There were plenty of strands to an enthralling St Leger that would have made for good storylines: two of those, victory for Desert Hero with his owners present on Town Moor, or a final British Classic for Frankie Dettori, may well have propelled the dear old Classic to the front pages on Sunday. As it was, and for less obviously mainstream reasons, the win of Continuous was extremely satisfying. 

His success completed a full set of British Classics for Sunday Silence as paternal grandsire, with three of his sons having provided this quintet. The most significant contributor was of course Deep Impact (Jpn), Sunday Silence's most influential offspring, but Saturday provided the chance for Heart's Cry to have a posthumous moment in the limelight, some six months after his death at the age of 22, which came two years after he was pensioned at Shadai Stallion Station in Japan.

Heart's Cry, out of the dual Grade 3 winner Irish Dance (Jpn), herself a daughter of the Arc winner Tony Bin (Ire), has lived in the shadow of his more famous stud-mate Deep Impact. This is despite Heart's Cry having been the only horse to have beaten him on Japanese soil, in the G1 Arima Kinen in the year of Deep Impact's Triple Crown success. Heart's Cry was a year older, and after winning the G2 Shimbun Hai went on to run second in the Japanese Derby to another legend of the Shadai stallion ranks, King Kamehameha (Jpn). Campaigned at three, four and five, he will doubtless be best remembered as a racehorse for his defeat of Deep Impact, but he was beaten only a nose by the English-trained raider Alkaased in the Japan Cup a month before that, and after his Christmas Day triumph went on to Nad Al Sheba, where he was the easy winner of the Dubai Sheema Classic, with Ouija Board (GB) and Alexander Goldrun (Ire) among those to have finished behind him that day.

In 2007, both he and Deep Impact retired to Shadai's imposing stallion roster, and three years later they were first and second on the first-season sires' table. By 2012, Deep Impact was champion sire, a position he is only likely to relinquish this year, four seasons after his death. Heart's Cry worked his way up the table and has never been out of the top five stallions in Japan in the last decade, with his highest placing coming in 2019 when he was once again runner-up to his old rival.

In the 2,000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior (Jpn), Oaks victrix Snowfall (Jpn) and this season's Derby, Irish Derby and Irish Champion S. winner Auguste Rodin (Jpn), we have seen Deep Impact blend well with mares by Galileo (Ire). It is fair to assume that that is where Fluff (Ire), the full-sister to Saxon Warrior's dam Maybe (Ire), was heading in 2019 in the season in which Deep Impact became incapacitated before his death in the August of that year. Heart's Cry stepped in and on Saturday, as Continuous unleashed a lethal injection of pace to cruise to make the front-running Gregory (GB) look as if he was standing still, it was easy to spot the thick silver lining to what may have once felt like a black cloud. 

Natagora (Fr), the 1,000 Guineas winner of 2008 after her previous season's victory in the G1 Cheveley Park S., is the only outlier to the group. Conceived during the three seasons in which her sire Divine Light (Jpn) stood in France, she is out of the Lagardere-bred Reinamixa (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}).

Deep Impact has also been represented by three French Classic winners in Study Of Man (Ire) and Beauty Parlour (GB), both out of Storm Cat-line mares, and Fancy Blue (Ire), whose dam is a full-sister to High Chaparral (Ire) (Sadler's Wells).

Heart's Cry can't match him in the depth of his haul of Group 1 winners but he has been no slouch himself. In Australia, he has sired the Cox Plate winner Lys Gracieux (Jpn) and the Caulfield Cup winner Admire Rakti (Jpn). The latter was another to have been out of a mare by an Arc winner, this one being Helissio (Fr), who also started his stud career at Shadai.

A nice postscript in the year of Heart's Cry's demise is that his son Suave Richard (Jpn), one of his two winners of the Japan Cup, is currently leading the freshman sires' table in Japan. 

What will arguably be most important to Japan on the reputational front, however, is if Heart's Cry appears as the sire of an Arc winner himself. It's a tall order to turn out a relatively lightly-raced colt again just 15 days after his St Leger triumph but it is hard not to feel that Continuous, who will need to be supplemented, has much in his favour to make an impact at Longchamp on the first Sunday of October. 

The only thing that would make the Japanese fans happier on Arc day than a win for Continuous would be if the spoils went instead to Through Seven Seas (Jpn). The five-year-old mare is by Dream Journey (Jpn), a grandson of Sunday Silence, and she was last seen running the mighty Equinox (Jpn) to a neck in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen in June. Trained by Tomohito Ozeki, Through Seven Seas arrived in Chantilly on Friday and is boarding at Nicolas Clement's stable in the build-up to the Arc.

More than thirty Japanese horses have tried their luck in vain in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Will Through Seven Seas be the one to put an end to this quest for the ultimate title? #Qatar #ArcDeTriomphe @Q_REC @JRA_WorldRacing @HorseRacing_JPN @christo68914587 pic.twitter.com/uovN16Xfva

— France Galop (@francegalop) September 16, 2023

A Valued Test

While there is plenty of head-shaking at the shuffling off to National Hunt studs of St Leger winners in this part of the world (NB: this doesn't prevent Flat breeders from using their services), the picture is entirely different in Japan.

