On Saturday, we kicked off things at Doncaster with what appeared to be the standout juvenile performance of the weekend, when Godolphin sent out Emotionless in the Champagne Stakes. Setting off an odds on shot, Emotionless sat... motionless... for most of the contest, and was hard on the bridle with a furlong to go, a single slap down the neck putting the contest to bed with seemingly a lot left in the tank. He could be one of the big players in next season's classics, but just when we thought we had seen the best of it, we were wrong.
Limato went off 9/2 favourite for the Park Stakes, which by now seems like a ridiculously big price. Henry Candy's high class colt showed just why he's as well thought of, overcoming being slow out the gates, and coming from stone last, slicing his way through the field with an epic turn of foot and scooting clear to win easily in his first start over 7 furlongs. With the Foret on Arc weekend looking the likely target, my money is on Limato gaining his first success at the highest level before the season end, and he looks a very exciting prospect for next year if training on.
The highlight at Doncaster was of course the St Leger itself. Britain's oldest classic. Not without it's share of controversy. Fields of Athenry under Silvestre De Sousa made most of the running before being overshadowed by high class Storm The Stars, who cantered into the lead with a quarter mile to run. As he came off the bridle though, he was overtaken by Bondi Beach, and eventual first past the post, Simple Verse. The stewards' klaxon sounded though, and some nervy few minutes later, it was revealed that the placings had indeed been altered, the prize being rewarded to Bondi Beach. Make of it what you will, in my eyes, the gap wasn't there for Atzeni, and thus him making the gap himself is breaking the rules, so the correct call was made.
Over at Leapordstown, it was all about the Irish Champion Stakes. The Group 1 contest over a mile and a quarter, which went the way of Derby and Eclipse hero, Golden Horn. Again though, it didn't come without it's complications, as Dermot Weld's highly rated Free Eagle seemed to make a strong challenge entering the home straight, only for the badly hanging Golden Horn to knock him off his stride, and eventually causing him to finish third. It was deemed that Free Eagle didn't finish close enough in the end to merit disqualifying the 5/4 favourite, who kept the race. IMO, if the St Leger was clear interference, this was an even worse case, as I feel Free Eagle's challenge was consistent, on a straight line, and he looked to be well on his way to winning the race.
The following race saw 1000 Guineas and Nassau Stakes heroine Legatissimo claim yet more Group 1 glory in the Matron Stakes. Wayne Lordan could hardly believe his eyes when he picked up leader Euro Charline turning for home, and with ease, striding clear to win with some extra up her sleeve. It was earlier today confirmed that she would train on as a 4 year old, with the way she stayed on today surely opening up more options to her.
Then it was over to Curragh to whet our equine appetites with another handful of Group 1s to keep us going. The first slice of Group action though, saw Ribbons take the Group 2 Blandford Stakes. Held up at the back by Tom Queally, she saw every rival until the turn for home, picking each opponent up with every stride before cruising to the front and extending to a few lengths lead. The returning Tapestry (off since last year's Arc) gave her a race of it inside the final furlong, but Ribbons proved a class act, winning comfortably in the end at 3/1.
Next up was the Flying Five Stakes, with my old favourite Sole Power (5/1) showing his trademark turn of foot, (on ground that he had no right even running on, by logic), to get up close home and mark his first ever win on home soil. Not going to lie, I belted out a scream of delight when he hit the front, as, I'm sure, did anyone else who's stayed loyal to the grand old sprinter. What a class apart.
Speaking of class apart, it was the all-conquering Ballydoyle team who stole the spotlight yet again, and they kicked off another great day with a 1-2-3 in the Group 1 Moyglare, with Minding getting the better of short favourite Ballydoyle, and Alice Springs in third. Aidan O'Brien was clearly impressed by all three, but I think it's safe to say there was only one intended winner there, and she simply couldn't deliver the finishing kick when push came to shove. No matter, Ballydoyle will live to fight another day, and no doubt in my mind she has all the makings of a 1000 Guineas winner.
Next up was the National Stakes, and O'Brien sent out another "Nice Harse" in the form of Air Force Blue, who proved to be every bit as impressive as Emotionless was at Doncaster. With highly touted Herald The Dawn hitting the front a couple furlongs out, Jospeh O'Brien was bolt upright upon Air Force Blue, who cantered into the lead and skipped clear to land yet another valuable Group 1 for the Coolmore squad. In my opinion, Emotionless is the 2000 Guineas winner next year, and I'll be on ante-post no matter the price, but Air Force Blue looks very clever indeed, and, if Joseph is right, could be something special.
The feature race of the day was of course the Irish St Leger, which had just as big a low point as it did a high point. Let's get the high point out of the way first. Order Of St George was hugely impressive. He won by 11 lengths in the end, and looks as though he could win an Ascot Gold Cup and a King George next year if he wanted. Very, very good horse. That's all good and well. The low point, of course, came with the tragic news that Brown Panther, who has served trainer Tom Dascombe and owner Michael Owen so grandly over the years, suffered an ultimately fatal injury. The horse has taken connections all over the world, and so often was a solid UK representative in some of the biggest staying races around the globe. Not seeing him in the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day, where he surely would have ended up, will be surreal. So often present in the big staying races, he'll be truly missed. RIP Brown Panther, you legend.
Over in France, it was Arc Trials Day at Longchamp, and the class on show supplemented everything we had seen on home soil over the weekend. In the Prix Niel, it was New Bay who laid down the gauntlet with a stunning display, making short work of the unbeaten Erupt to stake his claim for Europe's richest race.
The build up to the Prix du Moulin was dominated by the withdrawals of some of the big guns. Territories, Dutch Connection, Esoterique and Arod all fell victim to the very slow ground, leaving Ervedya and Karakontie the only two big names left in the field. Sent off the new fave, Ervedya still had to win her race, and as the time for the gap to appear began to decimate, Soumillon waited for the right moment, and when the gap came, he slotted Ervedya through, stretching away to take the Group 1 prize.
This weekend was all about class though, and I feel it only right to leave the very best to last, as dual Arc mega-star Treve showed us just why she's going to make it THREE IN A ROW. The Group 1 Prix Vermeille was her chosen stage, and she simply galloped her opposition into submission. Golden Horn's Juddmonte International conqueror, Arabian Queen, sat in behind the pace maker for most of the race, before racing upsides to make her challenge, waiting in the wings though, Treve was kept wide and out of trouble, before unleashing a spellbinding turn of foot to demolish her rivals with ease. So impressive, as a matter of fact, that she was immediately made odds-on favourite to seal what would be an unprecedented three wins in the Arc De Triomphe. A wonderful weekend's racing capped off with one of the best performances you'll see all season, and there were a lot of contenders for that across these two days!
RIP BROWN PANTHER
