Wonderful Tonight (Fr) | Horse Racing Free Tips

Olivier Peslier to Ride Wonderful Tonight in the Arc

Former French champion jockey Olivier Peslier will ride multiple Group 1 winner Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October, her trainer David Menuisier announced on Tuesday. The regular rider of the bay is William Buick, who will most likely be aboard one of Godolphin's duo of Classic winners Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) or Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the ParisLongchamp cornerstone.

“I think he is one of the best in the business,” said Menuisier of the veteran Frenchman. “He has the experience on his side, and he's ridden the filly as a 2-year-old when he won on her at Saint-Cloud.

“The plan was to keep him on last year. But I think it was a fracture of the jaw that sidelined him, so when she went to Longchamp [initially for the Prix de Thiberville last July] I had to use somebody else.

“Tony Piccone rode her–and because he rode her well, we kept the continuity. But Tony Piccone has gone to Hong Kong, and won't be back until October–and we felt it would be better to use somebody who, first of all, won the Arc several times. He's also ridden [in France] all year, and knows Longchamp like the back of his hand.”

Added the trainer, who is hoping to use Peslier in Wonderful Tonight's Arc prep races too, “I've known Olivier for 10 years. He's a friend, and I trust him 110% to do the job. Who wouldn't be keen [to ride Wonderful Tonight]? She has a live chance–well, we feel she's a live chance, in the Arc. Obviously he's delighted to have been called up.”

The 4-year-old filly is riding a four-racing winning streak, having triumphed in the G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S. at Goodwood on July 31. Her winning thread started with a 1 1/4-length victory in the G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu at ParisLongchamp on Arc Day and continued in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. on Oct. 17. Resuming at Royal Ascot, Wonderful Tonight added the G2 Hardwicke S. to her haul on June 19.

Although her next targets have not been confirmed, the Aug. 19 G1 Yorkshire Oaks is a possibility and Peslier is likely to be aboard Menuisier's star pupil regardless of which contest is selected.

“It's part of the plan,” added Menuisier. “He's made himself available to ride the filly wherever she goes.

“Thinking of the big one down the line, I think it would be good if he could have sat on her at least once and, in an ideal world, twice before the Arc.

“I don't want the filly to have too many hard battles before the big day–so she'll get to the race as fresh as she can, knowing that we're not having a summer break.”

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Le Havre’s Wonderful Tonight In Charge In The Lillie Langtry

After the rain missed Saturday's fast-ground G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., Goodwood had an abundance of it in the interim to ensure that things fell in the favour of the re-routed Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) ahead of Saturday's G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S. Too keen early tracking the leader Makawee (Ire) (Farhh {GB}) on the soft going she needs, Christopher Wright's G1 Prix de Royallieu, G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and G2 Hardwicke S. heroine was eventually allowed to stride to the front by William Buick approaching three out. Crossing to the stand's rail, the 4-5 favourite was clear with quarter of a mile remaining but in the end had to work to score by two lengths from the vastly-improved Tribal Craft (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), with the smart Albaflora (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) nine lengths away in third. “She is a lot stronger this year and has more speed, so this mile and six is the end of the world for her,” trainer David Menuisier said. “You have to break her stride the whole way, so you could probably get away with dropping down in trip to 10 furlongs now. She will probably have a run in the [Aug. 19 G1] Yorkshire Oaks, or maybe at Deauville in the [Aug. 22 G2 Prix de] Pomone, then likely the [G1 Prix] Vermeille [at ParisLongchamp Sept. 12] and of course the [Oct. 3] Arc.”

Buick echoed those sentiments and said, “I know she has won over this trip before in Paris last year, but I think she's a bit speedier now. She doesn't need to be running over this trip again. She's energetic and I was delighted to get a lead on her. We went slow and she took it up a fair way out, but has stuck on all the way to the line. She is a very good mover, so there is no real reason why she should want soft ground. Her form suggests she is better on it, but if it was good-to-soft or good ground, I wouldn't be worried. If the ground came up like this in the Arc, she is a class filly and you would have to give her a chance.” Oisin Murphy said of Tribal Craft, “It was a career-best and I am thrilled. Tribal Craft definitely improved for a change of tactics–being dropped in really suits her and she relishes these conditions.”

Wonderful Tonight, whose career trajectory took an upward turn when winning Deauville's 12 1/2-furlong G3 Prix Minerve on heavy ground last August, is a daughter of Salvation (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) who also produced the stakes winner Penjade (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}). The second dam is the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Birdie (GB) (Alhaarth {Ire}), who was responsible for three black-type performers headed by the GIII Providencia S. scorer Hostess (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}). Birdie is kin to the listed-winning Fickle (GB) (Danehill), in turn the dam of the G3 Dahlia S. winner Tarfah (Kingmambo) who produced the G1 2000 Guineas and G1 Epsom and Irish Derby hero and established sire Camelot (GB). Salvation's unraced 2-year-old colt Ak Ishan (Fr) (Recorder {GB}) was a €70,000 purchase at Arqana Deauville October by Haras de Montfort & Preaux, while she also has a yearling filly by the same sire.