As Triple Crown winners, Deep Impact and his immensely popular young stallion son Contrail (Jpn) of course both won Japan's St Leger equivalent, the Kikuka Sho. So did Kitasan Black (Jpn), the sire of Equinox and the busiest stallion in Japan this year with 242 mares covered. So too did Orfevre (Jpn), who was beaten a neck into second in the following year's Arc, and also Epipheneaia (Jpn), who went on to win the Japan Cup and sired the Fillies' Triple Crown winner Daring Tact (Jpn) in his first crop. They too remain popular members of the Shadai roster. 

Another For the Late Adlerflug

Doncaster's was not the only St Leger to be run over the weekend, as the German equivalent was also staged at Dortmund on Sunday, though this, like the Irish St Leger, has in recent years been opened up to older horses. 

This year's winner, the Gestut Hof Ittlingen homebred Lordano (Ger), is a four-year-old, and the son of Adlerflug (Ger) went one better than his full-brother Loft (Ger), who was second in the same race two years ago.

The most famous member of this family that has served Ittlingen so well, in international terms at least, is Lando (Ger) (Acetanango {Ger}), a full-brother to their grand-dam, Laurella (GB). At home, Lando took the scalp of Monsun (Ger) in the Deutsches Derby and in the following season's Grosser Preis von Baden. Twice named German Horse of the Year, he spread his wings to win two Group 1 races in Italy and, finally, the Japan Cup of 1995. He makes an appearance in modern-day pedigrees most usually as the damsire of the talented but subfertile Farhh (GB), who already has four young sons at stud: Far Above (Ire), King Of Change (GB), Wells Farhh Go (Ire) and Dee Ex Bee (GB).

Despite twice beating Monsun (Ger), Lando could not be held in the same regard as him as an influence at stud. In reflecting on Monsun's reign it is worth remembering that his sire Konigsstuhl (Ger) won the German Triple Crown, while his damsire, the Deutsches Derby winner Surumu (Ger), also features as the paternal grandsire of Lando.

Class will out, if only we give it a chance.

Hotter Still

As the two-year-old racing steps up a notch in Europe, it is hard not to be impressed with the start Too Darn Hot (GB) has made to his stud career. 

After the previous weekend's victory for his daughter Fallen Angel (GB), whose owner-breeder Steve Parkin outlined plans for his own stallion operation in Monday's TDN, Too Darn Hot was represented by another eye-catching success in the facile winner of the G2 May Hill S., Darnation (Ire), for owner-bredeer Newtown Anner Stud.

Karl Burke is the trainer behind both of these fillies and he's pretty darn hot himself at the moment with a 30% strike-rate. Burke also provided Ballyhane Stud's Soldier's Call (GB) with his first group winner over the weekend in the G3 Prix Eclipse scorer Dawn Charger (Ire), as well as winning the Listed Stand Cup S. at Chester with Al Qareem (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}). At Ireland's Champions Festival, Burke had also saddled G2 Dullingham Park S. winner Flight Plan (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}).

Another highly impressive juvenile performance at Doncaster came from Iberian (Ire), winner of the G2 Champagne S. for Charlie Hills. The son of Lope De Vega (Ire) was bred by Ballylinch Stud, who retained a share in him when he was bought by Johnny McKeever on his trainer's behalf, and Ballylinch now races him in partnership with Teme Valley Racing. With luck we will see this progressive colt next in the Dewhurst.

Lope De Vega, whose first-crop son Belardo (Ire) won the Dewhurst in 2014 and was also bred by Ballylinch, has sired more winners (138) in Europe than any other stallion so far this year, and that haul includes 14 black-type winners. 

Iberian's success capped a good 36 hours for bloodstock agent Johnny McKeever, who saw two of his in-training selections for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable land group wins in Australia. Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) won Saturday's G3 Kingston Town S. at Randwick after being bought from from last year's Horses-in-Training Sale, while Goffs London Sale purchase Military Mission (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) landed the G3 Newcastle Gold Cup.

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One of the most talented horses Roger Varian has ever trained, Teona went on to finish third in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf behind Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) at Del Mar last term, but had yet to reappear this season.

Varian revealed on Friday that Teona, owned by Ali Saeed, will embark on a career as a broodmare after picking up an injury.

Speaking on Twitter, Varian said, “We are disappointed to report that Teona has met with a season-ending injury and will be retired. She was a pleasure to train and can now enjoy her second career as a broodmare.”

Teona graced the track just seven times but, as she showed in Paris, was electric on her day. That Prix Vermeille victory was her only top-flight success but she did win a listed event at Windsor–the Sytner BMW Sunningdale August S.–during her 3-year-old campaign.

A half-sister to the G2 Prix Hocquart victor Al Hilalee (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Teona is from a high-class family and her dam, Ambivalent, carried Saeed's colours to Group 1 glory when winning the Pretty Polly S. at the Curragh in 2013.

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Trainer Aidan O'Brien mourned the loss, telling racingpost.com: “We did everything we could for her but it wasn't to be. She is a massive loss to everyone here, from a racing and breeding perspective – she was such a high-class mare.”

A five-time winner from 14 starts, Snowfall came to prominence in 2021 with a 16-length victory in the Group 1 Epsom Oaks, the largest margin of victory in the race's history. She would go on to win the G1 Irish Oaks by 8 1/2 lengths and the G1 Yorkshire Oaks, her first try against older fillies and mares, by four lengths.

“I've ridden 21 British Classic winners in my life but I have never ridden an easier one than her in the Oaks,” Frankie Dettori told racingpost.com. “It was just unbelievable. I had the race won at Tattenham Corner. She was at her peak and just brilliant. She went through the field like a hot knife through butter.

