By Tom Frary
He had to cover Chantilly's straight six furlongs in a time over a second faster than when taking the G3 Prix du Bois last month, but what would prove too difficult for others is far from a test for the highly progressive Arabie (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}–Mamma Morton {Ire}, by Elnadim) as he enhanced his portfolio in Sunday's G2 Prix Robert Papin.
In a renewal absent of any French-trained juveniles, it was the fellow British raider Celandine (GB) (Kingman {GB}) who pressed on from the outset but Mohamed Saeed Al Shahi's 11-10 favourite always had that Rockcliffe Stud homebred covered and when Jim Crowley sent him forward to edge it approaching the final furlong the writing was on the wall. Strong to the line, the latest successful Karl Burke cross-channel raider had 3/4 of a length to spare there over the strong-closing Shadow Army (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) as he denied Celandine the runner's-up spot by a short neck.
“He's an improving horse and is getting better and better,” Crowley said. “He doesn't do much when he's in front and is tough with a great mind–he's almost too relaxed and shut down on me in front, so it might look like he had a hard race there but he keeps something up his sleeve and galloped out very well.”
Burke said, “He's a tough, progressive horse who is very idle and always has been. It amused me when they said he had a hard race, because I knew Jim would say he has not had a hard race. He's as hard as nails and hopefully there is plenty more to come. He has definitely improved since his last run in his homework and I think he showed that today, it was a good run.”
Arabie is set to join his G2 Norfolk Stakes-winning stablemate Shareholder in the G1 Prix Morny at Deauville Aug. 18 according to the trainer. “I don't know how much improvement he has in him, but he will go to the Morny and will run very well I'm sure,” he added. “I couldn't see a reason why we wouldn't go there and there's the Gimcrack with a penalty, but you may as well have a crack at the group 1.”
“I'm sure his owner will be keen to do that and the biggest danger will be one of his stablemates unfortunately. Maybe the two will work together leading into the Morny, but it is very hard to compare. They are two different characters of horses–one is very lazy and the other is very forward-going. It will be very interesting and you can't take anything away from Arabie, he is a tough horse and has a lot of ability.”
Arabie steps up again! @karl_burke's two-year-old colt gets the better of Shadow Army to grab G2 glory in the Prix Robert Papin…
— Sky Sports Racing (@SkySportsRacing) July 14, 2024
Pedigree Notes
Arabie is the third black-type winner and fourth black-type performer for Mamma Morton (Ire) (Elnadim), with Mamma's Girl (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) having been successful in last year's G3 Nell Gwyn Stakes, Master Of War (GB) (Compton Place {GB}) having taken the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes and finished runner-up in the G2 Richmond Stakes and G2 Mill Reef Stakes and Life In Colour (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) placing in the Listed Waterford Testimonial Stakes.
The second dam is the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches third Gharam (Green Dancer), whose leading performers were the G3 Sagaro Stakes runner-up Shaya (GB) (Nashwan) and the G3 Prestige Stakes-placed Elshamms (GB) (Zafonic). The latter is the dam of the G2 Rockfel Stakes-placed Desert Blossom (Ire) (Shamardal), in turn the dam of the Listed Valiant Stakes winner Duneflower (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Elshamms's half-sister Naazeq (GB) (Nashwan) produced the GI Spinster Stakes runner-up Tamweel (Gulch) and is the third dam of the G3 Summer Stakes winner and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes and G1 Commonwealth Cup-placed Flotus (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). Mamma Morton's yearling colt is by Ardad (Ire).
Sunday, Chantilly, France
PRIX ROBERT PAPIN-G2, €130,000, Chantilly, 6-16, 2yo, 6fT, 1:09.48, g/s.
1–ARABIE (GB), 128, c, 2, by Dandy Man (Ire)
1st Dam: Mamma Morton (Ire), by Elnadim
2nd Dam: Gharam, by Green Dancer
3rd Dam: Water Lily (Fr), by Riverman
(92,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT). O-Mohamed Saeed Al Shahi; B-Robert Cornelius (GB); T-Karl Burke; J-Jim Crowley. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, €128,861. *1/2 to Master Of War (GB) (Compton Place {GB}), SW & MGSP-Eng, $180,480; & to Mammas Girl (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), GSW-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Shadow Army (GB), 128, c, 2, Showcasing (GB)–Marie Of Lyon (GB), by Royal Applause (GB).
1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Wathnan Racing; B-Branton Court Stud LLP (FR); T-Richard Fahey. €28,600.
3–Celandine (GB), 125, f, 2, Kingman (GB)–Pepita (Ire), by Sir Prancealot (Ire).
1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Rockcliffe Stud (GB); T-Ed Walker. €13,650.
Margins: 3/4, SNK, 3/4. Odds: 1.10, 17.00, 2.50.
Also Ran: An Outlaw's Grace (Ire), Convo (Ire), Moving Force (Ire), Korisa (Ire). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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