophe Soumillon has ample time to work out his closing act from an ideal inner draw and then it will be in the lap of the gods up ParisLongchamp's home straight. If she manages to carve out an Arc win on demanding turf just three weeks after virtually matching the sprint of St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) on quick going in the G1 Irish Champion S., she will deserve every plaudit available.

“Tarnawa is very well and I'm satisfied with her in every possible way,” trainer Dermot Weld said. “Her preparation has gone very well. She takes her training very well and it's been very straightforward since Leopardstown. She's a very fit filly and I've been very happy with her.”

While the Arc used to be about the 3-year-old colts, the earth spun on its axis in 2008 with the arrival of Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar) and the equally effervescent Snowfall bids to become the fourth of that age and sex to prevail subsequently. Remarkably, since 2011 there have been seven renewals won by fillies and that is in keeping with the general momentum shift away from the opposite sex. Whether Snowfall would have beaten Adayar at Epsom a day later is a matter of conjecture, but the manner of her 16-length victory in one of Europe's oldest Classics defies belief. After following the plan in the July 17 G1 Irish Oaks at The Curragh and the Aug. 19 G1 Yorkshire Oaks, she was unexpectedly undone by Teona (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the course-and-distance G1 Prix Vermeille Sept. 12 and her prior invulnerability disappeared overnight.

Despite the shock of that defeat, the fact remains that several of this race's heroes and heroines were coming off a similar reversal and Aidan O'Brien remains convinced that she retains the star material required. “I think she's a filly that gets a mile and a half well and acts on soft ground and on her Epsom run you could say she's better on it,” he said. “Last time was a completely different set of circumstances in a slowly-run race on quickish ground.”

There is a feeling of a second tier after that foursome, with Chrono Genesis having to prove an aptitude for easy ground and the Sept. 12 G2 Prix Foy first and second Deep Bond (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) and Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) needing to step up markedly on past form to have a serious impact. M M Stables' Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) has at least proven himself on heavy ground when winning the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot June 18 and had the withdrawn Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) behind on a sound surface when runner-up to Mishriff in the G1 Juddmonte International S. at York Aug. 18.

“I'm really looking forward to riding him and I think he'll run a really big race,” Alenquer's jockey Tom Marquand said. “Whether that is good enough to put him in the frame, I don't know, because it's one of the best Arcs of my lifetime and we won't know until the race. We've got a good gate, so fingers crossed it all goes well. He's had an interrupted prep, which wasn't ideal. He ran well at York behind Mishriff, beating the rest convincingly, but it's the Arc and it certainly won't be easy.”

The aforementioned Raabihah, who was just over four-lengths fifth in this last year, bounced back to form upped in trip again last time when beating Saturday's G1 Prix de Royallieu protagonists Joie de Soir (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Valia (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the 12 1/2-furlong G2 Prix de Pomone at Deauville Aug. 22. On a line through the fourth Silence Please (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), the Jean-Claude Rouget trainee could theoretically be closer to Tarnawa now than she was when three-lengths second to her in the 2020 G1 Prix Vermeille.

Juveniles Set to Shine

Sunday's action begins with the G1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac, where Andre Fabre looks to pitch his highly-regarded 'TDN Rising Star' Raclette (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in at the deep end following two impressive wins at Deauville Aug. 8 and at Chantilly Sept. 17. She registered a four-length success from the smart colt Welwal (GB) (Shalaa {Ire}) on soft in the latter contest, but significant rain might yet lead to the withdrawal of Juddmonte's daughter of the four-times Grade I heroine Emollient (Empire Maker). Where Raclette is all promise, Scott Heider's Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio) is a rock of experience already having dominated the G3 Silver Flash S. at Leopardstown July 22 and The Curragh's G2 Debutante S. Aug. 21 and run second to Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. back at the latter venue Sept. 12. “Agartha has had a great season, she looks ready for this longer trip and looks to set the bar for the rest of them to come up to,” trainer Joseph O'Brien said. “There is a lot of rain due, but it isn't a big concern for her. Hopefully she runs another big race.”

