6pm Make Believe returns to wining ways in Foret
French 2000 Guineas hero Make Believe returned to winning ways in the Qatar Prix de la Foret at Longchamp.
Andre Fabre’s colt was an impressive winner of the Classic back in May, but ran no sort of race behind Gleneagles in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and had not been seen since.
Olivier Peslier kept the 9-2 chance handy and he quickened up well to take the lead in the straight. Henry Candy’s even-money favourite Limato was immediately on the back foot after missing the start and although he made up good late ground, despite hanging, he was unable to catch Make Believe. The Richard Hannon-trained Toormore was third.
Mille Et Mille later dominated from start to finish in the Qatar Prix du Cadra. Carlos Lerner’s five-year-old was sent straight to the front by Thierry Thulliez his rivals seemed content to let him have it his own way.
Mille Et Mille turned for home with a clear advantage and the rest never looked like landing a blow as he galloped all the way to the line for an emphatic success. Kicky Blue filled the runner-up spot ahead of Hughie Morrison’s Fun Mac in third.
Willie Mullins’ pair of Irish raiders, Clondaw Warrior and Simenon, never threatened.
Lerner, who jointly trains the winner with his son, Yan, said: “Yan has done so much of the work with the horse and deserves to take the credit. “The horse had a dirty nose after the Gladiateur but had worked well subsequently, to make us confident he would run well today.”
5pm Goldream speeds to Abbaye win for Cowell
Royal Ascot winner Goldream lunged late to land the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp. Robert Cowell’s King’s Stand hero, subsequently fifth in the Nunthorpe, encountered his favoured fast ground in Paris and was always moving powerfully in midfield.
Last year’s runner-up Rangali committed for home in the final furlong, but Goldream weaved his way through under Martin Harley to get up and claim another Group One prize.
The William Haggas-trained Muthmir was third, with last year’s winner Move In Time, trained by David O’Meara, not far behind.
Cowell said: “That’s outstanding - absolutely brilliant. I know he’s good, but to win two Group Ones in one year is pretty outstanding stuff. All year he’s been working brilliantly and just looks a different horse altogether this year.
“We worked him about 12 days ago in Newmarket with a horse called Speed Hawk, who was beaten a neck in a Listed race at Ascot on Saturday, and he just absolutely hacked all over him. He’ll go to Dubai now. He was going to go to the sales, but we didn’t enter him and the owners decided to keep him.
“We brought him here for the trial but the weather wasn’t right and he didn’t run, but it’s paid off. I’m looking forward to taking him to Dubai.” PA
3.25pm Dettori wins Arc on Derby winner Golden Horn
Golden Horn and Frankie Dettori clinched a brilliant victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.
John Gosden’s Derby hero and subsequent winner of the Coral-Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes had a wide draw to overcome, but Dettori gradually angled his way across the track and into an ideal position, tracking the pacemaking Shahah.
Golden Horn came under pressure early in the straight and the packed grandstand erupted as Criquette Head-Maarek’s wonder mare Treve, bidding to become the first horse in history to win the Arc three times, arrived on the outside seemingly full of running.
However, her trademark late burst failed to materialise once push came to shove and Golden Horn galloped all the way to the line, passing the post clear under a jubilant Dettori.
Flintshire filled the runner-up spot for the second successive year, with Treve edged out for third by New Bay.
Gosden, claiming his first Arc victory, said: “It’s great to win the Arc in France and the Derby in England - that’s what it’s about. When you’re drawn wide, if you stay wide for a long time, you can run your own little race and not be bothered by anyone and then slot across.
“It was perfect as we sat behind the pacemaker and then kicked because as Frankie says, if you don’t kick at a certain time here they come like arrows at your back. I think [Dettori and Golden Horn] help each other. I keep saying he’s a better horse coming from off the pace and he was today.” PA
2.40pm Covert Love may be on her way Stateside
Covert Love edged out Jazzi Top as British raiders dominated in a pulsating climax to the Longines-sponsored Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp.
Irish Oaks heroine Covert Love, trained by Hugo Palmer, was looking to bounce back from a narrow reverse in the Yorkshire Oaks on her most recent start.
The three-year-old was smartly away in the hands of Pat Smullen and, dropping back to a mile and a quarter from a mile and a half, was allowed to stride on at the head of affairs.
