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The Aga Khan has a new prospect for the Qatar Arc de Triomphe in Behkabad FR (Cape Cross IRE) who triumphed at 1m4f (Arc distance) in the Group 1 Juddmonte Grand Prix De Paris at Longchamp for three-year-old colts and fillies.
The Grand Prix has come to equal the English and Irish Derbys now that the Prix du Jockey-Club distance has been lowered to 1m2f like the Kentrucky Derby.
Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget always thought highly of the colt who defeated Planteur (second in the P du J-C to his fourth) by 3/4 lengths with Aiden O'Brien's Jan Vermeer five lengths behind them and another nose to supplemented Goldwaki.
Behkabad has been dropped from 20 to 10.1 for the Arc.
Dick Turpin Finally Got His Group 1 In Prix Jean Prat
Glorious looking Dick Turpin won as a two-year old at Glorious Goodwood and has finally won his Group 1 - the Prix Jean Prat - against formidable opposition. Photo David Hastings
The three-year-old colt whom some of us thought was one of the best of his age group finally overcame the bad luck of coming second to his fellow colts: Makfi, Lope De Vega and Canford Cliffs in three different races.
Naturally, Dick Turpin IRE (Arakan USA) started as second favourite in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat, 1m, for three year olds at Chantilly.
Favourite was his victor in the one-mile Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Guineas), Lope De Vega IRE (Shamardal USA).
LDV aslo won the one-mile-two-furlong Derby Classic the Prix du Jockey-Club.
His trainer Andre Fabre supplemented a pacemaker, Altair Star, who set the required fast pace.
All went as usual with LDV acting nervy entering the stalls, jumping well and joining his pacemaker until about two furlongs out when he suddenly lost action and ended last.
Dick Turpin seized his chance with glorious abandon and left them all behind by four lengths.
Siyouni FR (Pivotal) followed and Xtension IRE (Xaar) third by a head and Hearts Of Fire (Firebreak) by another two lengths.
The British dominated and trainer Richard Hannon finally got his fellow a deserved Group 1 thanks to son-in-law Richard Hughes' forceful, never-hesitating ride on DT.
Hannon said "He's a great horse" and he might get further than a mile.
Godolphin's Frozen Power IRE (Oasis Dream) was a further 1-1/2 lengths behind in fifth.
The brilliant victory was somewhat blighted with the worry that something bad may have happened to Lope De Vega.
Great horses like LDV just do not stop like that unless something is wrong.
No announcements yet could mean good news.
Joanna And Emerald Commander Won
When Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum's three-year-old filly, Joanna IRE (High Chaparral IRE), defected from the Prix Jean Prat for a 7f Group 3 at Longchamp up against older horses for the first time, there were doubts that her connections had made the right choice.
But the Sheikh's racing manager, Angus Gold, felt she had a better chance of winning the Prix de la Porte Maillot despite being up against more-experienced competition.
Joanna, who went off favourite at 6.4, overcame a high draw on soft ground to beat the five-year-old horse Salut D'Africain FR (Sky Chief USA) by a quarter length and Britain's six-year-old horse Lovelace (Royal Applause) by another half length.
She is a tough and tenacious filly who responds well to jockey Christophe Soumillon for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget.
This is the team which took the scalp of the double Guineas winner Special Duty in the Prix Imprudence.
Frankie Dettori rode Godolphin's Emerald Commander IRE (Pivotal) to victory in the Group 3 Prix Daphnis for three-year-old colts and geldings, 1m1f, on soft Turf.
Saeed bin Suroor's charge beat Alain De Royer-Dupre' Mellon Martini USA (Sadler's Wells USA) and Godolphin's Wealthy IRE (Refuse To Bend IRE) into a dead heat for second.
The latter is trained by Andre Fabre.
It was just Frankie at his world-class best.
Prix Jean Prat
Europe's top rated three-year-old colt, Lope De Vega IRE (Shamardal USA), will have Altair Star as a pacemaker to assure the blisteringly-fast pace the nervy LDV needs in his races after a supplementary entry by their owner Gestut Ammerland.
He has won on both soft and fast ground. He should have the latter in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat, 1m, at Chantilly on Sunday.
Lope De Vega is the winner of both the French Guineas and Derby (Prix d'Essai des Poulains and the Prix du Jockey-Club).
Andre Fabre's charge, with Maxime Guyon riding, will meet only two other French horses, Siyouni and Sormiou.
Filly Joanna is expected to defect.
The other four horses are British trained.
Dick Turpin is trying for his first Group 1 out from under the shadow of Makfi and Canford Cliffs.
He could very well vie with the pacemaker to lead.
Frozen Power represents Godolphin with Frankie Dettori riding.
Hearts of Fire will have Olivier Peslier on board for trainer Pat Edderly.
