Pricey Arqana Buy Speak of the Devil Leads Home Brant and Brown 1-2 at Churchill

Peter Brant's €$1.95-million investment at last year's Arqana December sale to acquire Speak of the Devil (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) looks like it might be paying off as the even-money favorite in Saturday's GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. showed off an uncommon turn-of-foot to blow away fellow Brant/Chad Brown representative and 'TDN Rising Star' In Italian. The victory came almost exactly 24 hours after Brant and Brown celebrated another victory with a fast-finishing female in still-unbeaten GIII Modesty S. heroine Bleecker Street (Quality Road). Brown saddled the exacta in that event as well, and Brown and Brant also took last year's Distaff Turf Mile.

Having previously carried the colors of Rashit Shaykhutdinov, Speak of the Devil's career highlights in her native country included a nose second in the 2020 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches for Fabrice Chappet and a head third in last August's G1 Prix Rothschild after being transferred to Frederic Rossi. She returned to winning ways with victories in Saint-Cloud's Oct. 31 Prix Isola Bella and Nov. 16 Prix Tantieme before heading off to auction.

Entering with plenty of buzz off a sharp-looking worktab mostly at Payson Park, the bay sat at the back early as In Italian cleared off easily and doled out splits of :24.86 and :49.70 while kept off the fence. With second trailer Wakanaka also traveling well off the inside, pilot Flavien Prat on the eventual winner opted for an early move entering the home bend. Slicing inside of Wakanaka and then out into the clear, Speak of the Devil and Prat were all the way up to challenge In Italian in a practical blink of an eye. In Italian punched back along the fence as Speak of the Devil continued on far out in the course, but the latter ultimately had an extra gear or two and scampered home much the best.

“I thought I was in some good holes, but for some reason she was not progressing down the backside,” said Prat. “So I decided to drop down to the inside, and as soon as I called on her she cut really well. The track feels very good after all the rain.”

“So lucky to have this filly,” Brown said. “She was turned her over to us last fall. Every week she kept getting better and indicated everything you want to see. You hate to run these fillies against each other, but really there's not a lot of options out there at a mile right now, so we let them settle it on the racetrack and today Speak of the Devil was better.”

Speak of the Devil was not the first 2021 Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale seven-figure alumni to succeed on the racecourse in recent days–€2.5-million buy Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) took the May 1 G3 Prix Allex France Longines at ParisLongchamp in the colors of Haras de Hus.

Saturday, Churchill Downs
LONGINES CHURCHILL DISTAFF TURF MILE S.-GII, $500,000, Churchill Downs, 5-7, 4yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:37.47, fm.
1–SPEAK OF THE DEVIL (FR), 118, m, 5, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
                1st Dam: Moranda (Fr), by Indian Rocket (GB)
                2nd Dam: Spain, by Bering (GB)
                3rd Dam: Sevilliana (GB), by General Holme
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. (€45,000 Wlg '17 ARQDE; €62,000
Ylg '18 AROYRG; €1,950,000 4yo '21 ARQDEC). O-Peter M.
Brant; B-Herve Viallon (FR); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Flavien Prat.
$306,900. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Mare-Fr at 7-9.5f, MSW
& MG1SP-Fr 15-6-3-2, $604,576. *1/2 to Morando (FR)
(Kendargent (FR)), MGSW-Eng, GSP-Fr, $374,805. Werk Nick
Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–In Italian (GB), 118, f, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Florentina (Aus), by
Redoute's Choice (Aus). 'TDN Rising Star' (475,000gns Ylg '19
TATOCT). O-Peter M. Brant; B-Fairway Thoroughbreds (GB);
T-Chad C. Brown. $99,000.
3–Wakanaka (Ire), 118, f, 4, Power (GB)–Storyline (Ire), by
Kodiac (GB). (£3,500 Ylg '19 GOFFPR). O-Team Valor
International & Gary Barber; B-Mrs Jean Brennan (IRE);
T-William I. Mott. $49,500.
Margins: 2 3/4, 3, 3. Odds: 1.10, 2.20, 4.50.
Also Ran: Lady Speightspeare, Flower Point, Abscond. Scratched: Mona Stella, She Can't Sing. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:
Speak of the Devil is the 17th group/graded winner for her sire, and eighth out of a mare by Indian Rocket. Her dam is a half to MGSW winner Myasun (Fr) (Panis) and a full to SW Matwan (Fr), who is the dam of a group winner, a stakes winner, a group-placed runner and a stakes-placed runner. Moranda has a 2-year-old filly by Anodin (Ire) and a yearling colt by Best Solution (Ire).

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Arqana Releases December Sale Catalogue

Group 1 winner Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) and G1 French 1000 Guineas runner-up Speak of the Devil (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) are two of the stars in the upcoming Arqana December Sale catalogue, which was released on Wednesday. Consigned by Haras de Castillon as lot 192, G1 Prix Jean Romanet heroine Grand Glory was also third in the G1 Prix de Diane and is due to run in the upcoming G1 Japan Cup on Nov. 28. Third in the G1 Prix Rothschild, Speak of the Devil (lot 172), a three-time listed winner, will be offered by Sumbe.

