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French Racing News - G1 Review

Longchamp hosted the biggest weekend of Flat action with mutiple Group One races on both Saturday and Sunday.

TRUESHAN was the winner of a Prix du Cadran.
TRUESHAN was the winner of a Prix du Cadran. Picture: Pat Healy Photography

Date Sunday 3 October 2021
Venue Longchamp
Race G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m)
Type Three-year-old plus
Winner Torquator Tasso 
Jockey Rene Piechulek
Trainer Marcel Weiss
Breeding Adlerflug X Tijuana
Second Tarnawa
Third Hurricane Lane

Torquator Tasso handed Germany a third victory in the feature G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m) as he caused a momentous 72-1 upset. The Marcel Weiss-trained colt pounced late in the hands of Rene Piechulek adding to prior German winners Danedream (2011) and Star Appeal in (1975).                         

Torquator Tasso ran on strongly down the outside to score from Dermot Weld's Tarnawa and the Charlie Appleby-trained Hurricane Lane. Stablemate Adayar was fourth after leading for much of the way. The G1 Epsom Derby (2400m) (UK) and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2400m) (UK) hero entered the straight a few lengths to the good, but he tired in the final 200m after perhaps being too free in the early stages.

Tarnawa was slow from the starting stalls which did not help her chance with a big task ahead to weave through the pack which makes her runner up effort even more creditable. Oisin Murphy steered Chrono Genesis on the outside, away from the field down the back straight hoping to find better ground which was a unique tactic in this year's renewal. The eventual winner was settled just worst than midfield, three off the rail. Torquator Tasso then made gradual headway along the false straight before being under pressure when turning for home. It was not until the 300m marker when the colt picked up and began to make ground powering home for the winning run.

The deluge of rain that continued to pour throughout Paris on Saturday evening would only enhance the chances of the second-season trainer's runner.  Torquator Tasso loved the gruelling conditions and in what became a test of heart as well as talent, it was he who ran out a highly deserving winner. He maintained his excellent overall career record of only missing the frame twice and maintaining a fantastic status over 2400m.

It was a third top-flight win for the German-trained colt having taken out the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin (2400m) at Hoppegarten in September 2020 and the Baden-Baden G1 Grosser Preis von Baden (2400m) on September 5th.

Torquator Tasso is one of five top-level winners for late sire Adlerflug, who died earlier this year. Adlerflug was standing at Gestut Schlenderhan for a fee of €16,000.

 

Date Saturday 2nd October
Venue Longchamp
Race G1 Prix du Cadran (4000m)
Type Four-year-old plus
Winner Trueshan
Jockey/Driver James Doyle
Trainer Alan King
Breeding Planteur X Shao Line
Second Stradivarius
Third Bubble Smart

Bred in France, at Saint-Pierre des Landes by Didier Blot it was the Alan King-trained five-year-old Trueshan who ran out a ready four-and-a-half length winner in the highly anticipated renewal of the G1 Prix du Cadran (4000m). Settled nicely in midfield by James Doyle, who replaced regular pilot Hollie Doyle (unable to ride due to suspension), the pair began to make eye-catching headway three furlongs out. The son of Planteur stayed on strongly through the testing conditions to put a widening gap between himself and the superstar stayer Stradivarius, with Bubble Smart a further length behind in third.

A tilt to defend his crown in the G1 Long Distance Cup (3200m) at Ascot (UK) looks likely although Alan King did not rule out a return to Longchamp for the G1 Prix Royal-Oak (3100m) as a back-up plan. Trueshan has now won nine of his fifteen starts with two top-level victories.

Date Sunday 3rd October
Venue Longchamp
Race G1 Prix Marcel Boussac (1600m)
Type Two-year-old fillies
Winner Zellie 
Jockey/Driver Oisin Murphy
Trainer Andre Fabre
Breeding Wootton Bassett X Sarai
Second Times Square
Third Oscula

Coolmore's Wootton Bassett sired his fifth top-level winner when the Andre Fabre-trained Zellie ran out a ready winner of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac (1600m) at Longchamp.

The two-year-old filly ran on strongly to score by one- and three-quarter lengths under Oisin MurphyTimes Square finished back in second with Oscula a further three lengths back in third.

The daughter of Wootton Bassett convincingly reversed the G3 Prix d'Aumale (1600m) form with race favourite Fleur D'Iris, who disappointed back in seventh having made the running.

Wootton Bassett is covering his first book of mares at Coolmore Stud in the Hunter Valley at a fee of $71,500.

 

Date Sunday 3rd October
Venue Longchamp
Race G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (1400m)
Type Two-year-old (No Geldings)
Winner Angel Bleu
Jockey/Driver Frankie Dettori
Trainer Ralph Beckett
Breeding Dark Angel X Cerle De La Vie
Second Noble Truth
Third Ancient Rome

The Ralph Beckett-trained British raider provided sire Dark Angel with his ninth top-level winner when he scored in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (1400m). Well-positioned in midfield by Frankie Dettori, the son of Dark Angel was asked to quicken with three furlongs left to travel, responding well under pressure to post a three-quarter lengths success. Noble Truth finished the same distance behind in second with Ancient Rome a never-nearer third.

