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Sunday 12th September, Longchamp (www.jourdegalop.com) After all the drama in 2009 with Dar Re Mi’s (Singspiel) demotion, this year’s €350,000 Qatar Prix Vermeille (Gr1-3yos+ -2400m) was a relatively quiet affair. Nobody who witnessed this event was left in any doubt of the quality of the winner Midday (Oasis Dream). Sariska (Pivotal) however will no longer have the opportunity to show her quality on the racecourse as her retirement was announced soon after she once again remain stationary in the stalls and refused to race. The race leader Plumania (Anabaa) set a slow enough pace before jockey Olivier Peslier accelerated on the descent. He then took a pull on the bend before kicking clear once the rest of the field came to him. This style of race made it very difficult for Sarafina (Refuse To Bend) as she had a lot of ground to make up in the straight. Sarafina eventually finished third half a length behind Plumania who was in turn beaten three quarters of a length by the winner. Plumania may now go for the Arc followed by a trip to the Breeders' Cup. Sarafina will also be aimed at the Arc unless the ground comes up soft.
Midday will not participate in the Arc in three weeks’ time but will instead attempt a second consecutive success in the Breeders'Cup Filly and Mare Turf (Gr1), at Churchill Downs. “This is her fifth Gr1, she is really incredible”, declared winning trainer Henry Cecil. “She was a bit lazy in the finish and I would obviously have preferred more pace but she won well and she beat a good bunch today.”
Bred by Juddmonte Farms, Midday is out of Midsummer (Kingmambo) who’s best performance was a 2nd place in a Listed over 2,200m. From her three offspring of racing age, Midday is for the moment far and away the best. This year, Midsummer produced a filly by Pivotal and also has a yearling by Oasis Dream, the sire of Midday.
Niel – Behkabad wears down Planteur
“He was very brave today. But I must also say that Planteur is also a very good horse and they produced a brave fight”, explained Christophe Lemaire, after his winning ride on Behkabad (Cape Cross) in the €130,000 Qatar Prix Niel (Gr2), three weeks ahead of his planned attempt in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr1). Planteur (Danehill Dancer) proved a worthy rival, as was also the case in the Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1), and was only beaten a head on the line. “You must remember that this is a prep race for the Arc and hopefully he will have got his back down in this race ahead of his objective” continued the winning jockey. Including this success, Behkabad is unbeaten on all of his three starts here at Longchamp. After this Prix Niel Behkabad is quoted as favourite for the Arc by the bookies at 3/1 while Planteur is third favourite, behind Fame and Glory (Montjeu), at 6/1
Kidnapping (Intikhab), a twice Listed winner in Italy, was the surprise of this race when taking third place four lengths behind the pair. “He is a true 2,400m horse”, explained Alessandro Botti, close relative of the trainer of Kidnapping. “He will not go for the Arc, I’m not sure where he will run next but it is possible that he will in France, where there are more opportunities for him than in Italy.” Winner of the Japanese 2000 Guineas (Gr1), Victoire Pisa (Neo Universe) gave the impression that he did not stay the trip, despite having finished third in the Japan Derby (Gr1) whiwh is also over 2400m.
Bred by the Aga Khan, Behkabad is a son of Behkara (Kris), who won the Prix Hubert de Chaudenay (Gr2) and was placed twice in the Prix Royal-Oak (Gr1) when trained by Alain de Royer Dupré. At stud she has already produced Beheshtam (Peintre Célèbre), winner of the Prix de l’Avre (L) and second in the Prix Niel (Gr2). She also has a 2 year old colt by Green Desert (Danzig).
Foy – Duncan follows brother’s example
Duncan (Dalakhani) is not entered in the Arc, but it is tempting to supplement him, confided John Gosden after his charge sprung a surprise to beat all his rivals in the €130,000 Qatar Prix Foy (Gr2-4yo+ Colts and Mares-2400m). “There was no pace and my jockey, who is used to races run with more pace, rode a very good race” continued the winning trainer. “He didn’t fall into the trap and he won well as he pulled away again when challenged by the Japanese horse.”
