Final G1 Runner for Alain De Royer Dupre.
This Sunday will see Alain De Royer Dupre saddle his final Group One runner as Ebaiyra will look to emulate Daryakana in the G1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) for the same connections in 2009. He also trained Pride to victory in the G1 Hong Kong Cup (2100m) in 2006.
Alain de Royer Dupré who will always be remembered for the careers of the world-class Dalakhani, Pride and Zarkava, will hope Ebaiyra can replicate the aforementioned trio who signed off with success.
Having beaten the highly-regarded Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Raabihah on her first two starts this season she then went on to finish runner-up in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (2400m). Following that the daughter of Distorted Humour and half-sister to Edisa went on to finish sixth in the G1 Prix Jean Romanet (2100m) in August and will be looking to bounce back from a small mid-season blip.
"She ran poorly at Deauville in August and so I preferred to ease off on her at that stage," says Royer-Dupre. "We hoped to run in the G1 Prix de l'Opera (2000m) but she hadn't come back to herself by then so we waited," he stated.
"Now she seems in much better form so this is a good target for her. She is fresh and well and it is a case of how she takes the trip. She didn't eat up very well when she first arrived but she has adapted well during the week."
The Alain de Royer Dupré-trained filly will face seven rivals on Sunday including last year's winner and 2020 G1 Grand Prix de Paris (2400m) victor Mogul.
Ebaiyra will be partnered by her regular rider Christophe Soumillon. Although having never won the G1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m), Soumillon is no stranger to success in Hong Kong, notching up over 110 victories, including in the 2019 G1 Hong Kong Mile (1600m) aboard Admire Mars.
Alain de Royer Dupré, who turned 77 in September, said "it will put a full stop on my career and it's a great way to go out. It's possible she could be my final runner."