Andre Fabre also saddles Godolphin's Fleur D'Iris (GB) (Shamardal) and Al Wasmiyah Farm's Zellie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who were first and second in the G3 Prix d'Aumale over this track and trip Sept. 9. The former holds the re-opposing Aug. 3 G3 Prix Six Perfections winner Oscula (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) on the form of the G2 Prix du Calvados at Deauville Aug. 21, where they were second and third behind the G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-bound Accakaba (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). Godolphin's Lisa-Jane Graffard said, “Fleur d'Iris was very dominant in the trial for this race on her latest start. This is a big step up against some seasoned 2-year-old opposition, but she is in good form and won on very soft ground at Compiegne in July.”

Merry Fox Stud Limited's Acer Alley (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) beat the subsequent G3 Prix Thomas Bryon runner-up Making Moovies (Ire) (Dabirsim {Fr}) and the G3 Prix de Conde winner El Bodegon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the seven-furlong G3 Prix la Rochette here Sept. 5 and is firmly in the mix. George Strawbridge's 'TDN Rising Star' Natasha (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will find this far harder than her easy novice wins at Kempton Aug. 20 and Sandown Sept. 10, but the Gosden representative has obvious potential as a half-sister to Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

The Wertheimers' aforementioned unbeaten filly Accakaba takes on the colts in the Lagardere, with the mile of the Marcel Boussac possibly beyond her stamina reserves at present. Al Shaqab's G1 Phoenix S. hero Ebro River (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) has to prove he stays this seven-furlong trip, having been worn down late by Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) as Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) disappeared into the distance in the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. at The Curragh Sept. 12. “I'm really looking forward to it–he's in great form,” trainer Hugo Palmer commented. “His last bit of work was good and he looked tremendous on Friday morning. He's got a nice draw. We're really excited about it.”

Marc Chan's Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) has been off since winning the G2 Vintage S. at Goodwood July 27 and the easier the ground the stronger his claims according to trainer Ralph Beckett. “Angel Bleu knows more about the game than I do now,” he commented. “I think he and Ebro River have run more than the rest of the field in the Lagardere combined. I think he'll run well, particularly with this forecast. We always felt after Goodwood that the Lagardere was the right spot for him.”

Coolmore and Westerberg's Sept. 9 G3 Prix des Chenes scorer Ancient Rome (War Front) drops in trip and Andre Fabre said of him, “Seven furlongs is a bit sharp for him, but we will see how we go. He could be a prospect for the Breeders' Cup or the Group 1 [Criterium International] in Saint-Cloud.”

Charlie Appleby seems to hold the upper hand with his juvenile colts at present and sends the Sept. 10 Listed Flying Scotsman S. winner Noble Truth (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) into battle here, while Aidan O'Brien who has won this eight times in its present guise and as the Grand Criterium saddles Peter Brant, Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor's Sept. 11 G2 Champions Juvenile S. runner-up Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Appleby said of the former, “I feel that Noble Truth doesn't look out of place in this field. He is a strong galloper who can maintain it. I think we will allow him to use that gallop more this time rather than trying to take him back. He goes into this in decent shape and we are hopeful of a good performance.”

Audarya Aims at Consecutive Operas

Post-Arc, the G1 Prix de l'Opera Longines gets the ball rolling again with Alison Swinburn's GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) looking to supplement both that victory and last year's G1 Prix Jean Romanet. Performing up to standard when second to Love in Royal Ascot's G1 Prince of Wales's S. June 16 and to Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) in the latest renewal of the Romanet at Deauville Aug. 22, the 5-year-old was below-par in between when fifth in Goodwood's G1 Nassau S. July 29. James Fanshawe said of Audarya, “Obviously, we'd all like better ground but she has run well on it before. She ran well there last year. Her best form is on that quick ground, but she doesn't mind the soft.”

