French Racing and Trotting - G1 Review

The exciting son of Sea The Stars, Baaeed proved his worth at the top-level as he remained unbeaten in now five starts with a cosy one-and-a quarter length success in the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (1600m).

However, not everything went to plan as the sole pace-angle in the race, Novemba missed the break. The German-trained filly was rushed up by jockey Bauyrzhan Murzabayev lighting up Jim Crowley's mount in the process. A little fresh and enthusiastic the pair settled in third tracking the eventual runner-up, Order Of Australia. The race probably developed further out than most of the principles would have liked meaning Baaeed would have to show something he had not needed before, battling determination. The William Haggas-trained three-year-old showed a smart turn of foot, swiftly putting a length between himself the former G1 Breeders Cup Mile winner (1600m), Order Of Australia. When hitting the front, it looked fairly evident that the unbeaten colt was only doing enough to maintain distance between himself and his rivals, leaving the suspicion there could be plenty more to come from this already high-class prospect.

It was not just his performance on the track that received plenty of praise but his demeanour before and after the race. Compared to the likes of Kingman and his father, Sea The Stars, Baaeed walked calmly back into the winners enclosure almost as though nothing had occurred. It is a rare quality and might be the key to this highly promising colt repeating this first Group One success at regular intervals in the future.

The success looks likely to line-up a mouth-watering clash with top milers Palace Pier and Poetic Flare in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1600m) on British Champions Day next month at Ascot (UK).

Baaeed is the fifth foal out of the Listed winning Kingmambo who herself is out of dual Group One winner, Lahudood. Multiple top-level winner Sea The Stars (IRE) stands at Gilltown Stud for a fee of €150,000.

A highly competitive renewal of the G1 Sulky 5 Ans Finale – Criterium Des 5 Ans (3000m) went the way of Galius. It was Group One success at the first time of asking for the Severine Raimond-owned and trained five-year-old. The victory made it fifteen career wins from just twenty-one starts as the son of Love You was unbeaten in his first twelve outings.

Enterprisingly driven by Yoann Lebourgeois, the pair worked their way to the front at approximately the 1000m marker. Yoann Lebourgeois was then able to dictate the pace and although Galius was eyeballed turning for home he showed a smart burst of acceleration in the straight taking the race away from his rivals.

Eventual runner-up Gangster Du Wallon caught the eye running on strongly from off the pace whilst Ganay De Banville produced a creditable effort in third.

Love You has also produced Group One winners Belina Josselyn and Quaker Jet.  

An intriguing G1 Sulky 4 Ans Finale – Criterium Des 4 Ans (2850m) was won by the Yannick Henry-trained Hastronaute. The son of Booster Winner bounced back from back-to-back disqualifications to win on his first try at Group One level.

In similar fashion to the five-year-old renewal just hours earlier, driver Matthieu Abrivard opted to dictate matters from the front. The pair lead early and set what looked a good pace. Proven over the distance, Hastronaute stayed on strongly battling off the late challenge from Hanna Des Molles.

The success was a ninth career victory for Hastronaute providing sire Booster Winner with his first Group One.