The John Gosden-trained pair of Star Of Seville and Jazzi Top were her nearest pursuers and the latter looked the likely victor after looming ominously alongside under Frankie Dettori.
Covert Love would not lie down, however, and despite being briefly headed, roared back tenaciously to clinch a narrow victory over her fellow 4-1 joint-favourite. Last year’s winner We Are came from a long way back to snatch third.
Palmer said: “She’s very, very good, I thought she was beaten three times in the straight, but she wouldn’t know what that means. Pat gave her a wonderful ride, I said to him before the race ‘there isn’t a jockey in the world with a better clock in their head than you, so do your thing’. I think she was headed, but she came back and that takes real guts.
“I said after the Irish Oaks I’d love to win a Group One with her over 10 furlongs and the world is her oyster now.
“If she is still thriving she will go to Ascot or she could go to the Breeders’ Cup. As long as she is in one piece she will remain in training next year.”
Gosden said of Jazzi Top: “She ran a great race, and there is a possibility that she will now go to the United States [Breeders’ Cup].” PA
2pm Ultra leads home Godolphine one-two in Lagadare
Tony Paley: Andre Fabre’s Ultra looked a Derby colt in the making when he kept his unbeaten record intact with a narrow victory in the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp. But the John Gosden-trained Cymric, a fast-finishing second, was the big eyecatcher in the race.
The winner of his previous two starts at Clairefontaine and in Paris, the Godolphin-owned Ultra was always close to the speed, tracking Simon Crisford’s leader First Selection.
The latter stuck to his task admirably, but 6-1 shot Ultra and Mickael Barzalona hit the front in the straight and had just enough in the tank to hold JCymric at bay. Galileo Gold was third for Hugo Palmer, just ahead of the Aidan O’Brien-trained 2-1 favourite Johannes Vermeer.
A son of Manduro, Ultra is a 20-1 chance with Paddy Power for the Investec Derby.
Fabre said: “He has a bit of the talent and has attitude and heart. He’s bred to get further, so I think he can be a Classic horse over a [longer] distance.”
Galileo Gold runs in the colours of Al Shaqab Racing, with the owner’s representative Harry Herbert saying: “He travelled beautifully, but Frankie [Dettori] said they just got away from him and that the ground was a little quick. He’s done well since Goodwood and will do better again. The sort of race we might try and win is the Prix du Jockey Club next year.”
1.20pm Ballydoyle favourite for Guineas after Boussac win
Tony Paley: Ballydoyle is a best-priced 7-1 favourite with Paddy Power for next year’s 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket after running out a convincing winner of the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp for trainer Aidan O’Brien and his stable jockey Ryan Moore. BetVictor make Ballydoyle the 3-1 favourite for the fillies’ Classic, while Betfred go 5-1.
She found stable companion Minding too strong in the Moyglare Stud Stakes, and went off the 5-4 favourite for today’s race.
Karl Burke’s British challenger Katie’s Diamond took the field along for much of the one-mile journey, with Moore settling Ballydoyle in midfield. As the pacesetter began to falter, Jim Bolger’s Turret Rocks hit the front before being joined by the improving Ballydoyle.
The two Irish raiders settled down to fight it out and O’Brien’s charge won the argument fairly comfortably in the end. Qemah came from the rear to grab third, with the previously unbeaten Antonoe disappointing, seemingly finding the fastish ground not to her liking.
O’Brien said: “She’s a beautiful mover and loves fast ground. You’d be very happy with her. You’d think she’s a filly you’d really look forward to for next year.”
When asked if Ballydoyle will be campaigned with the fillies’ Classic in mind, O’Brien said: “The boys will decide that, but I imagine that’s what we’ll look at. She would have the option to go to America for the [Breeders’ Cup] Juvenile, but the boys will decide that themselves. She loves good ground.”
Bolger said of Turret Rocks: “Basically she’s an Oaks filly for next year and I was very happy with her run. Kevin [Manning] said the ground is fast, and if it remains that way I might be tempted by a mile-and-a-quarter race at Saint-Cloud before the end of the season.”
Harry Herbert, representing Al Shaqab Racing, said of Qemah: “I was delighted with her effort. She might have been second with a clearer run.”
