Sea The Moon’s Fantastic Moon Dominates Niel Rivals

Liberty Racing's G1 Deutsches Derby hero Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}–Frangipani {Ger}, by Jukebox Jury {Ire}) suffered a reversal following up in Munich's G1 Bayerisches Zuchtrennen last time and bounced back in style to dominate the closing stages of Sunday's G2 Qatar Prix Niel at ParisLongchamp.

The Sarah Steinberg trainee tanked forward to stalk the pace in third for the most part and improved into second along the false straight. Coming under pressure soon after turning for home, the 51-10 chance quickened to seize control approaching the final furlong and was ridden clear to easily outpoint G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Feed The Flame (GB) (Kingman {GB}) by 2 1/2 lengths. Juddmonte's Bravais (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was another late closer and finished a half-length back in third.

“We made the correct decision not to run him last time [in the Sept. 3 G1 Grosser Preis von Baden] at Baden-Baden because the ground was overwatered,” said Liberty Racing's Lars-Wilhem Baumgarten. “The trainer and the jockey have done a great job and he's a great horse, but he needs good ground. Today's race lacked pace and it wasn't straightforward. However, he's easy to handle and very talented. In my opinion, he's the best winner of the German Derby since [his sire] Sea The Moon. He's still going strong at the end of his 3-year-old campaign and we're so happy for our syndicate. We have four horses and two of them are Group class. We'll be making a decision, as to where he goes next, on Monday.”

That decision looks unlikely to include a ticket to next month's Arc, according to Sarah Steinberg. “Rather than the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, we're thinking about other possibilities,” the trainer revealed. “These include the Japan Cup and the Breeders' Cup.”

Pascal Bary feels there is more to come from runner-up Feed the Flame and considers the run vital education, despite defeat, en route to a tilt at next month's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. “He picked up well, but he wasn't quite as ready as I thought and the last 100 metres seemed a bit of an eternity for him,” the trainer reflected. “Christophe Soumillon made sure the colt was given a lesson when it came to racing between horses, which is a good form of preparation, and he wasn't hard on him. Of course, it's always better to win than to be second. That said, the winner Fantastic Moon has every right to be considered a good colt. Feed The Flame will line up in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and, if the ground were to ease, that would be even better!”

Juddmonte representative Claude Beniada was pleased with the effort of Bravais, who registered a career-high placing on pattern-race debut. “Obviously, this is the best performance of his career and Bravais is certainly more relaxed when he waits during a race,” he said. “At Deauville last time, he showed that he wouldn't be bothered by a longer distance. He's proved that today and it's very encouraging. He hasn't stopped improving and, if all goes well, he'll develop into a good 4-year-old.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Fantastic Moon, one of his sire's four Group 1 winners, is the second foal and lone scorer produced by a winning half-sister to G3 Sveaas Minnelop victor Fearless Hunter (Ger) (Alhaarth {Ire}) and Listed Arnfinn Lund Minnelop third Fil Rouge (Ger) (Lord Of England {Ger}). The March-foaled bay, who is from the family of MGISW sire Street Boss (Street Cry {Ire}), is kin to a yearling filly by Starspangledbanner (Aus) and a weanling filly by Masar (Ire). His second dam Firedance (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}) is a half-sister to G3 Rockfel S. victrix Germane (GB) (Distant Relative [Ire}) and the dual stakes-winning G3 Preis der Deutschen Einheit runner-up Fabriano (GB) (Shardari {Ire}). Germane, in turn, is the dam of stakes-winning GI Hollywood Derby third Lucky Chappy (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Listed Kolner Stuten Meile runner-up Granted (Fr) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX NIEL-G2, €130,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-10, 3yo, 12fT, 2:33.20, gd.
1–FANTASTIC MOON (GER), 128, c, 3, by Sea The Moon (Ger)
1st Dam: Frangipani (Ger), by Jukebox Jury (Ire)
2nd Dam: Firedance (Ger), by Lomitas (GB)
3rd Dam: Fraulein Tobin, by J. O. Tobin
(€49,000 Ylg '21 BBAGS). O-Liberty Racing 2021; B-Graf & Grafin von Stauffenberg (GER); T-Sarah Steinberg; J-Rene Piechulek. €74,100. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ger, 7-5-1-1, €620,700. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Feed The Flame (GB), 128, c, 3, Kingman (GB)–Knyazhna (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). 'TDN Rising Star'. (€270,000 Ylg '21 ARQAUG). O-Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard; B-Ecurie des Monceaux, Lordship Stud & Clear Light SAS (GB); T-Pascal Bary. €28,600.
3–Bravais (GB), 128, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Lucky Kristale (GB), by Lucky Story. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms (East) Ltd (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €13,650.
Margins: 2HF, HF, 2. Odds: 5.10, 0.50, 14.00.
Also Ran: Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire), Greenland (Ire), King Of Records (Fr), Goldenas (Ire). Scratched: Winter Pudding (Fr). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Too Darn Hot’s Fallen Angel Conquers The Moyglare