A top-class two-year-old on the track Dark Angel currently stands at Yeomanstown Stud for a fee of €60,000.

Date Sunday 3rd October
Venue Longchamp
Race G1 Prix de l'Opera (2000m)
Type Three-year-old plus Fillies and Mares
Winner Rougir
Jockey/Driver Maxime Guyon
Trainer Cedric Rossi
Breeding Territories X Summer Moon
Second Grand Glory
Third Eudaimonia

Darley shuttler Territories produced his first Group One winner as his daughter Rougir got up by a nose in the G1 Prix de l'Opera (2000m). Held up in rear early on the filly made good late headway down the outside staying on powerfully in the closing stages.

Territories was a winner of the G1 Prix Jean Prat (1600m) having finished runner-up in the G1 2000 Guineas (1600m) in 2015. He is covering his fifth book of mares at Darley's Kelvinside base for a fee of $11,000.

Date Sunday 3rd October
Venue Longchamp
Race G1 Prix de l'Abbaye (1000m)
Type Two-year-old plus
Winner A Case Of You
Jockey/Driver Ronan Whelan
Trainer Adrian McGuinness
Breeding Hot Streak X Karjera
Second Air De Valse
Third Glass Slippers

The improving sprinter A Case Of You went one better than when runner-up in the G1 Flying Five Stakes (1000m) at The Curragh last month with success in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye (1000m). Settled in midfield by Ronan Whelan the pair burst out of the pack to chase down the leader and eventual second Air De Valse, getting up by a short head in the dying stages. The front two drew well clear of the third Glass Slipper who finished a further five-lengths behind.

It was a huge first top-level success for Hot Streak, who currently stands at Haras d'Annebault for a fee of €3,500.

Date Sunday 3rd October
Venue Longchamp
Race G1 Prix de la Foret (1400m)
Type Three-year-old plus
Winner Space Blues
Jockey/Driver William Buick
Trainer Charlie Appleby
Breeding Dubawi X Miss Lucifer
Second Pearls Galore
Third Entscheiden

The Godolphin-bred and owned Space Blues cemented himself as the best 1400m horse in Europe with an impressive success in the G1 Prix de la Foret (1400m) at Longchamp.

The Charlie Appleby-trained five-year-old ran out an easy winner of the G2 City Of York Stakes (1400m) on his previous start and was confidently handled by William Buick. The son of Dubawi quickened clear in striking fashion when asked leaving Pearls Glory two-lengths behind in second. The Japanese raider Entscheiden finished a further three-quarters-of-a-length back in third.

Space Blues is a half-brother to Group Two winner Shuruq the dam of Group Three scorer Antoinette.

Date Saturday 2nd October
Venue Longchamp
Race G1 Prix de Royallieu (2800m)
Type Three-year-old plus Fillies and Mares
Winner Loving Dream
Jockey/Driver Frankie Dettori
Trainer John and Thady Gosden
Breeding Gleneagles X Kissable
Second Believe In Love
Third Valia

Loving Dream provided Gleneagles with his first ever top-level winner when she won Saturday's G1 Prix de Royallieu (2800m). The John and Thady Gosden-trained filly was given a brilliant front-running ride by Frankie Dettori. Sent for home over two furlongs out the daughter of Gleneagles managed to battle back bravely to deny fellow British raider Believe In Love by a short neck. The Aga Khan-owned Valia and race favourite Valia finished a further two lengths behind in third.

Loving Dream, who has now won three times, was bred by her owners Lordship Stud. She is a half-sister to the US stakes winner and Grade One-placed AmandineGleneagles stands at Coolmore in Ireland for a fee of €25,000.

Date Friday 1st October
Venue Saint Cloud
Race G1 Arabian Trophy des Pouliches (2000m)
Type Three-year-old Arab fillies
Winner Image du Croate
Jockey/Driver Maxime Guyon
Trainer Mme Jean-François Bernard
Breeding Munjiz X Béanie du Croate
Second Sahab
Third Monda

Image du Croate's first career success came at Group One level when she ran out a narrow winner in a thrilling renewal of the G1 Arabian Trophy des Pouliches (2000m) last Friday. Held up in rear early by jockey Maxime Guyon the daughter of Munjiz showed a good attitude to fend off a host of challengers late on.

 The success was a significant step forward from the form she had shown when fifth at La Teste last time out.

 

Date Friday 1st October
Venue Saint Cloud
Race G1 Arabian Trophy des Poulains (2000m)
Type Three-year-old Arab colts
Winner Moshrif
Jockey/Driver Christophe Soumillon
Trainer François Rohaut
Breeding Dahess X Tashreefat
Second Hargan
Third Samlla
François Rohaut certainly looked the hold the key to this on paper as he saddled five runners and he did not disappoint after training the first three home. The Shadwell-bred three-year-old was held up early under jockey Christophe Soumillon before making steady headway to lead inside the 100m stage. The son of Dahess kept on strongly through the line to take this step up in grade on just his third career start.

 


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