Third behind Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Zeyaadah (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) in the Nassau, Joan of Arc (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is back in her comfort zone after trailing in last of seven in the G1 Prix Vermeille over a mile and a half here Sept. 12. Her defeat of Philomene (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Burgarita (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and 'TDN Rising Star' Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Prix de Diane over 10 1/2 furlongs at Chantilly June 20 puts her in prime position. “She's come out of the race well from the last day–we think a mile and a half was too far for her, so going back to a mile and a quarter we think should suit her well,” the Ballydoyle handler explained. “She likes to be ridden forward and she usually gets the trip well. The last day was a little bit of a mess, so we'll just put a line through that.”

Joan of Arc's compatriot Thundering Nights (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) adds more ballast as the winner of the G1 Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh June 27 and even though she has been upstaged on her next two starts, remains a leading player. “Thundering Nights is another filly that has had a big season for us and she was a bit below form in the Blandford S. last time, but she was carrying a penalty and the race didn't really go her way,” trainer Joseph O'Brien said. “She is better than she showed there and can hopefully show it in this. She is one that won't have too many worries if the forecast rain arrives.”

Arguably Germany's star turn on the fixture is Gestut Etzean's unbeaten Palmas (Ger) (Lord of England {Ger}), who registered a six-length success in the G1 Preis der Diana over another furlong at Dusseldorf at the start of August and at this stage is an unknown quantity.

Speed to Spare

In the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines, King Power's Winter Power (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) bids to repeat her antics in York's G1 Nunthorpe S. Aug. 20 where she had the subsequent G1 Haydock Sprint Cup hero Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal) in second and Suesa (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) in fourth. Only 10th on her next start in the G1 Flying Five at The Curragh Sept. 12, the grey will find it easier to boss this strip. “She's in good order,” trainer Tim Easterby said. “The track should suit and she should run well, fingers crossed. The ground will be okay for her and we'll see how the draw pans out, with a lot of the fancied horses drawn high.”

George Strawbridge took this with Silver Fling (The Minstrel) in 1989 and has reason to believe he can prevail again with Suesa, who came into her own when winning the G2 King George S. over this five-furlong trip at Goodwood July 30. Only fourth in the Nunthorpe, she may find the best compromise with the leaders slowed down by the ground over this distance and she is drawn near enough to Winter Power to get a tow into the closing stages. “She came back well from York and has got some freshness,” trainer Francois Rohaut said. “She worked well last week and everything is okay with her. One thing is sure–the draw is better for her than in York, because her draw there was awful for us. She is drawn 12, but I think all the good horses are drawn on the outside so it's a good number for me.”

Successful in 2019 and a neck second last term, Bearstone Stud's Glass Slippers (GB) (Dream Ahead) is back for more having finished third in Goodwood's King George and in the Flying Five. Ahead of her on the latter occasion was Clipper Logistics Group's Romantic Proposal (Ire) (Raven's Pass) and Gary Devlin's A Case of You (Ire) (Hot Streak {Ire}), who are both progressive Irish sprinters certain to be suited by the run of the race. Eddie Lynam said of Romantic Proposal, “She's in good form. She ran the best race of her career the last day, so I hope we are as lucky again and things pan out for her.”

“She has no problem with ease in the ground, but I am very concerned it's going to get heavy over there and we've got a high draw,” Lynam added. “It does make it difficult, but Mabs Cross won from that draw. Let's hope they have over-shot the amount of rain they are going to get, but all the weather forecasts look very bad and it could come up very soft. She goes on good-to-soft, summer soft. I'd just be worried if it got into a bog.”

Foret Draw Key

If there is a race on the card where the draw is vital, it is the seven-furlong G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret and Haras de Saint Pair's Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) has the edge in that respect from stall five. Having proven her ability at this level when splitting No Speak Alexander (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}) and Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in second in the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown Sept. 11, the Paddy Twomey-trained homebred is a strong stayer at this trip as she proved when taking the G3 Brownstown S. at Fairyhouse July 11 and the G3 Fairy Bridge S. at Tipperary Aug. 26.

Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) has been aimed at this since 2018 only to miss the date and his only previous visit to this track resulted in a win in the 2020 G3 Prix de la Porte Maillot at this distance. Last year's G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and G2 Lennox S. winner was back to winning ways in the G2 City of York S. at York last time Aug. 21 and his 10 draw is not necessarily a disadvantage given that he is a hold-up merchant. “This is a race I have been trying to get Space Blues to run in for the last three years, but unfortunately he has met with a setback on each occasion,” Charlie Appleby explained. “We have put him in bubble wrap since the City of York S. and he goes into this in great shape. He looked fantastic in his work during the week. He loves soft ground, but it's the last group race of the day and it could be a war of attrition looking at the forecast. I'm pleased with his draw in stall 10 and William Buick knows him inside out.”

If Space Blues is not entirely compromised by the draw, that is the case for The Aga Khan's Sagamiyra (Fr) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) who has only one rival on her outer in 15. She had Speak of the Devil (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) a short head back in third when runner-up in the G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville Aug. 3 and confirmed her superiority over that rival when winning the course-and-distance G3 Prix du Pin Sept. 12. Giving the impression of an improver, the Mikel Delzangles-trained homebred will nevertheless need all the luck to prevail in a renewal featuring two other TDN Rising Stars in Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}).

Click here for the group fields.

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Godolphin's G1 Cazoo Derby and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. winner is one of two to carry the royal blue in the ParisLongchamp showpiece alongside G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Cazoo St Leger victor Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

Snowfall has enjoyed an outstanding season, kicked off by a win in the G3 Musidora S. at York in May before taking the G1 Cazoo Oaks in June, the July 17 G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks, and Aug. 19 G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks. The Coolmore partners colourbearer was only 1 ½ lengths behind Roger Varian's Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille on Sept. 12. Aidan O'Brien also saddles five-time Group 1 winner Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}), successful in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in July.

His Highness The Aga Khan's Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal), an electric winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Turf last season and second to the recently retired St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G1 Irish Champion S. on Sept. 11, lines up for Dermot Weld. Shadwell's G2 Darley Prix de Pomone victress Raabihah (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is also signed on from the Jean-Claude Rouget yard, while Richard Hannon sends Derby second and St Leger runner-up Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for Amo Racing. Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) will take part for trainer William Haggas. Germany is represented by Group 1 winner Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) for trainer Marcel Weiss.

Japan's four-time Group 1 winner Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) and Sept. 12 G2 Prix Foy victor Deep Bond (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) are also entered. The pair will be ridden by Oisin Murphy and Mickael Barzalona, respectively.

“Cristian [Demuro] couldn't ride for various reasons and I was surprised that Mickael Barzalona was free in the race,” said Ryuji Okubo. “It will depend on the weather [how Deep Bond is ridden]. There is rain forecast over the weekend, so the ground is going to be a little bit softer than it was on the day of the Prix Foy.

“Everything will really depend on the pace of the race and also the draw. In Japan he doesn't usually run from the front, he usually drops in behind the leader and obviously on Sunday we will have to think how that will pan out, but we wouldn't want to have Chrono Genesis just sitting behind.”

The Arc field is rounded out by Cedric Rossi's Group 1 winner Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), and the G2 Qatar Prix Niel one-two of Bubble Gift (Fr) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Baby Rider (Fr) (Gleneagles {Ire}).

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Snowfall's underwhelming juvenile campaign has been well-documented by now, with seven outings beginning over an extended five furlongs at Navan in June and culminating in the G1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket in October, where she was the subject of a case of mistaken identity with the stable's other Classic heroine Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). Those runs yielded just one maiden win over seven furlongs at The Curragh and one placing, which was on that aforementioned racecourse bow, but it was in this track's G3 Musidora S. that the watershed came at a now-laughable starting price of 14-1 on her 3-year-old re-introduction May 12. Ryan Moore thought best to leave her to Frankie for the Oaks June 4 and he was made to suffer on Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) as she bounded clear to set a record-winning distance in the easy ground.