Kicking off a big Irish Champions Festival Sunday at The Curragh for Dubawi (Ire), Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}–Agnes Stewart {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}) provided the Darley giant's first-season sire son with a first Group 1 winner as she domineered a competitive renewal of the Moyglare Stud S., a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Impressive in the G3 Sweet Solera S. over this seven-furlong trip at Newmarket last month, the homebred of Steve Parkin's Clipper Logistics was instantly towards the fore with Danny Tudhope keen to press the keen-running TDN Rising Star Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) on the front end.

Taking the measure of that 6-5 favourite two out, the Karl Burke-trained 9-2 shot had the G2 Debutante S. winner Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) to deal with from there and despite being briefly headed inside the final furlong surged away late to score by 1 1/4 lengths. Vespertilio was in turn 4 1/2 lengths ahead of the dead-heating Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) and Ornellaia (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in third.

Parkin, who had also won Saturday's G2 Solonaway S. with the same trainer and jockey's Flight Plan (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), revealed that the success had extra resonance. “The mother was my favourite mare and we lost her to colic–that's her last foal and she is the spitting image of her, so emotional is an understatement,” he said. “My daughter names all our horses and after the death of the dam she called her Fallen Angel. To win the Moyglare Stakes is unbelievable–the greatest thrill I've had in my life I think.”

Fallen Angel's sole defeat had come at the hands of the unbeaten Shuwari (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) in Sandown's Listed Star S. in July, with wins at Haydock on debut and in the Sweet Solera either side. This was a new level for the grey, who is going nowhere according to her owner-breeder. “When you breed your own, there is some extra buzz about it and she'll be at the farm for 20 years now, god willing. There will be no offers for her. She'll go the Guineas with a fair chance and it's a massive thrill. Danny blamed himself for getting beaten at Sandown and thought he should have made more use of her, so we weren't going to make that mistake again today. She's going to be a better 3-year-old than 2-year-old and she's bred to get ten, but my idea is to put her away and bring her back for the Guineas.”

 

Pedigree Notes

The aforementioned Agnes Stewart, who was Parkin's first star of the Flat when winning the G2 May Hill S. and finishing runner-up in the G1 Fillies' Mile, is also responsible for the G3 Stanerra S. runner-up Divine Jewel (GB) (Frankel {GB}). She is a half to the Listed River Eden Fillies' S. winner Sorrel (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), who was also placed in the GIII La Prevoyante S. and GIII Orchid S. from the family of the sire Definite Article (GB) who captured this fixture's G1 National S. and was runner-up in the G1 Irish Derby.

Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
MOYGLARE STUD S.-G1, €400,000, Curragh, 9-10, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:27.50, g/y.
1–FALLEN ANGEL (GB), 128, f, 2, by Too Darn Hot (GB)
     1st Dam: Agnes Stewart (Ire) (GSW & G1SP-Eng, GSP-Ire, $176,586), by Lawman (Fr)
     2nd Dam: Anice Stellato (Ire), by Dalakhani (Ire)
     3rd Dam: Summer Spice (Ire), by Key of Luck
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Clipper Logistics; B-Branton Court Stud LLP (GB); T-Karl Burke; J-Danny Tudhope. €240,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 4-3-1-0, $317,981. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Vespertilio (Fr), 128, f, 2, by Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Prudente (Fr), by Dansili (GB).
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (€320,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG). O-Al Shira'Aa Farms; B-S.A.S.U. Ecurie des Monceaux & Skymarc Farm Inc (FR); T-Willie McCreery. €80,000.
(DH) 3–Porta Fortuna (Ire), 128, f, 2, Caravaggio–Too Precious (Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire). O-Barry Fowler & Medallion Racing 2020 LLC & Steven I Weston & Reeves Thoroughbred; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Donnacha O'Brien. €40,000.
(DH) 3–Ornellaia (GB), 128, f, 2, by Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Namhroodah (Ire) (GSP-Eng), by Sea The Stars (Ire).
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (260,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Amo Racing Limited; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited (GB); T-Dominic Ffrench Davis. €40,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 4HF, DHT. Odds: 4.50, 4.00, 8.50 & 20.00.
Also Ran: Red Viburnum (Ire), She's Quality (Ire), Brilliant (Ire), Pearls And Rubies, Ylang Ylang (GB).