“In this day and age, I don't think we will see a performance like that again. I don't expect to ever win another Classic like that in my life.”

Snowfall's dam, Best In The World, has also foaled a 2019 colt by Deep Impact named Newfoundland, who has yet to start, and an as-yet unnamed 2-year-old colt by Dubawi.

Read more at the Racing Post.

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“It's very sad news, terrible,” said trainer Aidan O'Brien. “The lads were thinking of keeping her in training but they hadn't quite made up their minds. It was very possible.

“She had a pelvic injury in her box. Sometimes pelvic injuries go the right way or they can go the wrong way. Unfortunately this one went the wrong way. It's very sad and I feel very sorry for the lads, for Derrick [Smith], Michael [Tabor] and John [Magnier].”

Snowfall was bred by the Coolmore partners and is the first foal out of Best In The World (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a Group 3-winning daughter of the G1 Matron S. and G1 Lockinge S. victress Red Evie (Ire) (Intikhab), and therefore a full-sister to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and GI Breeders' Cup Turf scorer Found (Ire), the G3 Flame Of Tara S. winner and dual Oaks-placed Divinely (Ire) and the G3 Park S. winner Magical Dream (Ire). Best In The World was sent to Japan to start her stud career with consecutive matings to Deep Impact, the first resulting in Snowfall and the second the newly turned 3-year-old Newfoundland (Ire).

Snowfall broke her maiden in July of 2020 at The Curragh at third asking but failed to find the winner's enclosure in four subsequent starts as a juvenile. She first garnered headlines when a saddling enclosure error ahead of the G1 Fillies' Mile saw she and Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) saddled with each other's towels and ridden by each other's jockeys; it was initially thought that she ran third at 50-1, but the mistake was soon realised and she was correctly identified as finishing eighth. Both Mother Earth and Snowfall would go on to Classic victories and multiple Group 1s at three.

Partnered with Ryan Moore for the first time in the G3 Musidora S. on seasonal debut last May, Snowfall was a surprise 14-1 winner by an eye-catching 3 3/4 lengths over the highly regarded Noon Star (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Moore nonetheless took the ride on race favourite Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the Oaks, but on the first Friday in June there was no question who was best. Partnered by Frankie Dettori fresh off his win aboard Mother Earth in the G1 1000 Guineas, Snowfall traveled inconspicuously in the second half of the pack at Epsom. She began to creep closer leaving Tattenham corner and, when pressed by Dettori, burst to the lead two out, sprinting clear to win by a record 16 lengths at odds of 11-2.

Dettori drew comparisons post-race to the great Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who he won the Oaks on in 2017, saying, “four out I had everything beat. I looked in front and they were all gone. I just cut through the middle-it was like a hot knife through butter. It was quite remarkable, because I pulled up by the stables and everybody else pulled up by the winning post. I've won many Classics, but none as easy as this one. Enable did the Irish Oaks, King George and Arc as a 3-year-old after this, and I wouldn't put that past her, she's that good.”

Six weeks later, Snowfall resurfaced at The Curragh for the G1 Irish Oaks reunited with Ryan Moore. Buried midpack on the fence, she nonetheless found a seam upon straightening for home and was once again an incredibly easy winner, striding an effortless eighth lengths clear of a trio of her chasing stablemates, with her relative Divinely, who had been third in the Oaks, picking up second.

Four weeks later, it was off to York for Snowfall to face elders for the first time in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks, and the result was much the same, with the bay traveling near the rear of the pack and, when asked, quickening to the lead and drawing away to win by four lengths, establishing herself as favourite for the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

It came as quite a surprise then, when Snowfall suffered her first reversal when second to Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Prix Vermeille in September. Forced to face a bottomless Arc three weeks later, Snowfall was not disgraced but off the board for the first time when beaten 4 3/4 lengths in sixth, and made what was to be her final start when third in the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. at Ascot on Oct. 16. Snowfall won five races from 14 starts for earnings of £885,696. Her dam, Best In The World, has an as-yet unnamed 2-year-old colt by Dubawi (Ire).

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The Siyouni colt, who races for Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, becomes the sixth horse owned by a member of a Coolmore partnership to be crowned Cartier Horse Of The Year following Giant's Causeway (2000), Rock Of Gibraltar (2002), Hurricane Run (2005), Dylan Thomas (2007) and Minding (2016).

The Cartier Racing Awards were established in 1991 to reward excellence in horseracing. There are eight equine awards – the Cartier Horse Of The Year, the Cartier Older Horse, the Cartier Sprinter, the Cartier Stayer, the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt, the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly, the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt and the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly.

European horseracing's top awards are delivered through a tried and tested combination of points earned by horses 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%).

In addition to the equine awards, the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit goes to the person or persons who, in the opinion of the special 16-strong Cartier Jury, has/have done the most for European racing and/or breeding either over their lifetime or within the past 12 months.

Highlights of the prestigious evening will be shown on Sky Sports Racing on the evening of Friday, Nov. 12.

Winner of the G1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes as a two-year-old, St Mark's Basilica has sparkled this season with four G1 victories across France, Britain and Ireland during an unbeaten campaign.

He annexed the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains, the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, the Coral-Eclipse and the Irish Champion Stakes. The other nominees for the Cartier Horse of the Year were Baaeed, Mishriff and Torquator Tasso.

Trained by Aidan O'Brien, St Mark's Basilica also takes the honors in the Cartier 3-Year-Old Colt category ahead of Adayar, Baaeed and Hurricane Lane.