Winning jockey William Buick led the race and took a pull in the false straight letting Timos (Sholokhov) pass him. His mount then proved himself very tough in the finish to hold off the attack of the Japanese raider Nakayama Festa (Stay Gold), who finished second beaten three quarters of a length. This was Duncan’s first ever Group win, at 5 years of age. Timos was a length back in third a neck ahead of Byword (Peintre Célèbre). William Buick received a fine of €150 for overuse of the whip.
This was the first time that the colour’s of Normandie Stud were seen in France. Owner-breeder, Philippa Cooper had waited a long time for her first Group success and in one week her homebreds achieved not one but two Group wins after Samuel (Sakhee), the half-brother of Duncan, was victorious in the Doncaster Cup (Gr2). Samuel should now go for the Qatar Prix du Cadran (Gr1) on Arc day.
Petit Couvert – Swiss Diva impresses
Already impressive on her two successes at Deauville, Swiss Diva (Pivotal) made a victorious return to French soil for the €80,000 Qatar Prix du Petit Couvert (Gr3-3yos-1000m), prep race for the Qatar Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (Gr1). The only British raider, Swiss Diva proved once again that there is a lack of top class sprinters in France. Held up this time, Swiss Diva took the lead quite early – before the 400 metre mark. She then proceeded with an impressive ease to pass the post in a canter two lengths ahead of her nearest rival, Bluster (Indian Rocket). The winner should come back to France once again to take part in the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp. A point worth noting is that Swiss Diva and Bluster were drawn two and one respectively proving how hard it is to win from an outside draw on the straight track at Longchamp. Mar Adentro (Marju) sprung a surprise when taking third place a further head behind. Up until June he was running in handicaps over 1600m and further however he now seems to have found his true place among the sprinters.
Bred by Lordship Stud, Swiss Diva is out of Swiss Lake (Indian Ridge), who won two Listeds and was second in a Gr2, all over 1000m. She has also produced Swiss Franc (Mr Greeley), second in the Coventry Stakes (Gr2) at Royal Ascot.
Gladiateur – Gentoo shocks rivals
The biggest surprise of the day came in the €80,000 Qatar Prix Gladiateur (Gr3-4yo+ -3100m) when Gentoo (Loup Solitaire) outclassed all of his rivals to win by two lengths.
Alain Lyon’s charge, who has been running in handicaps, was having his first start in Group company. “He is an exceptional horse as he has run a lot with a lot of weight on his back”, declared jockey Gérald Mossé to Equidia. “He found it much easier with a lighter weight today. I took my time as he likes to come through horses and the soft ground was a bonus for him.”
Gentoo should now take part in the Qatar Prix du Cadran (Gr1) on Arc day, according to his connections. A battle was expected between Bannaby (Dyhim Diamond) and Kasbah Bliss (Kahyasi), but it never took place. They finished seventh and fifth respectively after Bannaby hung right in the straight and his jockey had his hands full to keep him straight while Kasbah Bliss was boxed in and very unlucky in the finish. Much improved than on his last two starts, Watar (Marju) took second place three quarters of a length ahead of Kimble (Jimble).
Bred at Haras du Cadran by Jean-Claude Séroul, Gentoo was bought for €11,000 by Keven Borgel at the Arqana Yearling Sales in December 2005 (click here for catalogue page).
Muette - Katsya in the money once again
The Jonathon Pease trained Katsya (Sinndar), who runs in his wife’s colours, was successful in the €58,000 Prix de la Muette (3yo Fillies – 1950m) in the hands of Olivier Peslier. She beat Jardaa (Pivotal) by only a short head with Chicago May (Numerous) a further length and a half behind in third place.
Katsya, who was also bred by the Peases, is out of Labyrinth (Exit to Nowhere). Jonathon also trained this mare who won two races over 1600 and 1800m, before finishing sixth on her only attempt in Group company. This was Katsya’s second success; she also has nine places to her name proving her to be very reliable as she has never finished out of the money on 11 career starts.
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