Xtension will also have an experienced French jockey, Gerard Mosse, representingtrainer Clive Cox.
There will be no team horses in this race to prevent HOF or any other horse from winning.
This is a very high-quality field, but the others will have to go some if Lope De Vega is on his speed game.
Longchamp Saturday
Sheikh Hamdan's filly Joanna IRE (High Chaparral IRE) defected from the Prix Jean Prat for a 7f Group 3 at Longchamp.
Racing Manager Angus Gold felt she has a better chance of winning the Prix de la Porte Maillot despite the three-year-old's facing older males and horses for the first time.
Joanna, who defeated Special Duty in the Prix Imprudence, will face Godolphin's Poet's Choice and The Cheka among others, from a disadvantageous high draw of 11.
Since Godolphin does not have an entry in the Coral-Eclipse, Frankie Dettori will be free to ride Emerald Commander IRE (Pivotal) in the Group 3 Prix Daphnis, 1m1f.
Unlucky Youmzain Zapped Again
What is it with this wonderful horse Youmzain IRE (Sinndar IRE) that he has lost every Group 1 race on the nod recently no matter what jockey rides him?
Both his trainer Mick Channon and owner Jaber Abdullah still believe in him enough to send him to the King George VII and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes despite losing the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, 1m4f on Turf, to the Wertheimer Brothers' filly Plumania by the same sire as their Goldikova - the late Anaaba USA.
Richard Hughes almost made it, but lost in the photo finish to Olivier Peslier by a nose.
The Aga Khan's filly Daryakana FR (Selkirk USA) was third by a short neck.
Plumania, trained by Andre Fabre, finally broke her jinx in losing Group 1s at the expense of fellow unlucky Youmzain.
Line Up For Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
The Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud for four-year olds and plus at 1m4f has a stellar lineup.
Britain is sending Youmzain and High Heeled vs France's Pouvoir Absolu, Timos, Mores Wells, Daryakana, Celimene and Plumania - four females and four males.
The World's Best Female
It will come as a shock to the US racegoers that the rest of the world rates five-year-old Goldikova as the best racing female in the world.
She was rated in tie with Rip Van Winkle last year at 133 just below the world leader Sea The Stars at 136.
Though she has won both her races in 2010, I suspect the handicappers will not accept that number as she has not won her 2010 races by thousands of lengths (seeminly their criteria).
This year, she appears to conserve her energy more wisely. She barely blows after her shorter-distance victories and is enjoying herself more.
Believe it. This tail-swishing, elegant mare is deadly.
Sarafina: Smooth Prix de Diane Victor
In the weekend of great Ladies' Races including successful filly Rachel Alexandra on Churchill Downs' Dirt track and Zenyatta achieved her 17th consecutive victory at Hollywood Park on All-Weather, the French staged their Oaks Classic, the Prix De Diane (Group 1), 1m2-1/2f, on soft Turf at Chantilly.
The Aga Khan sent off three of the nine fillies.
Valasyra FR (Sinndar IRE) was his effective pacemaker for the race.
On form Sarafina FR (Refuse To Bend IRE), despite having only two races in her career - both of which she won - was the favourite.
Christophe-Patrice Lemaire, who is lead jockey for the Aga Khan, chose her over the more experienced and unlucky Rosanara FR (Sinndar IRE) ridden by Gerald Mosse.
Sandbar (Oasis Dream) of Lady O'Reilly (nee Goulandris) was third favourite with hope for Duluxe USA (Storm Cat USA) of Juddmonte Farms and Zagora FR (Green Tune USA) for American millionaire Martin Schwartz.
The race was run at a steady pace with chances for all.
Flashy chestnut Zagora made the first major move on the pacemaker in the straight, but she was overcome once Sarafina asserted herself.
She might have prevailed at a shorter distance.
Sarafina's stablemate with trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre, Rosanara, tried to catch up but could only come within 1-1/2 furlongs of the three-out-three-race winner Sarafina.
They were followed by Sandbar, Deluxe and Zagora.
The leaders in the Prix de Diane were the form leaders and all were homebred fillies of Europe's leading committed breeders.
All the fillies are trained in France.
It was a fast, true-run race with no surprises in which Sarafina gave a boost to her Darley Stud sire Refuse To Bend with her second Group 1 victory out of three career races.
Prix Du Lys (Group 3) for three-year-old colts or geldings, 1m4f on Turf at Chantilly, provided an exciting victory for Goldwaki GER (Dalakhani IRE) who is Goldikova's nephew.
Goldwaki is also owned by the Wertheimer Brothers.
Andre Fabre trained the one-two with Mashoor FR (Monson GER) in second.
Lope De Vega Wins Another French Double
The French seem to be racing this season with 'double' Classic successes in hand.