Saturday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR LILLIE LANGTRY S.-G2, £300,000, Goodwood, 7-31, 3yo/up, f/m, 14fT, 3:13.05, sf.
1–WONDERFUL TONIGHT (FR), 135, f, 4, by Le Havre (Ire)
1st Dam: Salvation (GB), by Montjeu (Ire)
2nd Dam: Birdie (GB), by Alhaarth (Ire)
3rd Dam: Fade (GB), by Persepolis (Fr)
(€40,000 Ylg '18 ARAUG). O-Christopher Wright; B-SARL Ecurie La Cauviniere (FR); T-David Menuisier; J-William Buick. £170,130. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Fr at 14f+, G1SW-Fr & Eng, 10-6-1-1, $832,231. *1/2 to Penjade (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}), SW-US, MSP-Fr, $376,306. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tribal Craft (GB), 132, m, 5, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Snoqualmie Star (GB), by Galileo (Ire). O-Mr J C Smith; B-Littleton Stud (GB); T-Andrew Balding. £64,500.
3–Albaflora (GB), 132, f, 4, Muhaarar (GB)–Almiranta (GB), by Galileo (Ire). O/B-Miss K Rausing (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. £32,280.
Margins: 2, 9, 5. Odds: 1.80, 16.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Divinely (Ire), Makawee (Ire), Believe In Love (Ire), Cabaletta (GB). Scratched: Golden Pass (GB), Traisha (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Wonderful Tonight The Saturday Star

With Goodwood Saturday centred around the Stewards Cup for the sprinters, the G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S. is the sole black-type contest on the closing card but it features one of Europe's best in Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}).

Christopher Wright's G1 Prix de Royallieu, G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and G2 Hardwicke S. heroine was forced to miss last Saturday's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. due to the fast surface and despite the ground drying out all the time here, she is committed to run under her three-pound penalty. Trainer David Menuisier is taking nothing for granted.

“The opposition obviously is not the same as the King George, but they have to be respected,” he said. “I haven't gone into great detail as to the horses left in the race but there's a 3-year-old carrying next to no weight, which is something you can't discard. She's the favourite and she should be, but we're not going there thinking she's a sure thing. It's a horse race and we know Goodwood offers some upsets at times.”

“I'm not here to put a dampener on it because on sheer ability, there's no race,” he added. “She's a bit buzzy, because she went to Ascot and had to come back but other than that she's fine. It's important she runs at the end of July and it didn't happen last weekend. That's the main point–she needs to run somewhere, because she's really well and fit. I don't want to deceive her by going back home and keep on working her there to get the freshness out of her without racing.”

Weather is always a concern for Menuisier, but there is rain forecast ahead of the race. “Obviously we're still hoping for some rain before Saturday to keep it on the slow side, because it's drying out quickly,” he said. “Good ground would be okay and if we don't get any more rain I think that's what it will be. I just know that on quicker ground she can't reach the levels she does on soft, so then it is a question of opposition.”

Koji Maeda's July 8 G3 Stanerra S. winner Believe In Love (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) will be in the mix if the favourite fails to fire, while the weight-for-age is a staggering 15 pounds which brings Ballydoyle's June 4 G1 Epsom Oaks third and July 17 G1 Irish Oaks runner-up Divinely (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) into the equation as the sole 3-year-old in the line-up.

“She has developed into a very solid, classy filly and now has two Classic-placed performances to her name,” jockey Ryan Moore said. “She operates on any ground, so the weather can do what it wants and you have to like her chances as the only 3-year-old in here getting a hefty 12 pounds from most and 15 from Wonderful Tonight.”

At Newmarket, Juddmonte's rare jewel Chiasma (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) lines up for the Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Chalice S. The John and Thady Gosden-trained full-sister to Frankel (GB) faces tough opposition in the 12-furlong contest as she bids to build on her novice win at Kempton last time June 30.

“It's a good renewal of the race and some of the fillies in there have got some strong form by their names,” Thady Gosden said. “Chiasma won last time out which was important for her and for Juddmonte. Now we hope to get some black-type next to her name with a pedigree like hers. If the ground is faster it won't be a worry, although it is due to rain and she has already run on soft ground. She shows a great attitude at home and enjoys her work.”

Another Juddmonte runner is the unbeaten Ralph Beckett-trained Yesyes (GB) (Camelot {GB}), who has impressed at Haydock May 28 and Lingfield July 14.

“The mile and a half on the July Course should suit her really well, particularly as they have a drop of rain forecast,” her trainer said. “Her first run has been given a boost and it is lovely form. We've had to be patient with her, as she was slow to come to hand. Last year she was a big filly and was simply not ready to race.”

Godolphin's Sayyida (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a half-sister to Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) with two course-and-distance wins to her name May 16 and June 26 and Charlie Appleby is looking forward to seeing how she fares in a tough contest.

“We will be slightly on weather watch, as we would like a bit of rain as it was quick enough there on her last start,” he explained. “We are pleased with her preparation and the one thing she does is stay well.”

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Wonderful Tonight Swerves The King George

Christopher Wright's Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) has been withdrawn from the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco S. at Ascot and will be pointed at Goodwood next week. With minimal rain hitting the Berkshire track, the G1 Prix de Royallieu, G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and G2 Hardwicke S. heroine was taken out as expected by David Menuisier. “When you train a soft-ground horse you always need a bit of luck with races in the middle of the summer,” he explained. “She's the filly of a lifetime with big targets in the autumn, so we've got to do right by her. We'd like to give Goodwood a go, and she's entered in the [G2] Lillie Langtry Stakes, so could run there.”

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