Palace Pier, owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and trained by John and Thady Gosden, takes the Cartier Older Horse award following a superb season that included G1 wins in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes, the Queen Anne Stakes and the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois. The other nominees were Lady Bowthorpe, Mishriff and Torquator Tasso. Palace Pier was previously crowned the Cartier 3-Year-Old Colt at the 2020 Cartier Racing Awards.

Snowfall recorded the largest winning margin in the history of the G1 Cazoo Oaks when capturing the Epsom Downs Classic by 16 lengths and the daughter of Deep Impact is named the Cartier 3-Year-Old Filly.

Trained by Aidan O'Brien for a Coolmore syndicate, Snowfall also recorded dominant wins in the G3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes, G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks and G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks. Also nominated for Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly were Alcohol Free, Mother Earth and Saffron Beach.

Starman takes the Cartier Sprinter honors for trainer Ed Walker and owner David Ward following an admirable season headlined by success in the G1 Darley July Cup. The Dutch Art colt also placed in the G1 Larc Prix Maurice de Gheest and was narrowly denied in the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup. Fellow G1 winners Creative Force, Emaraaty Ana and Winter Power were also nominated.

One of the most popular horses in training, Trueshan, is named the Cartier Stayer. Trained by Alan King for the Singula Partnership, the five-year-old is unbeaten in his last three starts having won the G1 Qatar Goodwood Cup, the G1 Qatar Prix du Cadran and the G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup. Also nominated for Cartier Stayer were Hurricane Lane, Stradivarius and Subjectivist.

Native Trail is the Cartier 2-Year-Old Colt. Owned by the Maktoum family's Godolphin operation and trained by Charlie Appleby, the Oasis Dream colt is unbeaten in four starts and recorded a brace of G1 successes in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes and the Darley Dewhurst Stakes. Native Trail saw off competition from Angel Bleu, Luxembourg and Perfect Power to win the award.

Inspiral takes the honours in the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly category. Trained by John and Thady Gosden for Cheveley Park Stud, the Frankel filly has won all four of her starts and finished her campaign with victory in the G1 bet365 Fillies' Mile. Also nominated were Discoveries, Tenebrism and Zellie.

The recipient of the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit in 2021 is David Elsworth, one of the most successful dual-purpose trainers Britain has produced. In a racing career spanning 67 years, Elsworth has scaled the pinnacles of both Flat and Jump racing, combining Classic success with victories in the Grand National and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Equally adept at saddling winners at Royal Ascot and the Cheltenham Festival, the trainer also oversaw the careers of two of the most popular horses in racing history – Desert Orchid and Persian Punch.

Harry Herbert, Cartier's Racing Consultant commented: “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.

“I would like to end by extending special thanks to Cartier, Sky Sports Racing, The Daily Telegraph and Racing Post.

“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, commented: “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.

“I would like to thank our long-standing media partners, the Racing Post and Daily Telegraph, as well as Sky Sports Racing for their involvement in the awards again.”

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1.05 Nottingham, Mdn, £14,000, 2yo, c/g, 8f 75yT
KALAHARI PRINCE (IRE) (New Approach {Ire}) is one of five Godolphin representatives lining up for this “Golden Horn Maiden” won 12 months ago by Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), and one of a pair of Charlie Appleby-trained newcomers, with William Buick in the saddle. A half-brother to the listed scorer and dual Group 3-placed Duneflower (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the January-foaled chestnut is joined by the stable's Untold Mystery (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a half-brother to the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Royal Marine (Ire) (Raven's Pass).

5.00 Dundalk, Mdn, €14,000, 2yo, 7f (AWT)
NEWFOUNDLAND (IRE) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is the second foal out of Coolmore's G3 Give Thanks S. scorer Best In the World (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), whose first turned out to be this May-foaled colt's sensational full-sister Snowfall (Jpn). With the connection to that G1 Epsom and Irish Oaks heroine and to Found (Ire), the Ballydoyle newcomer will probably need middle-distances in time unlike the Juddmonte debutante Trent (GB) (Kantharos), a Ger Lyons-trained fellow debutante who is out of a half to the G1 1000 Guineas winner Special Duty (GB) (Hennessy).

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Ten years on from the inaugural edition of this now firmly-established feature, the QEII hero of that day Frankel is set for his first sires' championship at the expense of his father Galileo (Ire), who has held the title every year since Ascot ensconced this fixture. Charlie Appleby can take huge credit for Frankel's surge in fortunes in 2021, steering both his golden duo Adayar and Hurricane Lane (Ire) to notable victories in some of the season's apex events. Surprisingly, Banstead Manor's beau ideal has just three representatives on this card, with Adayar his sole fancied runner but Godolphin's generation leader is a colt well capable of carrying much weight on his ample shoulders having won the game-changing purses of the G1 Epsom Derby and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S.

Alongside potentially cementing his sire's pre-eminence this year, Adayar also has the potential to clinch a personal landmark for William Buick, who after Friday's round in his bout with Oisin Murphy sits three behind in his quest for an initial jockeys' title. As always, there are many threads to this epic tapestry and these are just two, with Prince Faisal, John and Thady Gosden and David Egan looking for world domination with a colt in Mishriff who amounts to a rarity in modern racing. Able to assert his dominance on dirt and turf alike, the homebred 4-year-old has his main rival Adayar and the hastily-retired St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) on his perch at present but a command performance on Berkshire's revered patch could see him transcend both.

