Tenebrism gave Aidan O’Brien victory in Sunday’s Haras d’Etreham Prix Jean Prat at Deauville in France.
Racing on the straight course on turf, the three-year-old American-bred daughter of Caravaggio lead home a trifecta for the raiders, with the Irish-trained winner beating English-conditioned horses Light Infantry and Lusail.
Tenebrism, out of the Pivotal mare Immortal Verse, had a length and a quarter in hand on the runner-up with a further short-neck back to the third-place finisher.
Ridden by Ryan Moore, Tenebrism travelled in mid-division for most of the race before being asked for her effort just outside the two-furlong marker. She took control in the final 100 yards and kicked clear to achieve a comfortable success.
Speaking to Sky Sports Racing, winning rider Ryan Moore said of Tenebrism:
“She’s always shown plenty. She was still a bit green and struggled around the bend but finished well. Today, it was nice to come to a level track on nice ground. She’s a pleasure to ride. She was very comfortable over seven furlongs today.”
In the colours of Westerberg, owners of the filly in partnership with Coolmore and Merribelle Stables, Tenebrism was a winner on debut at Naas, Ireland, on 28 March 2021 when defeating Gáire Os Ard in a maiden.
In her second career start six months later she contested and won the Group 1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (Fillies) at Newmarket, England.
Tenebrism failed to show the same type of form on her three-year-old seasonal debut when finishing a disappointing 8th of 13 behind Cachet in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, where she had started 11/4 favourite for the first fillies Classic of the season. On her most recent run prior to today, Tenebrism was fourth of 12 behind Inspiral in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes (Fillies) at Royal Ascot last month.
The Prix Jean Prat is a Group 1 contest for colts and fillies run over 7 furlongs (1,400 metres) at Deauville. First run at Longchamp in 1858, the race was also run for a time at Chantilly, home of the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby), before finding its permanent home at Deauville in 2019 when reduced from one mile to its current distance of 7 furlongs.
Tenebrism was a first winner in the race for Aidan O’Brien and was the second successive year Ireland won the Group 1 contest. The Ken Condon-handled Laws Of Indices was successful last year under French rider Olivier Peslier.
Aidan O’Brien may now target the Qatar Sussex Stakes (1 mile) at Goodwood, England, on 27 July 2022 with today’s winner. She also holds entries in the Group 1 Haydock Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes at Haydock Park (6 furlongs) on 3 September 2022, and both the Group 1 Leopardstown Irish Champion Stakes (1 mile 2 furlongs) and Group 1 Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes (Fillies and Mares) over one mile at Leopardstown on 10 September 2022.
Photo: Tenebrism victorious in the Prix Jean Prat (RacingTV, @RacingTV on Twitter)
