ParisLongchamp, Day 2 – Review of the rest of the meeting

Kinross continued his upward curve with victory in the Prix de la Foret under Frankie Dettori for trainer Ralph Beckett.

Kinross and Frankie Dettori on their way to success in the Prix de la Foret

Photo: Jack Williams / JTW Equine Images

Seldom is a meeting of such calibre at ParisLongchamp rarely completed without a win for the flamboyant Italian, and it proved thusly again as he masterfully sent his charge on to score by 2 lengths from Malavath and the Japanese horse Entscheiden, who came in at 80-1.

The trainer, jockey and owner combination had tasted victory on the same card last year when Angel Bleu took the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, and it was a case of another well-planned mission by connections, who followed up their recent Doncaster success 3 weeks earlier in the Park Stakes with the 11-8 favourite.

It would not be an Arc weekend without Dettori scoring a winner in a Group 1, and he once again showcased his insatiable desire for top flight success when scoring by two lengths in the final Group 1 of the entire weekend, with his customary arms aloft causing cheers galore to ring out through the Paris air. Having failed by not much more than a couple of lengths to score a seventh Arc, he was still being celebrated around Longchamp as if he had just taken the victory he had aimed for.

Nothing like a banker for Britain. Rarely do we hear them words. Funny how things turn around.

More overseas action looks set for the winner, as trainer Ralph Beckett is eyeing up a trip to the Breeders Cup Mile with his five year old charge, who has matured since being gelded at 3 and gone from strength to strength.

“I’ve always fancied him for that”, he said post race.

“As a three year old, he was already on the big side”. “He has come into his own now”.

“He has performed magnificently all year, and it’s fantastic to win this today….. he’s bred for this testing ground”.

“He’s a really special horse for the stable”.

The Platinum Queen may only be two, but she has more than made connections have a lifetime of jubilation when scooping her deserved Group 1 in the Prix De L’Abbaye under the master of the top occasions in Hollie Doyle.

The Platinum Queen gifts Hollie Doyle her first victory at ParisLongchamp in the Prix De L'Abbaye

Photo: Jack Williams / JTW Equine Images

Second in the Nunthorpe in August, and only just edged out of victory at Doncaster in the Group 2 Flying Childers to the well-regarded Trillium, she got her much-applauded maiden victory at the highest level, with connections exploding in jubilation when the result was official.

Some sore heads on Monday for the connections is more of a certainty than she appeared to be in the betting, despite going off the 13/5 favourite.

Not since 1978 had a two year old won the Abbayye, so this was not just monumental for the owners, but for the sport too.

A Richard Fahey two year old sprinter is usually a good thing, as the trainer certainly knows how to ready one. But in The Platinum Queen, they may have a horse to take them and all connections on a globetrotting adventure, with options including the Breeders Cup now on the radar after her success in the Parisian mud.

Hollie Doyle had just been edged out on Nashwa in the preceeding contest, the Prix de L’Opera, but she was this time on the receiving end of some luck as she just held on at the line from another British raider in White Lavender.

The Platinum Queen has shown brazen speed in her short career so far, but after coming second to the supremely talented pairings of Highfield Princess in the Nunthorpe at York and Trillium in the Flying Childers at Doncaster, she finally got her day in the sun.

Which was dramatic irony, given the weather had decided to turn British for the day.

It was Hollie Doyle’s first success at ParisLongchamp, and one she will never forget, as cheers of admiration bellowed out from the parade ring as her name was called onto the winner’s podium.

She was full of praise for her mount as she was interviewed post race.

“Her biggest asset is her speed”.

“She had a bit up her sleeve and had the race put to bed”.

“It’s a big win for the owners. It’s a big day for them!”

When Zellie took the Prix Marcel Boussac for trainer Andre Fabre 12 months ago under Oisin Murphy, few would have expected them to have to wait a full year for their next Group 1 success.

And even fewer would have expected it to be an upset that grants him his next top flight success.

Nevertheless, a long spell between top flight drinks came to an end for the trainer as his charge Belbek caused a bit of a shock when taking the opener on Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe day, the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, under Mickael Barzalona.

Belbek ( 3 ) collars Gamestop in the final strides to win the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere

Photo: Tom Williams / JTW Equine Images

Having been beaten on their last two starts by the imposing Blackbeard and The Antarctic at Chantilly and Deauville respectively, they started the Group 1 contest at the odds of 177/10, but showed that they were right back to their best when wrestling victory away from Gamestop, having travelled sweetly in fourth place during the majority of the trip.

He was delivered in fine style by jockey Mickael Barzalona, and kept up the challenge just enough to prevail by a neck, relegating the almost sure fire winner Gamestop to an unlucky second, as can be the luck of racing.

The step up in trip to 7 furlongs brought out the much needed improvement, which led the trainer post race to consider aiming for the Vertem Futurity at Doncaster in a couple of weeks time.

“This was the question mark but we will think about Doncaster next, or something like that”, he stated to the assembled press.

“He’s a good horse”.

He will need to be supplemented for the race, but he would make a very interesting runner on Town Moor, given how it usually comes up soft over the trip, and he certainly coped with the conditions in Paris.

He needed to be a good horse to cope with the ground, which was riding at 3.9 on the Penetrometer, indicating the going as Very Soft.

Potentially, this individual will be aimed long term at races over a mile, should he continue to improve for his next run and, or, the winter break. A crack at the French 2000 Guineas, the Poule D’Essai Des Poulains in May 2023.