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Lumiere Rock Lights Up The Curragh With Deserved Group 2 Success

It was always going to take something special to luminate the Curragh against the backdrop of that dark grey sky, but the Joseph O'Brien-trained Lumiere Rock (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) had just the answer in the G2 Moyglare-sponsored Blandford S. under a razor-sharp Dylan Browne McMonagle. 

Lumiere Rock has danced every dance this season. Her big moment at the Irish Champions Festival was richly deserved but it was achieved in far more tenacious fashion than the three-length winning margin would suggest. 

Having gone out on her sword behind the fantastically-talented French filly Jannah Rose (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in her own backyard at Deauville last month, Lumiere Rock's ability was clear for everyone to see, and she confirmed herself a smart sort in her own right in grabbing the Blandford by the scruff of the neck in first-time cheekpieces. 

The race-winning move came over two furlongs out when Browne McMonagle, rightly considered one of the hottest riding prospects in Europe, sent the 6-1 shot to the front. From there, Lumiere Rock was not for catching, with Aidan O'Brien's Jackie Oh (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) coming through to finish a never-nearer second while the sponsor's Trevaunance (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) finished a credible third. 

“She has been keeping really good company all season,” O'Brien said afterwards. “She was just beaten at Ascot and narrowly beaten again in France the last day. She really did deserve her win at Group 2 level today and won in the style of a filly who will hold her own in Group 1 company as she gets older.”

Lumiere Rock carried the colours of Michael O'Flynn, the property developer who is synonymous for owning top-class jumpers with Mouse Morris, including Grade 1-winning chaser China Rock and one-time exciting novice hurdler Venalmar. 

However, the striking red and yellow silks have been spotted more frequently on the Flat in recent years, through O'Flynn's association with the stables of O'Brien and Johnny Murtagh, and the owner explained how he enjoys the balance between the two codes. 

“I am enjoying it,” the owner said. “I am having more of an involvement on the Flat, which I am really enjoying, but I love the National Hunt. I must say, with Joseph and Johnny Murtagh on the Flat, I have had some really interesting runners and winners. I am favouring a little bit more towards the Flat but I still love the National Hunt.”

O'Brien confirmed that Lumiere Rock could take in a Group 1 contest on her next start.

He said, “I suppose the obvious targets could be Arc day at Longchamp or Ascot for Champions Day. We'll see how she comes out of this and she'll tell us.”

 

Pedigree Notes

One of seven stakes winners for her Coolmore sire, Lumiere Rock is out of the placed Last Gold (Fr) (Gold Away {Ire}). She is a half-sister to the 2-year-old filly Forthright (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), a yearling filly by Starspangledbanner (Aus) bound for Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Sale as lot 1237, and a colt foal by Kodi Bear (Ire).

Second dam Baahama (Ire) (Anabaa) won the Listed Prix Charles Laffitte and was runner-up in the G3 Prix d'Aumale. At stud she foaled a pair of Deep Impact (Jpn) French Group 3 winners–Akihiro (Jpn) and Bartaba (Fr).

 

Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
MOYGLARE “JEWELS” BLANDFORD S.-G2, €200,000, Curragh, 9-10, 3yo/up, f/m, 10fT, 2:07.89, g/y.
1–LUMIERE ROCK (IRE), 128, f, 3, by Saxon Warrior (Jpn)
1st Dam: Last Gold (Fr), by Gold Away (Ire)
2nd Dam: Baahama (Ire), by Anabaa
3rd Dam: Silver Rain (Fr), by Rainbow Quest
(55,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Michael O'Flynn; B-The Last
Partnership (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Dylan Browne
McMonagle. €120,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Eng & Fr,
10-2-5-0, $302,830. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Jackie Oh (Ire), 128, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Jacqueline Quest (Ire),
by Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire). O-Triermore Stud, Mrs J Magnier &
M Tabor; B-C O P Hanbury (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €40,000.
3–Trevaunance (Ire), 134, f, 4, Muhaarar (GB)–Liber Nauticus
(Ire), by Azamour (Ire). O/B-Moyglare Stud Farm (IRE);
T-Jessica Harrington. €20,000.
Margins: 3, HF, 3/4. Odds: 6.00, 3.20, 8.00.
Also Ran: Araminta (Ire), Red Riding Hood (Ire), Unless, Insinuendo (Ire), Never Ending Story (Ire), Caroline Street, Alanya (Fr), Mashia (Ire). VIDEO.