Her subsequent Irish Oaks romp at The Curragh July 17 was enough to convince any remaining doubters as to her merit, but this served as a new examination taking on the likes of the proven Wonderful Tonight. While David Menuisier was happy to let that G1 Prix de Royallieu and G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. heroine run on this ever-quickening surface, she over-raced for William Buick even allowing for having an ideal target in the 150-1 outsider La Joconde. Hollie Doyle enjoyed a real tune from that freewheeling runner as she had when also riding for this stable in the Dante here in May and she managed to see off all bar the rearguard, with the winner in a class of her own and Albaflora providing Kirsten Rausing with another highlight in a stellar 2021 and a second consecutive runner-up placing in this after Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) followed home Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) 12 months ago. With Wonderful Tonight running well below-par, the clock remained the only true guide to Snowfall's performance and three impressive sub 12-second splits in the straight saw her set the fastest time in this race since Catchascatchcan (GB) (Pursuit of Love {GB}) in 1998.

“She'd been doing everything well and was thriving at home and putting on weight,” Aidan O'Brien said. “She is very relaxed and has got very professional. Ryan said he ended up being there way too early, but that's what she does–she quickens very well. I was a little bit taken aback by her in the parade ring and how well she had done–she looked like a filly that was going to come on for the run and she's matured from a baby 3-year-old into a very mature one. The lads will decide whether she takes another run before the [Oct. 3] Arc, either at Longchamp or Leopardstown and it doesn't matter about the ground with her. If St Mark's Basilica comes back for Leopardstown, she could go to Longchamp. She gets a mile and a half very well, has everything going for her and has a beautiful mind. She had a few blips last year, but it might have worked to her advantage as she learnt a lot before she ran in anything big. That experience of travelling to England is really showing now and it's very interesting the way it's happening for her. She is a filly that travels very well and is behaving like a filly older than she is, so it's very exciting.”

Ralph Beckett said of Albaflora, “There was a great deal of discussion whether we were even going to run, but she was really well and thriving at home. When the ball is at your feet you have to kick it. We didn't win, I'm not sure we ever thought we were going to but I was pretty sure she'd run well if things went our way. She enjoys being ridden like that. To go and do that today when she's really a soft-ground filly as well is great.”

Wonderful Tonight's trainer David Menuisier was far from downbeat as he retained laser-focus on the Arc. “William [Buick]'s report was that she's not the same filly on good ground as she is on soft,” he explained. “I told him before the race if he felt she wasn't going on it to look after her. The plan today was to give her a good blow before the next step with the Arc as the target and that's what we did. I'm really happy with the run, considering the conditions were not in her favour so I think there was no harm done. Last year when she ran in the Vermeille on good-to-firm ground she ran a similar race to today, we know when the ground gets softer she can easily improve by 10 lengths or more. She's basically the same filly she was last year on this sort of ground and that is why I'm not disappointed. We had to give it a go as I wanted her to have two races before the Arc, as we saw at Goodwood that when she gets fresh she is keen. Her next race will be at Longchamp, but it could be the [Sept. 12 G2] Prix Foy rather than the [G1] Prix Vermeille, because the fillies are better than the colts this year!”

Snowfall is the first foal out of the G3 Give Thanks S. and Listed Staffordstown Stud S. winner and G2 Blandford S. runner-up Best In the World (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is a full-sister to three other Galileos headed by the stable's prior G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Found (Ire) successful also in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. The others are the G3 C. L. Weld Park S. winner Magical Dream (Ire) and last year's G3 Flame of Tara S. winner Divinely (Ire), who is usually in attendance when Snowfall appears and followed her home in second in the Irish Oaks and third at Epsom before trailing in sixth here. Found is also the dam of last year's G2 Vintage S. winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up Battleground (War Front), while they are out of the G1 Lockinge S. and G1 Matron S. heroine Red Evie (Ire) (Intikhab). Best In the World's unraced 2-year-old full-brother to Snowfall is in training at Ballydoyle and named Newfoundland (Ire), while she also has a yearling colt by Dubawi (Ire).

