By Tom Frary
Al Asayl France's The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) had not seen since running second in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot last October, but he showed no signs of rustiness to register back-to-back wins in Saturday's G2 Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein at ParisLongchamp. Steadied at the break by Pierre-Charles Boudot, the 7-10 favourite was in an easy rhythm in fifth before being angled to the outer in early straight. Looming large with 300 metres remaining, he was pushed out once gaining an edge soon after to assert by 1 1/4 lengths from Ziegfeld (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). “It's a weight off my shoulders,” trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said. “To bring a horse back to such a race after a year off is not always an easy task and credit goes to my staff. The idea was to ride him off the pace and come with a late run, but I I said to Pierre-Charles not to be too hard on him. In the end he won well, so we will monitor his condition and progress in the days to come and if he shows us the right signs the idea is of course to return to Ascot for the QEII.”
Last year's QEII is still the sole defeat in The Revenant's last eight outings, with the G3 Prix Edmond Blanc and G2 Badener-Meile collected on the way. He is the second foal out of the G3 St Simon S. winner Hazel Lavery (Ire) (Excellent Art {GB}), who is a half-sister to the Italian listed scorer and G3 St Leger Italiano runner-up Leo Gali (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The third dam Rapid Repeat (Ire) (Exactly Sharp) is kin to the G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial winner Artema (Ire) (Common Grounds {GB}) and Hello Soso (Ire) (Alzao) who was placed in the GII Diana H. Hazel Lavery's unraced 2-year-old filly by Oasis Dream (GB) is named La Viette (GB), while she also has a filly foal by Saxon Warrior (Jpn).
Saturday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX DANIEL WILDENSTEIN-G2, €140,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-3, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:45.34, hy.
1–THE REVENANT (GB), 128, g, 5, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Hazel Lavery (Ire) (GSW-Eng, $246,630), by Excellent Art (GB)
2nd Dam: Reprise (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Rapid Retreat (Ire), by Exactly Sharp
O-Al Asayl France; B-Al Asayl Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €79,800. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ger & G1SP-Eng, 12-9-2-1, €610,228. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ziegfeld (GB), 125, c, 3, New Approach (Ire)–Maid To Dream (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB). (120,000gns Ylg '18 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Barton Stud Partnership (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €30,800.
3–Motamarris (Ire), 128, c, 4, Le Havre (Ire)–Thamarat (GB), by Anabaa. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Freddy Head. €14,700.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1 1/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.70, 6.40, 5.50.
Also Ran: Ancient Spirit (Ger), Hurricane Cloud (GB), Ellerslie Lace (Fr), Shaman (Ire). Scratched: Maamora (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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