Godolphin’s Tribalist Dominates Saint-Cloud Feature

Godolphin's Tribalist (GB) (Farhh {GB}–Fair Daughter {GB}, by Nathaniel {Ire}), who hit the board in last term's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains, took care of business in Saint-Cloud's G3 Prix Edmond Blanc on seasonal return last month and revisited the Parisian venue to dominate Monday's G2 Prix du Muguet.

The 27-10 second choice broke smartly from the inside stall to gain early control and held a two-length advantage into the home straight. Untroubled throughout, he was shaken up with 300 metres remaining and ridden out inside the final furlong to easily hold the late threat of familiar rival Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) by 1 1/4 lenths for a second pattern-race score. It was the same margin back to 27-10 favourite Erevann (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) in third.

“Tribalist is a very consistent horse and goes on any ground,” insisted trainer Andre Fabre. “He always gives his best and, all being well, he will go for the [May 20 G1] Lockinge S. at Newbury.”

Pedigree Notes
Tribalist is the first of four foals and lone performer produced by an unraced half-sister to five black-type performers headed by G1 Racing Post Trophy-winning sire Crowded House (GB) (Rainbow Quest). Descendants of his second dam Wiener Wald (Woodman) also include multiple Group 1-winning sire Reckless Abandon (GB) (Exchange Rate), multiple Grade I-winning distaffer Ticker Tape (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) and G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest hero Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). The February-foaled chestnut, who hails from the family of GISW sire Storm Cat (Storm Bird), is a full-brother to the unraced 2-year-old filly Fair Point (GB) and half to a yearling filly by Make Believe (GB).

Monday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX DU MUGUET-G2, €130,000, Saint-Cloud, 5-1, 4yo/up, 8fT, 1:41.85, vsf.
1–TRIBALIST (GB), 126, c, 4, by Farhh (GB)
1st Dam: Fair Daughter (GB), by Nathaniel (Ire)
2nd Dam: Wiener Wald, by Woodman
3rd Dam: Chapel Of Dreams, by Northern Dancer
(130,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Car Colston Hall Stud Syndicate (GB); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickale Barzalona. €74,100. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr, 13-4-4-3, €285,655. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Facteur Cheval (Ire), 126, g, 4, Ribchester (Ire)–Jawlaat (Ire), by Shamardal. (145,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; €120,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Gary Barber & Team Valor International; B-McCracken Farms (IRE); T-Jerome Reynier. €28,600.
3–Erevann (Fr), 126, c, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Ervedya (Fr), by Siyouni (Fr). O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €13,650.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1 1/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 2.70, 4.60, 1.70.
Also Ran: The Revenant (GB), Fort Payne (Fr), Rosacea (Ire), Fire Of The Sun (Fr). Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Saturday Preview: The Flat Is Back

Ireland's Flat action may have already started and France's has been rumbling on for several days, but for many the real beginning to the season on the level is Doncaster's Lincoln H. on a Saturday which wrests the attention from the national hunt in no uncertain terms. Whether there is a horse of the calibre of Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) lurking in the prestigious mile handicap remains to be seen, but there is a strong vibe surrounding another member of the William Haggas tribe in 'TDN Rising Star' Al Mubhir (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is the mount of Doncaster specialist Andrea Atzeni now operating as a freelance in a 2023 that will define his future riding career. “I thought he was going to be a good horse,” Haggas said of Al Mubhir, who had looked pattern-class all over when entered in the G3 Craven S. 12 months ago. “He won his maiden very nicely at Newmarket as a two-year-old and then I thought he was going to be a nice three-year-old. Then he was very disappointing. He was pretty unruly as well and lost his way a bit, but he finished the season well. I don't know how good he is, but he's always been a nice horse and I think he's in good shape.”

Donny Delights…

Also at Doncaster are the Listed Cammidge Trophy, which sees the return of the still-unexposed G2 Sandy Lane S. winner El Caballo (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) returning for the first time since beating only two home as the joint-favourite for the G1 Commonwealth Cup, and the Listed Doncaster Mile while the 2-year-olds assembled for the opening Brocklesby Conditions S.