Saturday's calm autumn scene will be in stark contrast to the dour damp of 12 months ago, when Mishriff loomed large at the two pole only to sink in the deep ground and finish out of the first three for the first time since his 2-year-old debut. Since that deflating experience, he has forged on unbowed to Riyadh to excel in the Feb. 20 Saudi Cup and to Dubai to subdue Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) in the Mar. 27 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic before gradually extending his influence back in Europe. So emphatic was he in York's G1 Juddmonte International Aug. 18, his re-entry behind St Mark's Basilica and Addeybb in the G1 Eclipse S. at Sandown July 3 and battling second to Adayar in the King George can almost be seen as preparatory exercises.

Ted Voute, racing manager for Prince Faisal, is aware of the magnitude of the occasion. “The Prince has always been happy to take on other good horses, as that's part of the game–to try to be the best. We're excited,” he said. “It's obviously a very good race, but he's still favourite and we're very much looking forward to it. We've got ground that is better than it was for the Arc, which is good. I talked to John on Tuesday after Mishriff had done his final pipe-opener and he said it was very pleasing, so fingers crossed.”

Saturday's feature is anything but a straightforward match, however, with a William Haggas trio and an Irish duo in Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) who at various points in their career have looked capable of having a major say in a contest of his stature. Bolshoi Ballet is a rare Ballydoyle outsider, having failed to shine in three of his four outings since his exciting display in Leopardstown's G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial May 9, while the May 22 G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Mac Swiney is threatening to fade into the background if he fails to make the frame for a fifth time since that Curragh Classic high.

Jim Bolger is not one to underestimate and Mac Swiney is accustomed to springing surprises as well as dropping his guard. “He's capable of throwing in a bad one every now and then, so we just have to hope that Saturday won't be one of those,” the master of Coolcullen said. “If it isn't, he won't be far away. There is no trace of ungenuineness about him, but Kevin [Manning] usually knows after going a furlong if it isn't his day and it's a question we haven't succeeded in working out yet.”

In the 25th anniversary of Frankie Dettori's remarkable “Magnificent Seven”, it is more than possible that Ascot will offer him further fruit as he prepares for the enviable mount on Palace Pier and another of the Gosden yard favourites in Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup. As well as Marc Chan's live contender and 'TDN Rising Star' Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S., he has a hot prospect in the closing Balmoral H. in Juddmonte's 'TDN Rising Star' Sunray Major (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

There is no doubt that the key ride is in the mile championship on the card, however. “I love Palace Pier, he's done absolutely nothing wrong his whole career,” Dettori said of the five-times Group 1 winner whose career is almost flawless. “The only race he has been beaten in is this one last year, when he lost a shoe and I got squeezed out at the start. He was so far back and with everything that went wrong that day it was a massive run to come home third. I have almighty respect for Baaeed, but Palace Pier has beaten everything that he has faced. He's a champion and probably one of the best milers I have ever ridden so I have confidence he will put in a huge performance.”

Thady Gosden added, “It looks a great race, I'm looking forward to it, but obviously there are some nerves for sure. He's been in good form since the Jacques le Marois and everyone has been happy with him at home. Baaeed looks the big danger, he's the horse coming through the ranks and won a Group 1 last time. This race last year is the only blemish on his record, he's an exceptional racehorse but it was frustrating with the ground last year and he lost two shoes which in that ground will hinder your chances. Whether this is his last race, it's a decision for his owners after the race.”

Away from Palace Pier and Baaeed, there is a G1 Coronation S. and G1 Sussex S. winner on display in Jeff Smith's Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never), who on the form of that July 28 Goodwood feature is an insulting price at around 9-1. Freshened up after her sixth over an extended 10 furlongs in the Juddmonte International, she has ground to suit and her owner-breeder is expecting a bold show in the race which has most captured the imagination of press and public alike. “It brings all the strands of form together and it's certainly the highlight of the day–for me anyway,” he said. “She's already beaten the colts once this year, there was cut in the ground at Goodwood so that won't be an issue, it's just going to be a case of best horse on the day, which is as it should be. She had a break at the stud for about 10 days after York, put on a bit of weight, it was absolutely perfect. I haven't seen her since she went back to Andrew's, but by all accounts she's in cracking form. This will be it for the season, she won't be going abroad but she stays in training next year.”

Godolphin's Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is another in the mix, having been beaten a short head when second in the May 1 G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Third after a lengthy break to Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G2 Joel S. back there Sept. 24, he is Breeders' Cup Mile-bound according to Charlie Appleby. “Master of the Seas has pleased us since his reappearance in the Joel S. last month,” he said. “He is mentally maturing and the hood is removed this time. This is his stepping stone to Del Mar.” Saeed bin Suroor said of Benbatl, whose two most recent visits to this track have seen his normally-reliable form markedly dip when 10th in the 2018 G1 Queen Anne S. and last of 16 in this two years ago, “He came back good from his last race and is working well. There are showers around, but if the ground stays as it is that would be great. It's a very strong race with some of best milers in the world, but hopefully we will see a good run from Benbatl again.”

If there was any doubt that Al Asayl France's The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) retained the ability that saw him garner this 12 months ago, they were assuaged by his dynamic comeback effort when second to Benbatl's highly progressive stablemate Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the G1 Prix Daniel Wildenstein he had won for the past two years at ParisLongchamp a fortnight ago. Also second here in 2019, his biggest issue is the drying ground which may detract enough to make this task beyond him at the age of six but there are few who can accelerate as he did last time and this is his chance to prove he is no one-trick pony.

