Group 1 Number Five For Siyouni's Laurens

Whereas the arguably superior Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) has been and gone, John Dance's Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) is still churning out wins at the highest level and there was a fifth to celebrate in that category as the increasingly-formidable bay made virtually all in Saturday's G1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot S. at Newmarket. Kept close company throughout by last year's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Happily (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the 11-4 favourite who had prevailed in another battle in Leopardstown's G1 Matron S. Sept. 15 was the last off the bridle with jockey Danny Tudhope still motionless heading towards the “dip”. What looked a foregone conclusion there was ultimately far from the case, as Laurens needed the line with that Ballydoyle trainee pressing her all the way. Giving her all as per the norm, the Northern princess was a head to the good at the finish, with Altyn Orda (Ire) (Kyllachy {GB}) 2 1/4 lengths further back in third. “She was a bit fresh today and I was just a passenger for the first half of the race,” Tudhope explained. “I was trying to hang on to her as much as I could, but they weren't going quick enough at the start and so I sent her on and she never relaxed. She kept changing her legs and I could never get into a rhythm. She has some stride on her–I didn't want to break that and so I let her enjoy herself. The line came just in time, it wasn't easy but we got there. I think she was always doing a bit too much, but she's very tough and when the second horse came she battled. She was more relaxed going round a bend at Leopardstown, but she's very straightforward and such a nice ride. A super filly.”

The finishing scenes were reminiscent of those in evidence as she grimly held on to a fast-diminishing nose margin from another of Ballydoyle's fillies in September (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Fillies' Mile over this course and distance last October. That followed a second to the Wertheimer star Polydream (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the seven-furlong G3 Prix du Calvados at Deauville in August and a first black-type success in Doncaster's G2 May Hill S. tackling this trip for the first time. Second in the G1 1000 Guineas back here May 6, the bay was successfully upped to 10 furlongs when edging out George Strawbridge's subsequent G1 Prix Rothschild heroine With You (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary at ParisLongchamp May 27 and again proved toughest in the 10 1/2-furlong G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly June 17. Her sole disappointment came when her stamina was stretched too far and she wound up sixth in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks Aug. 23, but her gallant Matron performance proved that her enthusiasm was undimmed.

What was notable in this latest showing was the way she was able to shell off smart rivals one by one while still within her comfort zone. Only Happily was able to withstand the harsh treatment dolled out by the winner's superior stride pattern and stay in the hunt as she posted her finest effort since last autumn. Laurens cracked all else, including the briefly threatening TDN Rising Star Veracious (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and trainer Karl Burke was not ruling out attempting to gain further acclaim before the end of the year. “She's a superb filly and deserves her status,” he said. “Hopefully, she'll get the praise she deserves now. John [Dance] is happy to supplement for the [Oct. 20 G1] QEII if that's what we want to do and I think we'll stick at a mile now. She's also in the Breeders' Cup as well, but the main thing is to get her home and see how she comes out of this.”

The last known foal out of Recambe (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who is kin to the Hong Kong Derby victor Salford Mill (Ire) (Peintre Celebre), Laurens descends from Raysiya (Ire) (Cure the Blues) whose best performer was the listed scorer Raysiza (Ire) (Alzao). She is herself the third dam of the G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Kinnaird (Ire) (Dr. Devious {Ire}) who in turn produced the G2 Royal Lodge S. scorer Berkshire (Ire) (Mount Nelson {GB}). She also features as the second dam of the G2 July S. hero and G1 Middle Park S. runner-up Ivawood (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}), who was also third in the G1 English and Irish 2000 Guineas. This is also the family of the G3 Killavullan S. scorer and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up Rayeni (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) and another Prix de l'Opera heroine in Ridasiyna (Fr) (Motivator {GB}).

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN SUN CHARIOT S.-G1, £266,875, Newmarket, 10-6, 3yo/up, f, 8fT, 1:37.94, gd.
1–LAURENS (FR), 126, f, 3, by Siyouni (Fr)
1st Dam: Recambe (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Razana (Ire), by Kahyasi (Ire)
3rd Dam: Raysiya (Ire), by Cure the Blues
(£220,000 Ylg '16 GOUKPR). O-John Dance; B-Bloodstock Agency Ltd (FR); T-Karl Burke; J-Daniel Tudhope. £151,345. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Fr & G1SW-Ire, 10-7-2-0, $1,935,422. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Happily (Ire), 126, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–You'resothrilling, by Storm Cat. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Orpendale & Chelston Ireland (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £57,378.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]3–Altyn Orda (Ire), 126, f, 3, Kyllachy (GB)–Albanka, by Giant's Causeway. O-Nurlan Bizakov; B-Hesmonds Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £28,716.
Margins: HD, 2 1/4, 3. Odds: 2.75, 8.00, 25.00.
Also Ran: I Can Fly (GB), Billesdon Brook (GB), Veracious (GB), Aljazzi (GB), Clemmie (Ire), Wind Chimes (GB). Scratched: Wilamina (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.