Thursday, York, Britain
DARLEY YORKSHIRE OAKS-G1, £400,000, York, 8-19, 3yo/up, f/m, 11f 188yT, 2:26.61, gd.
1–SNOWFALL (JPN), 124, f, 3, by Deep Impact (Jpn)
    1st Dam: Best In the World (Ire) (GSW-Ire, $141,246), by Galileo (Ire)
    2nd Dam: Red Evie (Ire), by Intikhab
    3rd Dam: Malafemmena (Ire), by Nordico
O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Roncon, Chelston Ire, Wynatt (JPN); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £226,840. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ire, 11-5-0-1, $974,271. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Albaflora (GB), 133, f, 4, Muhaarar (GB)–Almiranta (GB), by Galileo (Ire). O/B-Miss K Rausing (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. £86,000.
3–La Joconde (Ire), 124, f, 3, Frankel (GB)–Wadyhatta (GB), by Cape Cross (Ire). (850,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Westerberg; B-Lynch Bages Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £43,040.
Margins: 4, 2 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.53, 16.00, 150.00.
Also Ran: Wonderful Tonight (Fr), Loving Dream (GB), Divinely (Ire), Eshaada (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Breaking her maiden in the seven-furlong maiden at this meeting 12 months ago, having almost been brought down when clipping heels on her second start over the same course and distance, Snowfall gradually slipped down the pecking order with four efforts hardly screaming dual Classic winner at three. Fourth in Leopardstown's G3 Silver Flash S. and fifth in the G2 Debutante S. here in August, she was ninth in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. in September prior to running eighth when mistaken for Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the G1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket in October. Amazingly, she was 14-1 when dismissing the much-vaunted pair of Noon Star (Galileo {Ire}) and Teona (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the G3 Musidora S. over an extended 10 furlongs at York May 12 and passed over by Moore in favour of Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the Oaks and it was Frankie Dettori who enjoyed the long-to-be-remembered cruise through the Epsom feature as a result.

Anything other than an emphatic win here would have been questioned and Snowfall did not disappoint to provide Aidan O'Brien with a sixth renewal to take him level with Sir Michael Stoute for the record. “She's very smart and she has a lot of quality,” he said. “We purposely let her down a little bit from Epsom, because the season is going to roll on and it was soft ground there. The plan was to come here, go on to the [G1] Yorkshire Oaks [at York Aug. 19] and then she'd be ready for the autumn. I'm delighted with her and she's done very well from Epsom physically, she's got very big and strong. Ryan said she has a lot of speed. She goes very strong and she finishes out very well.”

Reflecting on last term, the master of Rosegreen added, “She's a filly that always had a lot of natural ability and we had to get her to relax a little bit, so we didn't worry too much about it as we were always concentrating on switching her off. Things went against her. Her first run was over five-and-a-half furlongs in Navan and Mother Earth was second. Then she came back here to a maiden and Seamus nearly fell off her. That's why it took a few runs to win a maiden and it might have been a blessing in disguise, as she became very mature and grown up from it mentally. Because she was busy early in the season it might have took it's toll at the end of the season, even though she was perfect mentally. She and Mother Earth ran in the Fillies' Mile and we were nearly siding with her over Mother Earth. That's what we always thought of her. We always thought fast ground was her thing and I was very worried in Epsom about her with that ground.”

Bred in the purple she carries, Snowfall is the first foal out of Best In the World (Ire) by the much-missed Galileo (Ire) whose two successes came in the G3 Give Thanks S. and the Listed Silken Glider S. and who was also runner-up in the G2 Blandford S. She is a full-sister to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and GI Breeders' Cup Turf heroine Found (Ire), who the winner could stand comparison with in time, as well as the G3 Weld Park S. winner Magical Dream (Ire) and the G3 Flame of Tara S. scorer Divinely (Ire) who was third in the Epsom Oaks and runner-up here. Found is in turn the dam of last year's G2 Vintage S. and Listed Chesham S. winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and G1 St James's Palace S.-placed Battleground (War Front). The second dam is the G1 Lockinge S. and G1 Matron S. heroine Red Evie (Ire) (Intikhab). Best In the World has the unraced 2-year-old full-brother to Snowfall named Newfoundland (Ire) and a yearling colt by Dubawi (Ire).