A total of 1,012 mares, fillies and foals are set to sell at Deauville from Dec. 4-7. More than a quarter of the mares offered have won black-type and/or have already produced at least one black-type horse. There are also 212 siblings or half-siblings to group winners, among them 57 sisters or half-sisters to Group 1 winners in the sale.

There have been 13 group winners in 2021 purchased in utero in the Deauville ring out of past December Sales. Leading the way is three-time Group 1 winner Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never), whose dam Plying (Hard Spun) sold in 2013. Other Group 1-winning graduates include Romantic Proposal (Ire) (Raven's Pass), Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) and 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies scorer Aunt Pearl (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}).

Arqana foal graduates have also enjoyed great success at racecourses on an international level in 2021, with alumni including dual Group 1 winner Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), G1 French 1000 Guineas heroine Coeursamba (Fr) (The Wow Signal {Ire}), G1 Prix Marcel Boussac victress Zellie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), G1 Prix de l'Opera winner Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) and Tribhuvan (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}), who was first past the post in the GI United Nations S. in America.

Other lots of note include: Malavath (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) (lot 163), who holds an entry in Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf from Ecurie des Monceaux; Wertheimer & Frere's Panthere (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) (lot 194), a half-sister to G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Queen's Jewel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}); from Gestut Ammerland are Lady Livonia (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) (lot 23), a half-sister to major sire Lope de Vega (Ire) (Shamardal) and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire})'s full-sister Wildfeder (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 188); Deia (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) (lot 202) hails from the draft of Ronald Rauscher as a full-sister to German Group 1 winner Dschingis Secret (Ger) (Soldier Hallow {GB}); lot 104, Tazma (Fr) (Iffraaj {GB}), is a half-sister to Australian Group 1 winner Whisky Baron (Aus) (Manhattan Rain {Aus}) from the Aga Khan Studs; G2 German 1000 Guineas victress Lancade (GB) (Areion {Ger}) (lot 167) will be offered by Haras de Grandcamp; Baroda Stud's Jam And Mam (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) (lot 196) is a half-sister to G1 Prix de Diane winner Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and is carrying her first foal by Night of Thunder (Ire); Star Garland (Ire) (Sea The Stars) (lot 223) represents the Godolphin consignment as a daughter of champion and three-time Group 1 winner Blue Bunting (Dynaformer); Group 3 winner and German Group 1-placed No Limit Credit (Ger) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) (lot 158) will be offered by Andreas Suborics; stakes winner Lightupthenight (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) (lot 52), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Intellogent (Ire) (Intello {Ger}), is in foal to Almanzor (Fr) as part of an Al Shahania Stud reduction from Haras des Cruchettes; Haras de Castillon's Sarvana (Fr) (Dubai Destination) (lot 80) is the dam of Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}) and is in foal to Sottsass (Fr); and German Group 2 winner Satomi (Ger) (Teofilo {Ire}) (lot 177) is in foal for the first time to Lope de Vega (Ire) from Haras de Saint-Pair.

A variety of sires are represented at Arqana by the 290 foals catalogued including the late Adlerflug (Ger), Australia (GB), Camelot (GB), Caravaggio, Dark Angel (Ire), Fastnet Rock (Aus), Frankel (GB), Kendargent (Fr), Kingman (GB), Kodiac (GB), Le Havre (Ire), Lope De Vega (Ire), Mehmas (Ire), New Bay (GB), Night Of Thunder (Ire), No Nay Never, Sea The Moon (Ger), Sea The Stars (Ire), Showcasing (GB), Siyouni (Fr), Starspangledbanner (Aus) and Wootton Bassett (GB).

Some of the foals of interest are: Haras de la Louviere's lot 111, a son of Wootton Bassett out of the dual group winner Top Toss (Ire) (Linamix {Fr}) who has already thrown two-time Group 3 winner Lesstalk in Paris (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}); a full-brother to Classic winner Dream and Do (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) (lot 124) from Haras du Logis Saint-Germain; lot 136, a half-brother by The Grey Gatsby (Ire) to the G2 King Edward S. winner and two-time Group 1-placed Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) from La Motteraye Consignment; a three-quarter brother to G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches victress Coeursamba (lot 145) from Haras de l'Aumonerie; Haras de Colleville's lot 154, a full-brother to dual Group 1 winner Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}); and lot 206, a half-sister by Frankel to dual Group 1 winner Recoletos (Fr) (Whipper) from Haras de Saint Isidro.

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Clouds Loom as the Arc Approaches

It is racing's greatest dichotomy. Labelled by the official ParisLongchamp website as “la meilleure course au monde”, the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe will have few who brook any argument with that claim. Yet it is the time of year within which it is framed that delivers the ultimate snag, with autumn's entry prompting an often drastic change in terrain and a late turnpike for the kings and queens of summer just past. Half of the previous 10 renewals of France's great monument have been run on testing ground and that looks extremely likely again for the 2021 version which carries extra consequence as the 100th of its kind. Rain is coming and, according to the forecast, an abundance of it to greet this flagship edition. How that twists the narrative of the season is either welcome or otherwise depending on where connections and fans of the protagonists sit. Although the storms arrived to soak Epsom and this track on Bastille Day, conditions could end up being vastly contrasting to those encountered for much of this year so far.