 

Plat Du Jour…

'TDN Rising Star' Pensee Du Jour | Scoop Dyga

It is at Saint-Cloud that the high-stakes action takes place, however, with Andre Fabre seeking a third straight success with TDN Rising Star Pensee Du Jour (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the G3 Prix Penelope. Staged over the 10 1/2-furlong trip of the Prix de Diane, the renowned trial has surprisingly not been won by a subsequent heroine of that Classic since Pensee Du Jour 's distant relative Pawneese (Ire), the Wildensteins' champion of 1976. Fabre already holds the record of nine in this and the way the Ballymore Thoroughbred representative went through her maiden at Chantilly in February and the Listed Prix Rose de Mai here early this month suggests that number 10 is imminent.

Come On, Get Happy…

Ballydoyle have begun the year with gusto and the presence of two of the stable's runners in the Penelope is certain to be an indicator of what is to come as Rosegreen look more to France than ever before. Ryan Moore is here and not on the aforementioned favourite for the Lincoln, so it is up to another daughter of Camelot in Be Happy (Ire) to make up for that missed opportunity. Impressive at Cork on debut in September, the relative of the Prix du Jockey Club hero Anabaa Blue (GB) and of the great Urban Sea was only fifth in The Curragh's G3 Staffordstown Stud S. the following month but this is a new year and her rider is quietly confident. “Be Happy will enjoy the expected soft ground and she is a filly we like,” he said. “She probably didn't get the run of the race at the Curragh and this longer trip will suit.” Jean-Claude Rouget saddles Denford Stud's dual Cagnes-Sur-Mer scorer Iznik (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), while Gainesway Ventures' Arqana December purchase Speirling Beag (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) adds weight having won Leopardstown's G3 Eyrefield S. and been in front of Be Happy when third in the Staffordstown.

Old Habits Die Hard…

In the G3 Prix Edmond Blanc, Al Asayl France's stalwart The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has everything in his favour as he bids for a third renewal following his win in the course-and-distance Listed Prix Altipan three weeks ago, with the G3 Prix Perth one-two Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) and Tribalist (GB) (Farhh {GB}) and the 2021 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International hero Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) offering stern opposition. Unbeaten at this venue in five starts on ground that rode softer than good, the 8-year-old former QEII hero still sets the standard in this type of company.

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Dubawi’s Modern Games Provides Godolphin With Another Guineas

This year's G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains proved as straightforward as the 2021 version, with the key form horse enjoying an ideal draw and ideal trip in the ParisLongchamp Classic. This time, it was Godolphin and Charlie Appleby who were at the forefront as Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) brought up a Guineas double for the stable by following the example of Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) at Newmarket. Leaving the stalls with so much gusto he knuckled under William Buick, last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and G3 Tattersalls S. winner was undeterred and soon enjoyed the cat-bird seat as the wide-drawn outsider Texas (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) forged on with the ultimately disappointing Claymore (Fr) (New Bay {GB}) and Tribalist (GB) (Farhh {GB}). Driven to head the resilient Texas with 300 metres remaining, the 2-1 favourite stayed on strongly deny that 113-1 shot the shock outcome by 1 1/4 lengths. The other Godolphin runner Tribalist was 3/4 of a length behind in third in a race where being on the pace was crucial.

“I said to William to try and jump out and make it if he had to, but he hit the lids so quick he nearly stumbled,” commented Appleby, who was landing his first Poulains. “It was a good genuine gallop and he showed his class again. We are very fortunate to have the horses we have and I just spoke to His Highness and it would be nice to try and keep them apart for as long as we can. I always had it in the back of my mind that he might be a French Derby [Prix du Jockey Club] horse, so it will be interesting to see what William says.”

In the shadow of Coroebus and Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) at Moulton Paddocks prior to this, Modern Games only really began to take off when taking a seven-furlong nursery at Doncaster's St Leger meeting having won one of his first three starts. Next up was the Tattersalls S., where he first advertised his prowess with a comprehensive defeat of the G1 Prix Morny runner-up Trident (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) before overcoming the much-publicised stalls drama at Del Mar to take the Juvenile Turf by storm.

Once the draw was made, this was as easy for Modern Games as it was for St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) 12 months ago and no sooner had Buick sent him forward from the break was the outcome more or less decided. Claymore and Texas had used up too much petrol sent to the front from stalls 16 and 15 respectively, while Tribalist was always entering into an unfair contest with the operation's number one. Despite the winner's obvious authority in the closing stages, the race's story was the amazing effort of the Listed Criterium du Languedoc winner Texas, who was absurdly-priced given that he was only beaten 1 1/2 lengths when fourth in the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau. Clement Lecoeuvre felt he had no option but to go straight to the firing line from that compromising stall and it turned out to be a masterstroke which almost resulted in one of the race's all-time shocks.