Saturday, Curragh, Ireland
JUDDMONTE IRISH OAKS-G1, €448,000, Curragh, 7-17, 3yo, f, 12fT, 2:34.36, gd.
1–SNOWFALL (JPN), 128, f, 3, by Deep Impact (Jpn)
1st Dam: Best In The World (Ire) (GSW-Ire, $141,246), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Red Evie (Ire), by Intikhab
3rd Dam: Malafemmena (Ire), by Nordico
O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Roncon, Chelston Ire, Wynatt (JPN); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €232,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, 10-4-0-1, $667,020. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Divinely (Ire), 128, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Red Evie (Ire). by Intikhab. O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €80,000.
3–Nicest (Ire), 128, f, 3, American Pharoah–Chicquita (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien. €40,000.
Margins: 8HF, HF, 2 3/4. Odds: 0.29, 11.00, 10.00.
Also Ran: Willow (Ire), Party House (Ire), La Joconde (Ire), Ahandfulofsummers (Ire), Mariesque (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Sitting in second is Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) at 123. Three horses share third at 122–Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) for his GI Resorts World Casino Manhattan S. win, Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), and Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper). Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who won Saturday's G1 Cazoo Derby, has moved up to 121 to sit a joint-sixth. Others on that mark are: Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) for his triumph over Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) (120) in the G1 Coral Coronation Cup; GI Belmont S. presented by NYRA Bets winner Essential Quality (Tapit); G1 Victoria Mile heroine Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}); MG1SW Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and Aussie Eduardo (Aus) (Host {Chi}).

There are also several horses rated 120. Some of the new additions at 120 are: G1 Japanese Derby one-two Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}); G1 Cazoo Oaks victress Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}); G1 Qatar Prix Du Jockey Club victor St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}); and G1 Doomben Cup hero Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}). For more details, please visit www.ifhaonline.org.

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When Snowfall beat the much-vaunted Noon Star (Galileo {Ire}) and Teona (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) effectively pulling a cart at 14-1 in the Musidora, there was a sense of general surprise given that every time she had come up against quality opposition at two she had been found wanting. Incredibly, she was involved in the notorious mix-up with Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the G1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket in October and having been called third initially was later confirmed as having finished eighth behind that eventual G1 1000 Guineas heroine. That Frankie should ride both to separate Classic success with all at Rosegreen infatuated with TDN Rising Star Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is a twist of fate which stretches even the wildest imagination and the manner of this performance was simply extraordinary given the competitive look of the race beforehand.

If things had fallen differently for Snowfall early in her 2-year-old career, she may have been coming here as the stable number one instead of able deputy. She must have kidded them at Ballydoyle before she set foot on a racecourse, as she was introduced over an extended five furlongs at Navan in June and, with the benefit of this kind of hindsight, managed something unusual by finishing third behind the super-charged Frenetic (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) with Mother Earth in second. In what could have been a sliding doors moment, she clipped heels when coming to win her second start over seven furlongs at The Curragh later that month and was lucky to stand up. Despite going back to that same course and distance to break her maiden three weeks later, that incident may have had a lingering effect as her next four starts resulted in off-the-board efforts. Fourth in Leopardstown's G3 Silver Flash S. and fifth in The Curragh's G2 Debutante S. in August, she was only ninth in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. in September prior to another no-show running as the wrong filly in the Fillies' Mile.

Aidan O'Brien may not have been able to foresee such a dynamic performance, which puts her front-and-centre among the Classic generation and will take some matching in Saturday's Derby, but he did reveal that he had an inkling the winner was capable of something unique beforehand. “We really thought she was a proper group one filly last year and she kept disappointing,” commented the Ballydoyle handler, who is ripping up the rule books equalling John Scott's 185-year-old record of 40 British Classic winners. “Little things happened to her in races and stuff like that. She was very impressive at York and maybe she's just got a bit stronger over the winter and the extra distance helped. She's by Deep Impact out of a full-sister to Found, so it's an unbelievable pedigree. When ground turns like that, you can sometimes get extreme distances but Frankie gave her a very good ride and she looks a very special filly.”

Of Santa Barbara, who ended up fifth as the 5-2 favourite, he added, “Ryan said she cantered into the race and then, in that ground, she just emptied out on him. She'll probably go back to a mile and a quarter next. She has loads of class. We thought that she would handle that ground, but in that going staying the trip was the worry with the pace she has. She's a big, powerful, strong filly.”

