A review of Saturday's action at ParisLongchamp as George Scott won his first Group 1 with Caballo De Mar in the Prix du Cadran.
Caballo strikes for Scott in the Cadran
George Scott got British trainers off to a great start on Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend at Longchamp as he won the first Group 1 of his career with Caballo De Mar in the Qatar Prix du Cadran.
The four-year-old son of Phoenix Of Spain has progressed from handicaps this season, finishing second in the Chester Cup back in May before he won at Haydock and was second to French Master at Royal Ascot.
Last time out he proved he had the constitution to thrive on the international stage when he won the Group 3 Deutsches St Leger at Dortmund and that set him up for a Group 1 tilt in the Cadran.
Always prominent under Tom Marquand as he sat just off the shoulder of leader Coltrane in the 2m4f contest, Caballo De Mar worked hard to wrestle the lead from the Andrew Balding-trained horse.
Even when he looked to have mastered him deep in the contest Coltrane threatened to fight back, but Caballo De Mar dug deep to win going away by a length and three quarters.
Scott said afterwards: "He's a very special racehorse, he switches off really well. Because he's so relaxed you can put him in that position and make him gear down. It's a very special day for me and my team."
Marquand added: “He relaxed fantastic and was all heart in the last furlong for me. It’s very soft, but the track’s in fantastic condition, fresh ground tomorrow, with the rain falling it’s very soft now but it’s not too testing.
“The wind is significant enough, when I walked it I thought it might be a factor, it hits you in the face at the 1350.”
Consent lands another Longchamp success for Morris
Luke Morris had his finest day in the saddle at Longchamp when Alpinista won the 2022 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and he added to his course success when Sir Mark Prescott Consent ran out an emphatic winner of the Group 1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu.
Beaten by Santorini Star at Doncaster last time, Consent sat close to the pace set by the same rival in Paris and as Tom Marquand got busy on the leader Morris was going the better to her outside.
Santorini Star dug in well and finished second, but Consent was in a different league as she powered away for a four-and-a-half length win.
"I just kept it simple really," said Morris. "She was quite unlucky at Deauville, I just wanted plenty of room to let her down but she was very straightforward.
"She's raced very sparingly for Sir Mark and she stretched out nicely today, showing a better turn of foot than she had in her previous races."
Stud leads home JOB one-two
Joseph O’Brien landed a one-two in the opening Group 2 Prix Chaudenay on Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend at Longchamp as Tennessee Stud led home stablemate Emit.
The son of Wootton Bassett, third in the Derby at Epsom behind Lambourn, was stepping up in trip to 1m7f as he got off the mark for the season in the hands of Dylan Browne McMonagle.
As Amy Murphy’s Native Irish set the pace under Tom Marquand, McMonagle was happy to sit in second as the frontrunner built up a sizeable lead but it was all change at the top of the home straight.
Tennessee Stud easily brushed by a weakening Native Irish and was sent for home as he kicked three lengths clear of the field and stablemate Emit soon emerged as the main threat under Stephane Pasquier.
Emit closed to within a neck at the line but Tennessee Stud always looked like holding on in ground that was visibly riding soft as his jockey confirmed afterwards.
McMonagle said: “It’s a great weekend’s racing, very competitive and it’s great to win the first race on the card hopefully we’re not finished yet.
“My horse copes with the ground good, but it’s proper soft, the wind is very strong and the ground is slow and it’s going to take a lot of getting.”
Cape of good hope for Beckett
There was further British success on the card for Ralph Beckett as his Cape Orator ran out a one-and-a-quarter length winner of the Arqana Series - Haras de Bouquetot Criterium d'Autome Stakes.
Aidan O'Brien won the race with Mount Kilimanjaro last year and he had the favourite again this time around with Isaac Newton, but it was Beckett's son of Mohaather who proved a dominant winner.
Sky Bet and Paddy Power both trimmed him to 20/1 for the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at Doncaster at the end of October, but Beckett says he'll leave that decision up to the horse.
He said: “That was great. He is a tough beggar. I’d have to be very persuaded by the horse, and no one else, to run at Doncaster.
“The owner will only have a view in regards to what is best for the horse, and, if he felt like it was the right decision, then we could run there, but like you say he has been busy.
“He is by a Motivator mare from the family of Treve so he might get a mile and a quarter, but I doubt he would get further than that.
“We might show up to a Craven and see how we go.”
French strike in Dollar and Wildenstein
The other principal races on Saturday went to French trainers as Mikel Delzangles' Ridari landed the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein and Andre Fabre's First Look scored in the Prix Dollar for Wathnan Racing.
Delzangles trained Ridari's dam, Ridasiyna, to win the Prix de l'Opera 13 years ago and he said: "They are very similar, plenty of class.
"He's a miler but I think next year he might be a mile and a quarter horse. That distance is too long too soon for him, but he's relaxing better now."
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