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}).

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Big Clash At ParisLongchamp

   Sunday's G1 Prix d'Ispahan at ParisLongchamp sees two of France's big names Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) and The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) go head-to-head over the unique intermediate trip of nine furlongs 55 yards. While Skalleti has yet to strike at this exalted level despite holding the enviable tally of seven group-race wins, his compatriot has won one of the most prestigious of them all in Ascot's G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. in October. Disappointing so far this term, Al Asayl France's The Revenant could have been forgiven for his return third to Wally (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G3 Prix Edmond Blanc at Saint-Cloud Apr. 3 but there is no denying that he was below-par when subsequently fourth in the G2 Prix du Muguet over the same course and distance at the start of the month. Contrastingly, Skalleti has continued on his relentless quest to garner as many of his nation's pattern races as he can manage and comes here on the back of a defeat of the subsequent impressive G1 Prix Ganay winner Mare Australis (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in this venue's 10-furlong G2 Prix d'Harcourt Apr. 11.

Skalleti's trainer Jerome Reynier already has his eye on going one better than last year's second in the G1 Qipco Champion S. and said, “We felt running him in the Ganay a few weeks after the d'Harcourt was probably too much, so we've been kind on him and decided we'd go straight to the d'Ispahan with a bit of freshness. The distance is on the short side and the ground will be on the firm side for him, but we can't really expect much softer ground at this time of the year. The race that would have been best for him is the [G1] Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, but logistically it was impossible to travel the horse to Ireland with the staff and everything, so we decided we'd stay at home and we're hoping for the best on Sunday. His target for 2021 is definitely the Champion Stakes–we'll try to get our revenge on Addeybb.”

Francis-Henri Graffard said of The Revenant, “He's in good shape. Nine furlongs is a step up in trip for him and hopefully it does not dry too much–I hope the ground will not be too firm for him. The softer the better for him, so we'll see. He's in very good form and very happy. The [G1] Queen Anne [at Royal Ascot June 15] is an option if the ground is suitable.”

Away from the main pair, TDN Rising Star Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal) is impossible to rule out of the equation given that he is a G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner who was set some stiff tasks in 2020. Third on his comeback in the Muguet, Godolphin's classy performer could benefit from the step up from a mile but will certainly strip fitter for his reintroduction according to the operation's Lisa-Jane Graffard. “Victor Ludorum very much needed his run in the Prix du Muguet and came on for his first appearance of the year,” she said. “It's not impossible that he may need this run as well and could improve again for it. He won the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on soft ground, but we feel that a horse with his turn of foot is better suited to quicker conditions as he showed in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains. If the ground is holding, it could be a slight question mark for him, but he is in good form.”

Interestingly, the Muguet winner Duhail (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) is asked to race under a penalty dropping back for the seven-furlong G3 Prix du Palais-Royal on the same card. Apparently G1 Sussex S.-bound, Al Shaqab Racing's improving 5-year-old has shown abundant speed in the past and will have no problem with this shorter trip. A taller order will be whether the Andre Fabre trainee can give four pounds to Jean-Claude Seroul's Marianafoot (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) who is on a streak having made Chantilly's Listed Prix Servanne his fourth straight win and fifth in his last six over six furlongs last time Apr. 26. Duhail also has seven pounds to concede to Rashit Shaykhutdinov's 2020 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches runner-up Speak of the Devil (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who was last seen winning over this course and distance in the Listed Prix de Saint-Cyr in October.

Dusseldorf host the G2 German 1000 Guineas, where Godolphin's Sky Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) bids to take the prize back to France for the Henri-Alex Pantall stable. Runner-up in the G3 Prix Imprudence over seven furlongs on her return at Deauville Apr. 8, she was fourth tackling this mile in the Listed Prix des Lilas at Chantilly May 11. “Sky Angel ran very well in the Prix Imprudence and her latest performance looks another good effort, with the winner that day having previously beaten this year's Pouliches scorer Coeursamba,” Godolphin's Lisa-Jane Graffard commented. Of the home team, Gestut Auenquelle's Reine d'Amour (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) is a key protagonist on her success in Baden-Baden's G3 Zukunftsrennen in September and defeat of Gestut Brummerhof's Libre (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the course-and-distance Listed Henkel-Stutenpreis May 8. Others in the mix are the May 2 G3 Karin Baronin von Ullmann Schwarzgold-Rennen one-two Belcarra (Ire) (Estidhkaar {Ire}) and Wismar (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). The G2 Grosser Aengevelt Immobilien-Preis Badener Meile sees the return of Sabine Goldberg's unbeaten G3 Prix Perth scorer Jin Jin (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) as she encounters last year's German 1000 Guineas heroine Lancade (GB) (Areion {Ger}) and co.

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