Runner-up to Palace Pier and beaten just 1 1/2 lengths in Newbury's G1 Lockinge S. on a similar surface May 15, the July 29 G1 Nassau S. heroine Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is no back-number despite her latest flop when seventh in the G1 Prix Jean Romanet also over 10 furlongs at Deauville Aug. 22. Engaged in the Champion up to Thursday, she was re-routed to the QEII by trainer William Jarvis who said, “Once I saw that the Derby winner Adayar was running in the Champion as well as Mishriff, it wasn't a difficult decision. I don't think we could beat either of them, but we might be competitive in the mile race. Nothing emerged after the Deauville race, although she didn't settle in the stables despite having travelled over there well. I've been delighted with her since and we are all looking forward to this.”

There is significantly less intrigue in the preceding G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S., where Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) will trade as the day's shortest-priced favourite owing to a clutch of absentees from the mile-and-a-half contest. Like Adayar and a host of others staging a quick turnaround from ParisLongchamp having been sixth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the G1 Epsom Oaks, July 17 G1 Irish Oaks and Aug. 19 G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine may only need to repeat her clear-cut defeat of Kirsten Rausing's Albaflora (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) in the latter contest to provide Aidan O'Brien with his most likely winner on the afternoon. “Snowfall ran well in the Arc,” he said. “The ground was very soft and there wasn't much pace. We took our time on her, but we probably expected there to be more pace in the race.”

Albaflora, who was the seven-length winner of the Listed Buckhounds S. over this course and distance May 8, may have been largely underwhelming subsequently but there is a sense that she is a filly coming good at the right time. “We have four lengths to make up on Snowfall, but she has had a hard race in the Arc and we are coming here fresh and ready,” jockey Rossa Ryan said. “We've learnt a thing or two about her and she's been working well at home and feels great. She tends to go a lot better when she has had a good break between her races and is bucking and fly-leaping at home. She really comes into her own in the autumn and we've learnt that she likes to pass horses and come through them. This stiff mile and a half will suit her better than York, as my filly gets a mile and six.”

Team Valor's Invite (Ire) (The Gurkha {Ire}) is another who stays well, having won the Listed Stand Cup over an extended 12 furlongs at Chester Sept.  11, and will be suited by the ground riding on the soft side. Ridden by David Egan's father John, she offers the intriguing prospect of a family double on the card with Mishriff to come for Egan Jr. “She's not exactly an extravagant worker, but I liked what I saw when she won at Chester on her only start for us,” trainer Andrew Balding commented. “That was nice to see and she's obviously a filly with plenty of ability.”

Now comfortably ahead in the jockeys' championship, Oisin Murphy could seal another title as early as the Sprint, with Yoshiro Kubota's 'TDN Rising Star' Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) back over the course and distance of his success in the G1 Commonwealth Cup. Stripped of that win by the stewards at the Royal meeting June 18, he was second to the sadly-absent Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in the G1 July Cup at Newmarket July 10 and had Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) behind there. After three subsequent defeats over five furlongs, he could have his day in the sun at last.

“It's great to get Dragon Symbol back at Ascot,” the rider said. “He's a very good horse and it will be interesting to see how he goes since he's been freshened up. He's had a full month to get over that and Archie Watson is very happy with him. I'm pleased with his low draw in three, he's drawn amongst some fancied horses and it would be lovely to end the season on a high with him.” Watson added, “Dragon Symbol hasn't run a bad race all year and stepping back up to six furlongs will suit him grand. On his Royal Ascot and July Cup form in particular, he should be bang there and he deserves one of these.”

Art Power, who was fourth in this 12 months ago, recorded a confidence-restoring five-length success in the G3 Renaissance S. over this trip at The Curragh Sept. 25, having been set some stiff tasks under aggressive rides this summer. Trainer Tim Easterby said, “He's an absolute machine and he's in great form. He goes well at Ascot–not that it would bother him where the race was run, as he's so adaptable–and he's in great order, so fingers crossed.”

One who is an unknown against these battle-hardened sprinters is Shadwell's unexposed G2 Gimcrack S. winner and G1 Middle Park S. third Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who was second in the five-furlong Listed Rous S. here on his belated seasonal bow a fortnight ago. Trainer Owen Burrows said, “It was very pleasing to see him run such a good race and it proved he's still got it. The ground will be much better than last time and he's back up to six furlongs, which we know he's a lot more effective at.” Also in action on that day was the 3-year-old filly Vadream (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}), who stayed on strongly to win the G3 Bengough S. over this trip. “She's been unbelievably consistent all year,” trainer Charlie Fellowes said. “She is a very good filly and a quick filly. She has run very well at Ascot, which is always a big plus on that straight course. She needs to step forward again, but the better ground would not be an issue. We go there very much in hope rather than expectation, but she is in cracking form.”

Stradivarius has his G1 Prix du Cadran conqueror Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) to deal with in the Long Distance Cup and with Ascot blessed with a dry week, their reunion takes place on a surface neither ideal or otherwise for both. Frankie believes it will be closer this time. “Stradivarius takes his racing well and seems ready for a rematch with Trueshan,” he said. “I have plenty of respect for Trueshan, who is a very good horse under extreme conditions, but I think now that the ground is going to be better at Ascot that will help bridge the gap and make things more of a level playing field.”

