Joe McConnell
Mqse De Sevigne completed his preparations for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, moving from last to first and maintaining his unbeaten record for the season in the Sumbe Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville.
André Fabre’s talented mare won the Prix Rothschild and the Romanet last summer and was widely favoured to repeat the double in the hands of Alexis Pouchin.
After sitting at the back of the five-runner field for much of the 10-furlong race, the five-year-old filly fought back in the straight and worked her way to victory by a head, with her jockey keen to ensure she had no difficulties.
Joseph O’Brien saddled the second and third horses, the American Sonja and Maxux, while Blue Rose Cen had her best race of the season, placing fourth.
Following her victory 12 months ago, Mqse De Sevigne stepped down to a mile in the Sun Chariot at Newmarket, finishing second to Inspiral, but is set to step up to a mile and a half for the first time this season in a bid to give her trainer a record-equalling ninth Arc victory.
Coral has cut his odds from 20 to 33/1 for Europe’s premier middle-distance race, but Fabre is eager to see his line-up at ParisLongchamp in early October.
“She is a fantastic mare, she is beautiful and has everything you would expect from a well-bred thoroughbred,” said the master trainer. Vscek Racing.
“Keep in mind that he wins all his races because of a short nose or head. This [Arc] “This was the plan and it will remain so: we will go straight for the Arch.”
Friendly Soul continues its modernization in Deauville
Friendly Soul continued his profitable summer with a landslide victory in the Sumbe Prix Alec Head at Deauville.
After winning her only juvenile race at Kempton in December, John and Thady Gosden’s filly won the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket on her return to action before disappointing as heavy favourite for the Musidora Stakes at York.
Friendly Soul wins the Sumbe Prix Alec Head, photo: Zuzanna Lupa
However, she showed her true colours when defeating her rivals in the Group Three Valiant Stakes at Ascot last month and repeated the feat at Group Two level in France.
After taking the chequered flag, Friendly Soul remained in the lead at the top of the home straight and, while Candala briefly looked like a major threat, the British runner gave way generously to Kieran Shoemark to maintain her advantage, with Birthe finishing convincingly to beat Candala into second.
“She’s a very good filly. We didn’t expect the rain that came here and as a result the ground is sticky and tough and she didn’t like it very much but she managed to show her class and win,” said John Gosden Vscek Racing.
“I think she will be a better filly on good, or even good-firm, ground. We’ll see where the running takes her in the autumn and next year, but she’s very progressive and the ground wasn’t showing her at her best today.
“I think a mile and a quarter in Europe is perfect for her. I wouldn’t try to do a mile and a half here, in America she’d do a bit more if she wanted on the flat ovals.
“We have entered it into the Prix l’Opera and if the terrain is like that of ParisLongchamp last year, we will certainly apply, otherwise we will not apply.
“We can see a trip to Del Mar (Breeders’ Cup). Mr. (George) Strawbridge (owner) lives in America.”
Double Major protagonist at Prix Kergorlay
Double Major consolidated his status as France’s top stayer with a dominant performance in the Sumbe Prix Kergorlay.
Christophe Ferland’s four-year-old colt finished 2023 in fine form, winning the Prix Chaudenay over the Arc weekend at ParisLongchamp before claiming the Group One title in the Prix Royal-Oak.
Double Major wins the Sumbe Prix Kergolay, photo: Zuzanna Lupa
He was beaten in his first two starts of the current season, finishing third to Sevenna’s Knight in successive races in May, but regained the winning thread in the Prix Maurice de Nieui and was a hot order to continue in this one-mile and seven-furlong Group Two.
Taken straight into the lead by Stephane Pasquier, Double Major stepped on the gas from the home bend and his rivals soon found themselves in his slipstream, with Goya Senora taking the lead.