Snowfall is the first foal out of the ambitiously-titled and now aptly-named Best In the World (Ire) by the stellar sire Galileo who has such a major influence again on Saturday's Derby. Her two wins in blck-type company came in the G3 Give Thanks S. and the Listed Staffordstown Stud S., while she was also runner-up in the G2 Blandford S. and third in the G3 Munster Oaks. As mentioned, she is a full-sister to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and GI Breeders' Cup Turf heroine Found, as well as the G3 Park S. winner Magical Dream (Ire) and last year's G3 Flame of Tara S. winner Divinely who chased her home here. Found is in turn now the dam of last year's G2 Vintage S. winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up Battleground (War Front). These four Galileo siblings are out of the G1 Lockinge S. and G1 Matron S. heroine Red Evie (Ire) (Intikhab). Best In the World's unraced 2-year-old full-brother to Snowfall is in training at Ballydoyle and named Newfoundland (Ire), while she also has a yearling colt by Dubawi (Ire).

Friday, Epsom Downs, Britain
CAZOO OAKS-G1, £395,000, Epsom, 6-4, 3yo, f, 12f 6yT, 2:42.67, g/s.
1–SNOWFALL (JPN), 126, f, 3, by Deep Impact (Jpn)
1st Dam: Best In The World (Ire) (GSW-Ire, $141,246), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Red Evie (Ire), by Intikhab
3rd Dam: Malafemmena (Ire), by Nordico
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Roncon, Chelston Ire, Wynatt (JPN); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £224,005. Lifetime Record: 9-3-0-1, $393,132. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mystery Angel (Ire), 126, f, 3, Kodi Bear (Ire)–Angel Grace (Ire), by Dark Angel (Ire). (£13,000 Ylg '19 GOFFPR; 22,000gns 2yo '20 TATBRE). O-Nick Bradley Racing 27 & Partner; B-Mrs Noelle Walsh (IRE); T-George Boughey. £84,925.
3–Divinely (Ire), 126, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Red Evie (Ire), by Intikhab. O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £42,502.
Margins: 16, 1 3/4, 1. Odds: 5.50, 50.00, 20.00.
Also Ran: Save A Forest (Ire), Santa Barbara (Ire), Ocean Road (Ire), Technique (GB), Saffron Beach (Ire), Sherbet Lemon, Teona (Ire), La Joconde (Ire), Dubai Fountain (Ire), Zeyaadah (Ire), Willow (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Joining the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas fourth from Ballydoyle is G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. heroine Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), G3 Kilcarn Stud Flame Of Tara Irish EBF S. victress Divinely (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the Group 3 placed Willow (Ire) (American Pharoah), and La Joconde (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), runner-up in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 2 for the Sangster family, James Wigan and trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam, drew post seven. One to her inside is Mark Johnston's Dubai Fountain (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), the winner of the Listed Cheshire Oaks on May 5 for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.

Shadwell's listed winner Zeyaadah (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) is one of three for trainer Roger Varian, the others are Musidora third Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the colours of Ali Saeed and the Gredley Family's Save A Forest (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), second to the Archie Watson-trained and Apple Tree Stud-owned Sherbet Lemon (Lemon Drop Kid) in the Listed Novibet Oaks Trial Fillies' S. Third to Sherbet Lemon that day was Qatar Racing's Ocean Road (Ire) (Australia {GB}) who will leave from stall five for Hugo Palmer with Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy in the irons.

Rounding out the field are Mantonbury Stud's Technique (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) from the Martyn Meade yard and supplementary entry Mystery Angel (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) for Nick Bradley Racing 27 and Partner. The Ben Curtis trainee won the Listed Betfair Pretty Polly S. and was fourth in the Musidora to Snowfall.

Nick Bradley said of his £22,500 supplementary entry, “It looks a stronger race than we'd have liked, but we are where we are. The track will suit and she appears to be in very good form–she's in better form at home than she was going to York.

“She looks overpriced a little bit at the moment, I think. We're hopeful of a good run.”

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