Trueshan's trainer Alan King is hoping this is not a case of going back to the well too often and said, “We haven't done much with him since Longchamp, but he had a little breeze on Wednesday and Dan [Horsford], who rides him every day, was happy with him. We're under no illusions, it's only two weeks since the two of them had a hard race, but it's Trueshan's last race of the season so he's got all winter to get over it. We think he's okay, but we can't really be certain until we get on the track. The ground will be fine. I've always said I'd run him on good ground, so I'm not that worried.”

William Haggas has a potential wildcard for the Cup in the family-owned and bred Hamish (GB) (Motivator {GB}), who beat Hukum (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the G3 September S. on his seasonal debut over a mile and a half on Kempton's Polytrack Sept. 4. Bred to stay this two miles, he is one of the race's most interesting candidates and could be a potential star of the staying ranks if he can be kept sound. “If you want to take the Hukum form at face value, Hamish would definitely have a chance, but I don't think we saw Hukum at his best at Kempton,” his trainer said. “Hamish is a good horse all the same and the ground is going to suit him. He's in good form and he looks great.”

Like Hamish, LECH Racing's June 4 GII Belmont Gold Cup winner Baron Samedi (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) is a stayer on the up and his latest third in the G1 Irish St Leger at The Curragh Sept. 12 puts him in the frame here. “Baron Samedi has been the most wonderful horse, winning seven times as he improved from basement-level handicapper to Group 2 winner,” trainer Joseph O'Brien commented. “He ran a very good race to finish third in the Irish St Leger last time and that run confirmed to us that staying trips will be his game. This even stronger test of stamina, combined with first-time cheekpieces, should suit him and it wouldn't surprise to see him run a big race.” He also saddles one of Frankel's trio of runners in Master of Reality (Ire) and he said of that veteran, “The last time he ran at Ascot, he gave Stradivarius a scare in the Gold Cup at the Royal meeting so it would be brave to dismiss him.”

Away from Ascot, Leopardstown stage the seven-furlong G3 Richmond Homes Killavullan S. which has been won by the subsequent G1 2000 Guineas heroes Footstepsinthesand (GB) and Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in recent times. The latter's trainer Jim Bolger saddles Boundless Ocean (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who was second on his debut only on Thursday at The Curragh while Footstepsinthesand's trainer Aidan O'Brien also backs up Saturday's G1 Dewhurst S. sixth Glounthaune (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). Interestingly, that was the same tactic applied by Bolger with Poetic Flare 12 months ago, while two 'TDN Rising Stars' are also lining up in Moyglare Stud Farm's Sept. 12 G1 Moyglare Stud S. fifth Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and John and Sheila Lavery's Sept. 26 Curragh maiden winner New Energy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}).

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The Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is considered the greatest horse race in the world. It is THE race that causes racing fans, trainers, jockeys and owners alike to dream. The 2021 edition promises to be an exceptional one: as it marks the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe's centenary edition.

The Arc is a “Win and You're In” race for the Breeders' Cup Turf on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

The field is certainly on a par with the occasion. The Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe above all pits the young generation (namely a 3-year-old crop which goes into the autumn at the top of its game, but still lacking somewhat in experience), against older horses (4-year-olds plus) who are much more seasoned.

An ambitious young generation

On this occasion, Europe's two best 3-year-old colts will be on display. Both are trained at Newmarket (England) by Charlie Appleby on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, and are Adayar and Hurricane Lane. The former won the prestigious Epsom Derby in which the latter was third.

Adayar subsequently went on to become the first horse in 20 years to complete the Epsom Derby – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes double (considered the 'British equivalent of the Arc') double. Hurricane Lane subsequently shone at ParisLongchamp by taking Grand Prix de Paris, before going on to capture the St Leger run over 2,850m at Doncaster. This was a true test of stamina, but the fly in the ointment is that no St Leger winner has managed to win the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the same season!

“I am very happy with both colts,” Appleby said. “Adayar had a setback before the Arc trials. He missed two gallops as a result and we thought that it was best to skip the Niel. He had already earned his ticket to the Arc. Since then he has been doing very well. William Buick is our first choice rider and he chose Adayar: it's always an encouraging sign when you go in to a race, and even more so when it's the Arc. He feels that he has made the right choice. With a week to go before the Arc, I can say that Adayar is in the form of his life right now.

“We toyed with the idea of going for the Arc with Hurricane Lane after he won the Grand Prix de Paris. Winning the St Leger and the Arc in the same year has never been done: so we took our time before making a firm decision straight after the St Leger. I feel that the St Leger was the easiest of his three big wins: he was very impressive at ParisLongchamp but, in terms of his racing weight and overall condition, we feel that he came out of the race in better shape after the St Leger – compared to his two other group 1 wins.

“After Doncaster, he was just kept ticking over, and he didn't do any serious work until Saturday morning. James Doyle was in the saddle: which was the first time that he had ridden him. He was very happy: as the colt moved well, and worked as he usually does. It's exciting to be able to go into a race, like the Arc, with two 3-year-olds which have rather different profiles. Adayar was an impressive winner of the Derby and King George, and he goes into the Arc on the strength of that. Hurricane Lane can make history by becoming the first St Leger winner to win the Arc [in the same season]. The forecast is for rain later in the week: and that will suit both colts.”

A race which has attracted some top class fillies and mares

The aforementioned two young pretenders are by no means home and hosed, as they will be up against some very talented fillies and mares. In the first instance they will have to contend with Tarnawa – the star mare of His Highness the Aga Khan. Now a 5-year-old, she has remained in training this year (mares of this age are usually retired to the paddocks so as pass on their much sought after gene pool to their progeny). Trained in Ireland by Dermot Weld, the mare will be ridden by Christophe Soumillon: a rider who boasts two prior Arc wins in the Aga Khan colours.

