Bluestocking. (JTW Equine Images)
Five Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” Races Held Oct. 6 at ParisLongchamp
2 Makarova Defeats Bradsell and Believing in Prix de l’Abbaye
3 Friendly Soul Hits Winning Note in Opera
4 Vertical Blue Shocks in Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac – Criterium des Pouliches
5 Camille Pissarro Flies Home in Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere
Breeders’ Cup Release
PARIS ─ Juddmonte’s Bluestocking (GB) rewarded her connections’ gamble Sunday as the 4-year-old daughter of Camelot (GB) turned in an electric victory in the 103rd renewal of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) at ParisLongchamp.
Supplemented to the Arc at a cost of €120,000 (US$132,000), Bluestocking secured a spot in the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 82 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California.
The Arc, Europe’s richest race, was the centerpiece of a spectacular card at ParisLongchamp which featured five Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races.
Bluestocking has enjoyed a fine season, winning the Cairn Community Games Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) before solid runs in defeat in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (G1) and the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) before winning the Qatar Prix Vermeille (G1) last month at ParisLongchamp. Following that victory, trainer Ralph Beckett and Juddmonte decided to roll the dice and connections were rewarded in fine style.
Always well placed by Rossa Ryan from an inside draw in 3, Bluestocking tracked Los Angeles (IRE) early on before making her move turning into the straight. Not many horses from behind got into the race, and it was left to Aventure (FR) to chase down the front pair. Aventure did cut back the advantage but never looked like going past the winner. Los Angeles held on for third with Sosie (IRE) in fourth in a contest which favored front-runners.
Ralph Beckett came close to a first Arc winner when Westover (GB) finished second to Ace Impact (IRE) in this race last year, and jubilantly described it as his best day ever as a trainer.
He said: “It’s extraordinary to have a horse to start in May and dance all those dances and then come here and do that only three weeks after what looked like a tough race in the Vermeille. She is an extraordinary beast. This is our best ever day. I’ve been lucky enough to win a couple of Oaks but this is our best day, for sure. The Juddmonte team are an extraordinary outfit to work for in the sense that there is no pressure, ever.”
Bookmakers cut Bluestocking to 2-1 (from 8-1) for the Longines Breeders Cup Turf next month. Beckett added: “We’ll see how she comes out of the race and discuss what to do next with Barry Mahon from Juddmonte.”
Bluestocking, sent off at odds of 11-2, completed the 1 1/2-mile contest in 2:31.58 over a course listed as soft.
Makarova Defeats Bradsell and Believing in Prix de l’Abbaye
Trained by Ed Walker for owner-breeders Brightwalton Bloodstock, Makarova (GB) reversed form with Bradsell (GB) and Believing (IRE) to claim her first top-level score in the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (G1) over 5 furlongs.
Makarova was last seen running a fine race in third behind Bradsell in the Bar One Racing Flying Five Stakes (G1) at the Curragh and, on suitably softer ground following morning rain at ParisLongchamp, the daughter of Acclamation (GB) went two places better to see off Bradsell by a 1 1/4 lengths. Believing met trouble in running and stayed on to finish third.
It briefly looked as though Bradsell and Hollie Doyle would secure another top-level triumph entering the closing stages, but Makarova, ridden by Doyle’s husband Tom Marquand, was making ground down the outside and swept through to win going away. Ed Walker revealed that Makarova will be retired to studfollowing Sunday’s race.
Archie Watson, Bradsell’s trainer, said: “He’s done nothing wrong, Hollie (Doyle) just felt whilst he went well on the ground, he went well enough on it to beat the others, he was a bit vulnerable late to a closer. I’ve always thought the turning, quick five furlongs at the Breeders’ Cup would really suit. We’ll get him home and see if we’re happy with him, that’ll be the plan as long as everyone’s happy.”
Makarova completed the 5 furlongs in 55.07 to earn an automatic berth in the $1 million Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1).
Friendly Soul Hits Winning Note in Opera
George Strawbridge’s Friendly Soul (GB) led home Running Lion (GB) to give the John and Thady Gosden team a 1-2 finish in the Prix de l’Opera Longines (G1). Victory earned the daughter of Kingman (GB) an automatic starting position in the $2 million Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
Kieran Shoemark rode his first Group 1 winner as stable jockey to the Gosdens, employing similar tactics to those deployed on Arc winner Bluestocking. Always prominent, she quickened past the early leaderAlmara (FR) before holding off the late challenge of Running Lion. Sparkling Plenty (FR) finished third.
After the race, John Gosden indicated that the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf would be her next target.
Friendly Soul completed the 1 1/4 miles in 2:07.65.
Vertical Blue Shocks in Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac – Criterium des Pouliches
There was a big surprise in the first race on the day as trainer Francis-Henri Graffard’s 100-1 chanceVertical Blue (IRE) narrowly got the better of 1-2 favorite Zarigana(GB) to win the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac – Criterium des Pouliches (G1).
The Graffard-trained pair were settled well off the early pace set by Aidan O’Brien’s Exactly (IRE) under Christophe Soumillon, with Ballydoyle first-string Bedtime Story (IRE) keen through the early stagesunder Ryan Moore. Zarigana came home strongly under Mikael Barzalona alongside the eventual winner. The favorite looked like holding on but Gemini Stud & Argella Racing’s Vertical Blue got her head down when it mattered to win by a nose.
The daughter of Mehmas (IRE) completed the mile in 1:38.06 and gained an automatic berth into the $1 million John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).
Camille Pissarro Flies Home in Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere
Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, and Peter Brant’s Camille Pissarro (IRE) was delivered with a well-timed run by Christophe Soumillon to win the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1).
Camille Pissarro was held-up in last as Misunderstood (FR) made the running with Field of Gold (IRE) and Rashabar (IRE) in close attendance. While the leaders slugged it out, Camille Pissarro flew past under a motionless Soumillon and although pushed hard all the way to the line by the gallant Rashabar, the outcome never looked in doubt. Misunderstood finished third.
Camille Pissarro gained an automatic berth into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). He completed the 7-furlong contest in 1:20.58 over a course listed as soft.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the winners of the Challenge Series races to start at this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 21 to receive the rewards.
