Foy Title For Lope De Vega's Place Du Carrousel

Al Shaqab Racing's Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), already a Group 1 winner in last year's G1 Prix de l'Opera, defeated defending champion Iresine (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) by a neck to take Sunday's G2 Qatar Prix Foy at ParisLongchamp. The latter was a half-length to the good of 2022 G1 Deutsches Derby and G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen hero Sammarco (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in third.

The 4-year-old filly was the 13-5 second choice behind her G1 Prix Ganay conqueress Iresine at 1-2. Content to race midfield as Plesant Jane (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) forged to the front while watched by Fenelon (Fr) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Place Du Carrousel perched one off the fence next to Sammarco with Iresine last of the quintet. Drifting back a spot to fourth on the bend, the daughter of G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris victress Traffic Jam (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) remained well covered up, as the field neared the straight. Closing willingly when given her cue, she quickly drew on even terms at the 200-metre mark and found just enough late to withstand the withering run of Iresine in the final strides.

Rupert Pritchard Gordon, racing manager for Al Shaqab Racing, said, “The filly showed that she's in good form. She's still fresh because she hasn't run much this year, due to a slight setback in the spring. The weather conditions are exceptional today, and Monsieur Fabre preferred to go for the Qatar Prix Foy rather than the [G1] Qatar Prix Vermeille, anticipating that there would be less pace in the Foy.”

Since her Opera heroics last October, Place Du Carrousel was a never-nearer fifth in the Ganay this spring, but after a break, was a winner over good to soft ground in the G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron at Deauville in August. Connections are now dreaming of the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

“When we decided to keep her in training at four, after her success in the Prix de l'Opéra Longines last year, the idea was

to aim her at the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe,” he added. “So if all goes well between now and then, we'll be heading to the race of dreams.”

Mandore International Agency, on behalf of Al Shaqab Racing, picked up the bay for €260,000 out of the Arqana Select Sale at Deauville in September of 2020 from the Ballylinch Stud draft.

Pedigree Notes

One of 19 Group 1 winners for her Ballylinch sire, Place Du Carrousel is the first foal out of Traffic Jam, who also ran second in the G2 Prix de Pomone. Since foaling the Foy winner, she has delivered four fillies–the 3-year-old Nariman Point (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a 1.05-million gns Kingman (GB) juvenile named Monyat Galby (Ire), a yearling by Sea The Stars (Ire) who is consigned as lot 158 by Ballylinch to the upcoming Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, and a full-sister to the winner this term.

Her third dam, Sweet Emotion (Ire) (Bering {GB}), foaled Listed Midsummer S. victor Winged Cupid (Ire) (In The Wings {GB}), who also ran second in the G1 Racing Post Trophy. This is the extended family of the high class dual Group 1 winner Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX FOY-G2, €130,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-10, 4yo/up, 12fT, 2:35.66, g/s.
1–PLACE DU CARROUSEL (IRE), 125, f, 4, by Lope De Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Traffic Jam (Ire) (GSW-Fr, $211,247),
                                by Duke Of Marmalade (Ire)
2nd Dam: Place De L'Etoile (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Sweet Emotion (Ire), by Bering (GB)
(€260,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Al Shaqab Racing & Ballylinch
Stud; B-Ballylinch Stud, Alexis Adamian & Mme Fan Adamian
(IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona. €74,100. Lifetime
Record: G1SW-Fr, 8-5-1-0, €524,430. Werk Nick Rating: A++.
   Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Iresine (Fr), 128, g, 6, Manduro (Ger)–Inanga (GB), by Oasis
Dream (GB). (€6,000 Ylg '18 ARQOCT). O-Bertrand Milliere,
Ecurie Jean-Paul Gauvin, Christian Goutelle, Fabien Gauvin,
Mme Marion Gauvin & Jean-Pierre Gauvin; B-Pierre Soyaux &
Marie-Louise van Dedem (FR); T-Jean-Pierre Gauvin. €28,600.
3–Sammarco (Ire), 128, c, 4, Camelot (GB)–Saloon Sold (Ger),
by Soldier Hollow (GB). (€120,000 RNA Ylg '20 BBAGS).
O/B-Gestut Park Wiedingen (IRE); T-Peter Schiergen. €13,650.
Margins: NK, HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 2.60, 0.50, 12.00.
Also Ran: Fenelon (Fr), Plesant Jane (Fr). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

Qatar Prix Foy (G2)
2.400 m – 130.000 EUR – for 4yo+
Longchamp

Place Du Carrousel (IRE)
(4M Lope De Vega- Traffic Jam , by Duke Of Marmalade)
J :@mickaelbarzalon
T :A. Fabre
O : @AlShaqabRacing , @BallylinchStud pic.twitter.com/CRsG91yj92

— (@WorldRacing1) September 10, 2023