Also travelling over from Ireland are Love and Snowfall. Both are trained by Aidan O'Brien for the powerful Coolmore operation. Both fillies can draw on eloquent CVs despite the fact that they are coming off defeats.

“Everything is going well for Snowfall,” O'Brien said. “Since the Qatar Prix Vermeille, she hasn't done any serious work and everyone is happy with her. Her performance in the Vermeille was a good one: she found herself in a race with no pace on fast ground, and the conditions were very different from those encountered in the Oaks for example. She's got beaten but we're glad we ran her in it, as it gave us a chance to see how she would act on good ground at ParisLongchamp. It's probably better to be beaten, without everything going to plan, than to be beaten on the big occasion. The Vermeille was a prep race for the Arc. I think she's quite indifferent to the state of the ground. Before Epsom, I was worried about the soft ground, but I think that stamina finally comes into play on this type of ground. If it's soft on Sunday, it won't be a problem.

“I think that Love is better on good ground. However, given that she's now a 4-year-old, the filly should be able to handle soft ground that much better. If the ground gets really heavy, then it will be a problem. She won the Prince of Wales's on her seasonal debut and we were very happy. There wasn't enough pace in the King George on her subsequent start. Last time out at the Curragh, she got pipped at the post by a filly who was receiving 10lb and is rated 110. The Blandford Stakes was a prep race for the Arc: and, given that it was run over 2,000 metres with a bend, it was ideal.”

Hailing from Japan is Chrono Genesis. A star in her country and a quadruple Group 1 winner (the pinnacle in horse racing) to boot, she will carry the hopes of a whole nation, and one which has been coveting success in this race since 1969: the year which marked the appearance of the very first Japanese raider.

“The mare had already begun her preparation on a positive note in Japan, and she arrived in France in good condition,” said trainer Takashi Saito. “The flight went very well, and the mare was calm. She cantered on Wednesday when Oisin Murphy, her jockey in the Arc, was in the plate. I instructed him not to force it. She was very fluid in her paces – and so there are no concerns about her fitness.

“She hasn't run since June but I'm not worried about that. In Japan, she runs every two months. This is her natural rhythm. She needs this recovery period between races and that's how it should be.

“When the mare won the Arima Kinen last December, we started thinking about the Arc. There were several pathways to the race, and we made the choice to head to Dubai. The idea was to give her experience of racing abroad, in preparation for the Arc, and to get her used to the travel factor. I think that our trip to France was made easier by the experience in Dubai.

“I don't have any concerns about the ground. I know it's the subject of much debate, and is advanced to explain the defeat of the Japanese [horses] in the Arc. Chrono Genesis will adapt: as she gives of her best whatever the conditions. She is generous and will give 100 per cent on Sunday. I know that she will be up against very tough opposition, but my job is to ensure that she's 100 per cent for the race. What matters to me is my mare. I have total confidence in her jockey. It's an honor that she's being touted in France as a leading Arc contender.”

The French will be out to upset calculations

The Gallic challenge only looks to have an 'outside' chance of landing the spoils this year – despite the fact that the home team are the defending champions, thanks to the 2020 success of Sottsass. The latter was trained at Deauville by Jean-Claude Rouget and ridden by Cristian Demuro.

A French quartet is expected to come under orders on Sunday. This includes a trio of 3-year-old colts and namely: Sealiway, second in the Qatar Prix du Jockey-Club in June but unraced since; plus Bubble Gift and Baby Rider. The latter pair were separated by a whisker in the Qatar Prix Niel: the traditional Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe prep reserved for 3-year-olds.

Fifth last year, the 4-y-old filly Raabihah will endeavour to do better this year by attempting to thrust Jean Claude Rouget and Cristian Demuro yet again into the spotlight.

The post O’Brien Sends Love, Snowfall Against Top 3-Year-Olds, Japan’s Chrono Genesis In 100th Arc De Triomphe appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Snowfall won the Oaks, the G1 Irish Oaks and the G1 Yorkshire Oaks before making up ground too late to be second in the G1 Prix Vermeille on Sept. 12.

“She came out of the Vermeille very well–we're very happy with her,” O'Brien told Sky Sports Racing. “It was lovely for her to go round the track and we saw the way she coped with it. The ground was quick and we know that she's very comfortable on soft ground. She's a filly who gets a mile and a half well and it [the Vermeille] was more of a trial.

“Frankie (Dettori) was very happy with her. Obviously she didn't win, but I think her last six furlongs were the quickest of any horse in the race–she was really quickening and was going forward. Often in the trial, you're better to get beat and things not go right than win and everything go right. She worked well this morning and we're very happy with her at the moment.”

Love missed her chance at last year's Arc, withdrawn in the week leading up on account of the softening ground. After winning the G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot on her belated return, last year's champion 3-year-old filly has been beaten in her three subsequent starts, when third in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. and the G1 Juddmonte International, and when second to the rising talent La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler of the World {Ire}) in the G2 Blandford S. on Sept. 12.

“We were delighted with her run [in the Blandford],” O'Brien added. “The winner was rated 110 and she gave her 9lb, so it was a serious run–on ratings, it wasn't far off her best. We went to The Curragh as a trial for the Arc and we think she's really gone the right way since then. If the ground was nice, we were always planning on going to the Arc with her.”

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