First, they won the one-mile English 2000 Guineas for three-year-old males and 1000 Guineas for three-year-old females with Makfi (Dubawi IRE) and Special Duty (Hennessy USA) repectively.
Then Special Duty won both the English 1000 Guineas and its French one-mile equivalent, the Prix d'Essai des Pouliches, in the Stewards' Room due to interference from the actual winners who were demoted.
Now the three-year-old conqueror of the Prix d'Essai des Poules (French Guineas), has won the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) at Chantilly with authority.
And the fast chestnut colt Lope De Vega IRE (Shamardal USA) won the same 'double' that his sire did in 2005.
Controversy surrounded the Prix in that the President of France Galop unilaterally changed the limit from 20 entries to no limits bringing a record number of 23 to the race.
Originally there were 24, but Godolphin's Simon De Montfort IRE (King's Best USA) dropped out.
Aiden O'Brien's Cape Blanco IRE (Galileo IRE) was 2.1 favourite on his form of having beaten the outstanding English Derby winner Workforce (King's Best USA) in York's Dante Stakes.
There were doubts that Lope De Vega could stay the 1- 5/16 miles of the the Prix leaving him ignored in the betting.
The handsome colt was very excited behind and in the stalls. He immediately burst out of the unfavourable number 20 stall and managed to cross safely in front of the field to the rail hovering in second behind the pacemaker.
About three lengths from home he seemed restless and his jockey Maxime Guyon gave him his head and, with another burst of speed, they left the rest floundering to catch up.
The highly-regarded Prix de Noailles winner Planteur IRE (Danehill Dancer IRE) got within three lengths of him and Frankie Dettori's mount, Pain Perdu FR (Vespone IRE), progressed in form to reach 3/4 lengths behind in third.
No surprise that the time was fast at 2.07.10.
Trainer Andre Fabre has won his second Prix and indicated that Lope De Vega was likely to drop down to a mile again in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on August 15.
His sire went straight to the St James's Palace Stakes before le Marois, but Lope De Vega more likely will opt to meet the great mare, Goldikova IRE (Anaaba USA), in Deauville.
The French connections and German owners are disappointed that the England's Timeform only rated him at 125 for his two victories.
Prix de Sandringham, Group 2
On the same card, Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum's three-year-old filly Joanna IRE (High Chaparaal IRE) easily defeated Kali GER (Areion GER), Evaporation FR (Red Ransom USA) and 2.1 favourite Liliside FR (American Post) who was fifth in the Group 2 Prix de Sandringham mile.
Christophe Soumillion gave her an assured ride and she showed the class that produced five victories out of eight career races placing in the other three.
Liliside was the unfortunate filly demoted in the Prix d'Essai des Pouliches in favour of Special Duty after multiple interferences against other horses - not SD.
Her trainer and jockey, Francois Rohaut and J-B Eyquem, lost their appeal against the demotion and penalties.
Special Duty's Double Guineas In Stewards' Room
If ever the fairly unlucky Lookin At Lucky USA (Smart Strike USA) had a female counterpart, it would be three-year-old Special Duty (Hennessy USA).
This outstanding filly has had such a hard time winning that she has had to take her last two victories in the Stewards' Room. Not that she has ever done anything wrong.
She was beaten by a pixel nose by Jacqueline Quest IRE (Rock Of Gibraltar IRE) in the StanJames.com 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.
The stewards agreed that JQ hung badly on SD bumping her in the process and hampering her from winning. JQ was demoted to second and SD given the Group 1 race. See UK for details.
Two weeks later, Special Duty was awarded the worst stall position in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas for three-year-old fillies) according to her trainer Criquette Head-Maarek.
So high is her reputation, she was sent off co-favourite with Joanna IRE (High Chaparral IRE).
She loped along in last place for most of the race under jockey Stephane Pasquier, because every time she tried to break through the pack, she was checked which looked deliberate.
It took until two furlongs out before Pasquier could to find a few holes through fading horses.
As bad as her position and luck, Special Duty was well out of the worst melee.
Up front, Liliside FR (American Post) crashed throuh stablemate Baine, Rosanara and Lady Of The Desert to attack leader Joanna ending the others' chances of winning.
It was extraordinary watching top jockeys Richard Hills, Kieren Fallon and Christophe-Patrice Lamaire left almost helpless in the carnage caused by reckless jockey Jean-Bernard Eyquem.
Pasquier finally figured out that he needed to move his filly and fast causing her to stumble.
After stumbling, she seemed to stand still rippling every muscle and shot off like a cannonball for the post.
It was one of those unforgetable racing moves and moments. Her speed had to be off the charts.
Of course--too late by a head.