 

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Galileo’s Warm Heart Prevails In Vermeille Tussle

Coolmore and Westerberg's G2 Ribblesdale S. victrix Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}–Sea Siren {Aus}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was defiant when battling to a career high in last month's G1 Yorkshire Oaks and displayed her fighting qualities once again to garner Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp.

As she had done on the Knavesmire, Warm Heart settled into a smooth rhythm racing off the pace in fourth, having broken from the stalls with her nose shaving the turf here. Making relentless headway under pressure in the straight, the 3-1 second favourite was driven along to launch her challenge passing the furlong pole and stayed on well under whipless rousting in the dying embers to withstand the persistent threat of G2 Prix de Pomone victrix Melo Melo (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire) by a short-neck. Yorkshire Oaks fifth Sea Silk Road (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) ran on to finish 1 3/4 lengths adrift in third for her first placing at the highest level.

“The race was a bit of a trappy contest,” explained winning rider James Doyle. “She exits the gates very well, but she slipped today and lost her action for a few strides, so I found myself a bit fenced-in and further back than I would have liked. They didn't go very fast and I was worried during the race, but she showed a lot of determination to come out on top. She doesn't really stop once in the lead, but tends to idle a bit and wait for the others, which is what she did in the Yorkshire Oaks and what she did again today. As for the Arc, her connections will decide. My feeling is that she needs good ground, being a light-actioned sort, and the going is therefore important in this regard. We've already seen editions of the Arc being run on fast ground, it can happen, but it's not common either.”

Francis-Henri Graffard, trainer of runner-up Melo Melo, added, “Melo Melo was conceding weight to the winner today, but we came up against a filly who was really a tough cookie. Looking to the future, she'll be better suited by much softer tracks. In any case, I think she delivered a great performance.”

Sea Silk Road's rider Tom Marquand expressed satisfaction with the run of his filly and commented, “She's a super filly and I'm very pleased with her performance. She had run a little freely in the Yorkshire Oaks and, one day, she'll win her Group 1 race when conditions come right for her. She's a classy filly.”

Reflecting on a long season and looking forward to another, Blue Rose Cen's trainer Christopher Head said, “She was in very good order in the first half of the season, but it's possible that the season has been a little long for the filly. We're going to talk to her owner, and see how she recovers, so we can look ahead to the future. She should stay in training next year, so we'll certainly be concentrating on her 2024 campaign.”

Pedigree Notes

Warm Heart is the fifth of eight foals and one of four scorers produced by G1 Manikato S., G1 Doomben 10,000 and G1 BTC Cup heroine Sea Siren (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), herself kin to the pattern-race winners Oratorio (Aus) (Stravinsky) and Lady Dehere (NZ) (Dehere). The February-foaled bay, whose third dam is G1 Karrakatta Plate heroine Hold That Smile (Aus) (Haulpak {Aus}), is a full-sister to G3 Derrinstown Stud Fillies S. runner-up Celestial Object (Ire) and the winning 2-year-old colt Bremen (Ire). She is also kin to a yearling colt by Camelot (GB) and a weanling colt by Home Affairs (Aus).

 

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX VERMEILLE-G1, €600,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-10, 3yo/up, f/m, 12fT, 2:31.29, g/s.
1–WARM HEART (IRE), 123, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Sea Siren (Aus) (MG1SW-Aus, SW & MGSP-Ire, $1,743,772), by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
2nd Dam: Express A Smile (Aus), by Success Express
3rd Dam: Hold That Smile (Aus), by Haulpak (Aus)
O-Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith & Westerberg; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-James Doyle. €342,840. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, 8-5-1-0, €883,762. *Full to Celestial Object (Ire), GSP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Melo Melo (GB), 131, f, 4, Gleneagles (Ire)–You Look So Good (GB), by Excellent Art (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (110,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA). O-Ecurie Ama.Zingteam; B-The Pocock Family (GB); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €137,160.
3–Sea Silk Road (Ire), 131, f, 4, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Oriental Magic (Ger), by Doyen (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (190,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Sunderland Holding Inc; B-Kildaragh Stud (IRE); T-William Haggas. €68,580.
Margins: SNK, 1 3/4, SNK. Odds: 3.00, 7.60, 31.00.
Also Ran: Rue Boissonade (Fr), Blue Rose Cen (Ire), Above The Curve, Pensee Du Jour (Ire), Crown Princesse (Fr). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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