ParisTurf was right in titling his a “Be careful he arrives” with a photo of Aidan O’Brien for the dated this Friday October 4, which presented the first of this weekend’s two meetings of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triumph. And for good reason, on the track, the master of Ballydoyle did his colleagues no favors by winning the four races in which he participated. 100% success for the man who was simply four times stronger than the others. Since 1988, the first year Arc Weekend was born, this has never happened. A totally extraordinary feat worthy of the man he is: a GENIUS. The Coolmore associates trainer also reached another dimension this Saturday by signing a 60th Group I victory on our soil thanks to Kyprioswho won the Qatar Prix du Cadran (Gr. I) for the second time. The gelding, who now has eight successes at the highest level, is also the image of his developer: HEROIC. Of course, the victory of the most successful stayer in the world was expected. Just like that ofIllinoiswho got the ball rolling by winning the Qatar Prix Chaudenay (Gr. II) in true style. Or even that of the 2 year old Mount Kilimanjarowho made his contribution by distinguishing himself in the Critérium d’Automne (Cl. 2).
“It’s an incredible day”
On the other hand, in the Qatar Prix de Royallieu (Gr. I), we rather expected Port Fairywho was ridden by the Irish entity’s house jockey, Ryan Moore. Fifteenth and last, the tandem left the field open to Grateful, who had just failed in a group II over 2,900 meters in Doncaster (England). Edited by Christophe Soumillon, who is often associated with Coolmore’s second choices in France, the daughter of Galileo was still among the last at the entrance to the straight, before she passed the peloton in review. “It’s an incredible day, the result of the team’s work. The French races are really well organized”, explains Aidan O’Brien. And when we ask him if he would not have preferred to do his foursome on Sunday, he answers: “You have to live day by day and enjoy such a day.”
After catching his breath, the man who will celebrate his 55th birthday on October 16 confided about Grateful. “Coolmore associates purchased his dam, the champion Tepinin the United States. She was an incredible racing mare and Grateful is its first product. The next one is a male by the stallion Dubawi. His jockey, Christophe Soumillon, gave him a superb race. When she won a Group III in Ireland, she waited and I told her to take her time. Tepin has unfortunately died and I imagine that her daughter will take over at stud sooner or later.”
River of Stars pleases those around him
Having long been a winner, River of Starswho had just placed fourth in the Prix Gladiateur (Gr. III) on this track, ultimately had no other choice than to lose in the last fifty meters and failed three quarters of a length behind a first victory at the highest level. “River of Stars is a wonderful filly who still stands her ground. It will go on sale in December at Tattersalls. A Group I place therefore looks great on its catalog page. In fifteen attempts, she only came out of the top four once,” confesses Lincoln Collins, the racing manager of American owner John Sykes, with a smile. For once, French training will not have been able to distinguish itself in the Royallieu which belongs more than ever to the Anglo-Irish…