Not to fear. The inexperienced Liliside paid the price in the Stewards' Room and the second, Special Duty, was awarded the race for the second time in two weeks.
Liliside was demoted to sixth for hampering four others and her jockey was banned six days for reckless riding and four more for excessive use of the whip.
The little filly has only had four starts and has won them all for trainer Francois Rohaut including her demotion. Sad and worse for the hitting she took.
Connections of all the finishing fillies were sure they could have won.
From her blastoff at two furlongs, Special Duty would have had to have four feet knobbled to lose.
She is a special filly with "such a big heart" said her trainer who would like to rest her until the Prix Rothschild in Deauville.
Her owner, Prince Khalid Abdullah, is still considering the Coronation Stakes at Ascot.
Rohaut is appealing Liliside's demotion to sixth place and Eyquem is appealing the harshness of his multiple bans.
Price of Victory
Andre Fabre's contract with Sheikh Mohammed is to train two-year olds to Group level and pass them on to Godolphin at Newmarket. Cutlass Bay is four and was injured at three. Now that he has recovered and achieved Group victories, he has been switched to trainer Saeed bin Suroor.
Simon De Montfort, Irish 1000 Guineas contender Anna Salai and Rewilding will join Godolphin's second trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni.
Cutlass Bay Back
Cutlass Bay UAE (Halling USA) won France's first Group 1 of the season, the Prix Ganay, 1m1/2f, at Longchamp.
It was his fifth victory out of five starts for owner Sheikh Mohammed and master trainer Andre Fabre.
Despite hanging badly into his rival Shalanaya IRE (Lomitas), jockey Maxime Guyon yanked him off the filly and he accelerated to win by 3/4l.
The horse had so much potential last year that he was a serious contender for the Arc de Triomphe until he was injured.
The four-year old has entries in the Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom and the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Ascot.
Dubawi Babe Floors Rosanara
Third time lucky.
Anna Salai has only raced three times--once at two and April 5 this year. Both times she took second on heavy and soft ground.
Today, the Darley-bred filly racing in Sheikh Mohammed's colours for legendary French trainer Andre Fabre, got her good ground ad swooped late to destroy Rosanara's lead in the Prix De La Grotte (Group 3), 1m (8f) on Turf, with impressive and exceptional class.
Winning jockey Maxime Guyon said "She showed a terrific turn of foot and there's plenty of room for improvement."
She will probably be aimed at the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) on May 16.
This was the first race of 2010 for the Aga Khan's favourite,
Rosanara FR (Sinndar IRE), who was described as lacking a bit of condition.
Another Fabre Success
Sheikh Mohammed's French trainer Andre Fabre enjoyed a second victory in the French trials for the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) when Simon De Montfort IRE (King's Best USA) shot from last-to-first in La Force (Group 3), 1m2f (10f) on Turf.
The Prix du Jockey Club is at Chantilly on June 6.
Aga Khan's Luck Shifts
Another surprise outcome came for France's 2009 leading owner, HH The Aga Khan, when Siyouni FR (Pivotal) was defeated by his pacemaker Rajsaman FR (Linamix FR) in the Prix de Fontainebleau (Group 3), 1m (8f) on Turf.
Trainer of both horses, Alain de Royer-Dupre, said the others just let the pacemaker get away.
Siyouni had traffic problems and did well to make second with Lopa De Vega IRE (Shamardal USA) third by a shoulder.
Royer-Dupre said both Siyouni and Rajsaman will be in the May 16 Poule d'Essai des Poulains.
Makfi Guineas Prospect
Proving again the quality of Sheikh Hamdan's horses, his Shadwell Stud produced a hot prospect for the Guineas 2000 in Makfi (Dubawi IRE).
More's the pity that he sold him to Mathieu Offenstaldt.
The three-year-old colt raced only once at two and won his second race the Prix Djebel, 7f Group 3, in the fine style of three lengths at Maisons-Lafitte.
Trainer Mikel Delzangles said that Makfi is entered in both the Guineas 2000 May 1 and the French equivalent, the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, at Longchamp May 16.
Joanna Guineas Contender
Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum has an exceptional eye for horses. He spotted Joanna IRE (High Chaparral IRE) in Italy, bought her and sent her to France's 2009 champion trainer Jean-Claude Rouget.
She has just dethroned the Guineas 1000 favourite Special Duty (Hennessy USA) to a third in the Newmarket trial Prix Imprudence, 7f Group 3, at Maisons-Lafitte.
Rouget is aiming Joanna at the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French Guineas 1000).
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Special Duty's owner Prince Khalid Abdullah, indicated that she may not head to Newmarket as there may be question of the distance (a mile).
PS: Special Duty is entered in the 1000 Guineas May 2 and Joanna has been scratched.
Both will compete in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches May 16.