Owner Khalid Abdullah’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe is inclined to put a line through Antonoe’s effort. He said: “She travelled wide and never relaxed. It was too bad to be true.
11.15am Atzeni quits Qatar to rejoin Sheikh Mohammed Obaid squad
Tony Paley: Andrea Atzeni will leave his role as first jockey to Qatar Racing at the end of the season to rejoin forces with Sheikh Mohammed Obaid. After the news was revealed on Sunday morning the jockey said it was “far from an easy decision” to leave his role.
Sheikh Obaid hit the headlines in the last few weeks when deciding to move all his horses, including King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Postponed, away from Luca Cumani and send them to fellow Newmarket trainer Roger Varian.
Atzeni used to ride for Varian before his link up with Qatar Racing, and also partnered Postponed to his famous victory at Ascot, ahead of Obaid’s retained rider at the time, Adam Kirby.
“I am delighted to be formally renewing my association with both Sheikh Mohammed Obaid and Roger from next season,” Atzeni told http://www.varianstable.com.
“I have been lucky enough to enjoy some of my best days on horses like Postponed and Kingston Hill and so I am really excited at the prospect of the two joining forces. However, it was far from an easy decision to make as it means leaving my existing job with Qatar Racing.
“I would like to thank Sheikh Fahad personally, both for his support and for agreeing to release me from my contract with Qatar Racing. I have very much enjoyed being part of the Qatar Racing team, working closely with Sheikh Fahad, David Redvers and Kevin Darley. And Bryony [Smith] in the racing office has been brilliant to work with.
“I am so pleased and proud that Simple Verse was rightly reinstated as the winner of the St Leger and that I can say I rode Qatar Racing’s first British classic winner. Roger has played an important part in my career and Sheikh Obaid has also been very supportive of me and I hope we will enjoy a lots of winners together in the future.”
Varian stated Atzeni is also likely to have the opportunity to ride for many of his other owners, too.
David Redvers, racing manager for Qatar Racing, said they did not want to stand in Atzeni’s way.
“We are naturally disappointed that Andrea has decided to leave his job with Qatar Racing. He was contracted with us for two years and we were pleased with how everything was progressing,” said Redvers on http://www.qataracingltd.com.
“However, we do not want to stand in his way and have therefore released him as from the end of the year, and we wish him well next season. In the meantime Andrea - along with Oisin [Murphy] - will continue riding for Qatar Racing in accordance with their contracts.”
Sunday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
Treve was an 11-10 chance when I previewed the Arc for today’s Observer. This morning, she can be backed at 6-4 with Ladbrokes, and having scoured the web and social media for some dark rumour that suggests all is not well with Criquette Head-Maarek’s filly and might explain such a drift, I’ve drawn a blank.
Sometimes, the obvious conclusion is the only one to draw, and the obvious conclusion here is that the market has taken leave of its senses. Treve was a brilliant winner of the Prix Vermeille on testing ground last time out, and started to drift in the betting when it became clear that there would be no rain in Paris ahead of today’s race. Yet she is not, repeat not, a horse that only acts with cut.
It was on the fast side of good when Treve beat Flintshire to win last year’s Arc, and the same when she confirmed her superiority over Andre Fabre five-year-old in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in June. Treve goes on quick ground, and 6-4, or anything close to it, suggests that she is more likely to lose this afternoon than to win.
With Golden Horn, the Derby winner, drawn out wide and New Bay needing to find several pounds on the book, a difficult passage through the race could be the main danger, but Shahah, her pacemaker, drew a perfect stall towards the inside which should help to string them out while Thierry Jarnet waits for the right moment to let Treve off the leash. None of her rivals can match her turn of foot, and with a clear run, she is a great bet to get the job done.
The veteran Steps (3.40), who has put up two of the biggest performances of his life on his last two starts, is interesting in the Prix de l’Abbaye at around 20-1.
Aidan O’Brien supplies the market leaders for both of the card’s juvenile events in Ballydoyle (1.00) and Johannes Vermeer (1.35) and Ryan Moore could well complete a Group One double barely a week after his return from injury. Limato (4.50) should take the Prix de la Foret if he is anywhere close to his winning form last time out, while Jazzi Top (2.10) and Fun Mac (5.20) are live contenders for the card’s two remaining Group One events.