Belbek ( 3 ) collars Gamestop in the final strides to win the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere

Photo: Jack Williams / JTW Equine Images

One race the trainer did not favour however was the Breeders Cup, of which the horse has automatically qualified for, much preferring to stay more in European races.

Nevertheless, it set the precedence for the day, and gave the home team renewed hope of a fine day.

They certainly have one with a fine future on their hands here.

It is not often that you can say that a race is over with two furlongs left to run, but that is exactly what happened in the Prix Marcel Boussac as Blue Rose Cen destroyed her rivals under Aurelien Lemaitre.

Blue Rose Cen and Aurelien Lemaitre are impressive winners of the Prix Marcel Boussac

Photo: Tom Williams / JTW Equine Images

Always prominent behind the leaders, the filly swept past the field and scooted clear with 400 metres to run, slipping past the field at the cutaway and keeping up the gallop to win by 5 lengths, and in the rocess continuing the legacy of the Head family, as trainer Christophe Head became the latest member to record a Longchamp success.

The son of legendary French trainer Freddy head, nephew of Criquette Head and Grandson of Alec Head, he was recording his first success on Arc Day at Longchamp, as his charge left a wide chasm between herself and Gan Teorainn and Never Ending Story, who simply could not get on terms with the runway, impressive winner.

Her record on soft or very soft is now 4 out of 4, showing the daughter of Churchill’s love affair with the conditions, simply thriving in the mud, when other horses would rather be on a quicker surface.

Having scored his first Group 1, the trainer was immediately asked how his maiden victory at the level. He simply replied to the assembled media "It’s incredible. It was a dream run".

“I think she could be a really nice three-year-old. She looks a Classic filly”.

"This race has been the plan since the beginning of the year”.

On future plans, the main one seemed to be a trip to Keeneland, should the owner be willing to do so.

"We have plenty of options if we want to run again this year, including the Breeders' Cup”.

By securing victory, Blue Rose Cen is now eligible to run in one of the premier races for two year olds in America. But it may well be that her next season will be even more profitable, with the potential of a raising in trip to 10 furlongs opening more avenues for further improvement and success.

Blue Rose Cen and Antoine Lemaitre are impressive winners of the Prix Marcel Boussac

Photo: Jack Williams / JTW Equine Images

Another horse that will be heading to the Breeders Cup may well be Never Ending Story, who finished third. Speaking post race, Aidan O ’Brien reported that “she could run in the Breeders Cup Fillies Turf Mile”, but that it would ultimately depend on how she comes out of the race.

Jim Bolger, who trained the runner up Gan Teorainn, declared that he was happy with the run, and was looking forward to next season with his charge.

“She’s going to be a next year filly”.

“Next season we will probably start her at a mile and a quarter, and she should then get a mile and a half”.

The biggest shock of the day came in the Prix De L’Operas as the well tauted favourite Nashwa was cruelly denied at the line by 66/1 fancy Place Du Carousel, as her and Mickael Barzalona took the race in the dying strides from the front runner heroine.

Place Du Carrousel collars Nashwa on the line n the Prix De L'Opera Longines

Photo: Jack Williams / JTW Equine Images

Much to the heatbreak of favourite backers, Nashwa just failed to last home, despite the urgings of her immaculate pilot, after showing the heels to the Oaks winner Tuesday, only to be collared by an unseen rival close home.

In a cruel state of luck, the winner had been last seen finishing behind Nashwa in the Prix de Diane. However, this time the horseshoe was on the other foot as Place Du Carousel swept on the outside to win by just shy of one length.

Andre Fabre, winning trainer, was thrilled with the performance, stating to the assembled media that “the ground” made the difference to his charge.

“She was a bit sore on the summer ground after the Prix de Diane, and needed a bit of time”, reflecting on the break between races for the winner.

“She won a Group 3 in April ( Prix Cleopatre at Saint-Cloud ) and was placed in a Group 1 ( Prix de Diane…. She’s a scopey filly”.

“The Breeders Cup ( Filly & Mare Turf ) could now be an option”, he added.

Nashwa’s trainer, John Gosden, said his filly had run “a blinder “ and rued the wide draw, but could not comment on future plans, while Joseph O’Brien stated that Above The Curve looks like the type to improve for next year, and would have a think on if they would go to the Breeders Cup with her.

Look up Jim Crowley in the latest edition of the Oxford English Dictionary, and it will presumably de the definition for confident.

That superlative was exactly him, as he performed an impressive ride to score the Arabian World Cup aboard Lady Princess, trained by Thomas Faucy.

Jim Crowley and Lady Princess are emphatic winners of the Arabian World Cup

Photo: Jack Williams / JTW Equine Images

Last year’s second exacted her just revenge in the most stunning of fashions, with Jim sitting pretty aboard the mare at the rear of the field whilst everyone else was pushing and shoving as the field turned from home and levelled up for the charge to the line.

The pair swept through the field with effortless stealth and precise confidence, a mere oxymoron of the rest of the field, and as if by the breath of the autumn Parisian air they had come to the front of the pack without breaking sweat.

Once Jim pressed the button to go, his charge responded by ploughing her opposition into the sodden turf and scooting to the lead. She scored by just shy of 2 lengths from Ebraz, and in the process took the Purebred Arabian Grand Slam, having scored the Emir’s Sword in Doha in February, the Qatar International Stakes at Goodwood in July and then completing the trinity in ParisLongchamp.

A repeat may well be on the cards for the combination next season. Let’s hope for more of the same, which served as a perfect entrée to the main event.

*Quotes from connections are correlated from the writers, France Galop, Racing Post & Sportinglife*