Modern Games will seek to emulate St Mark's Basilica and three others in adding the G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club to this Classic and Appleby is convinced he has what it takes. “He's a neat horse who has got stronger over the winter–a typical Dubawi with a great mindset–and he brought bundles of experience into this. We saw what he had to take on board at the Breeders' Cup and he took all that rigmarole and drama like a true professional. That is a big mark up in my book and if they can do that normally it puts them in good stead for the big day. He's so game and honest, the distance of the Jockey Club is definitely worth a crack with him. We're very spoilt with the three colts that we have and I see no reason not to let this horse have a go at it.”

Buick believes he will be a perfect fit for the 10 1/2-furlong Chantilly Classic. “He went through the gears nicely and is one who keeps finding all the way to the line. Bits and bobs in his pedigree suggest he will stay and I think it seems like a natural step for him. He feels like a very experienced horse and in the Jockey Club, you need a lot of tactical pace. It can sometimes be a difficult race and I think he ticks a lot of boxes for the race.”

Texas is sticking to a mile from here, according to trainer Henri François Devin. “My horse ran a blinder,” he said. “It was a great performance and we are all delighted. I knew he had come on a lot for the run in the Fontainebleau and he got a good trip and a good ride. A mile is his limit, so we will now target the [G3] Prix Paul de Moussac or the [G1] Prix Jean Prat.”

Modern Games, whose 2-year-old half-sister Mawj (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) earned TDN Rising Star status at Newmarket on Saturday, is the fourth foal out of Modern Ideals (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) who is also responsible for the recent impressive Listed Windsor S. scorer Modern News (GB) (Shamardal). Modern Ideals is a half-sister to the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-winning sire Ultra (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}), the G3 Prix Minerve winner Synopsis (Ire) (In the Wings {GB}) and the dual stakes-placed Epic Similie (GB) (Lomitas {GB}), with the latter also being responsible for the G2 July S. and G3 Sirenia S. runner-up Figure of Speech (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). The family features the GII Canadian H. scorer Calista (GB) (Caerleon), the G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Champion S. heroine Bosra Sham (Woodman) and the 1991 and 1992 Poulains heroes Hector Protector and Shanghai. It is also the dynasty of the G1 Criterium International-winning sire Act One (GB), who was caught close home by Sulamani (Ire) (Hernando {Fr}) in the 2002 Jockey-Club. The dam's yearling filly is by Mastercraftsman (Ire).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
EMIRATES POULE D'ESSAI DES POULAINS-G1, €500,000, ParisLongchamp, 5-15, 3yo, c, 8fT, 1:34.98, g/s.
1–MODERN GAMES (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Modern Ideals (GB), by New Approach (Ire)
2nd Dam: Epitome (Ire), by Nashwan
3rd Dam: Proskona, by Mr. Prospector
O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. €342,840. Lifetime Record: GISW-US & GSW-Eng, 7-5-1-0, €827,863. *1/2 to Modern News (GB) (Shamardal), SW-Eng& SP-UAE, $138,666. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Texas (Fr), 128, c, 3, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Texalova (GB), by Dream Ahead. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€110,000 RNA Ylg '20 ARQSEP), O-Ecurie Jeffroy; B-SCEA des Prairies, Thomas Jeffroy & Benoit Jeffroy (FR); T-Henri-Francois Devin. €137,160.
3–Tribalist (GB), 128, c, 3, Farhh (GB)–Fair Daughter (GB), by Nathaniel (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (130,000gns Ylg '20 TAOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Car Colston Hall Stud Syndicate (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €68,580.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3/4, HD. Odds: 2.00, 113.00, 10.00.
Also Ran: Ancient Rome, Lassaut (Fr), Welwal (GB), Making Moovies (Ire), Scherzo (Fr), The Acropolis (Ire), Calif (Ger), Nesr Shalghoda (GB), Rock Boy (Fr), Bayside Boy (Ire), Nirliit (Fr), Claymore (Fr). Scratched: Tumbler (Fr). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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