Second in the G1 Prix du Cadran when the marathon trip could have been beyond him at Chantilly Oct. 1, His Highness The Aga Khan's Vazirabad (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) was back in his comfort zone on Sunday as he sauntered to a second consecutive success in the G1 Prix Royal-Oak at Saint-Cloud. Anchored towards the rear from the outset by Christophe Soumillon, the 2-1 favourite moved through the gears at the top of the straight and after passing Endless Time (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) with 300 metres remaining readily drew away to win eased down by 1 3/4 lengths. Trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre is not certain that stamina was the issue in the Cadran and explained, “He lost that race by hanging right, as his tongue was over the bit and the jockey couldn't manage to keep him straight. We corrected that with a change of equipment and everyone saw the real Vazirabad today. He won like a real nice horse and showed his turn of foot.”
Sunday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX ROYAL-OAK-G1, €350,000, SCD, 10-23, 3yo/up, 15 1/2fT, 3:29.23, g/s.
1–VAZIRABAD (FR), 130, g, 4, by Manduro (Ger)
1st Dam: Visorama (Ire) (GSW & G1SP-Fr, $181,397), by Linamix (Fr)
2nd Dam: Visor, by Mr. Prospector
3rd Dam: Look, by Spectacular Bid
O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Alain de Royer-Dupre; J-Christophe Soumillon. €199,990. Lifetime Record: GSW-UAE, 13-9-2-0, €1,316,278. *1/2 to Visoriyna (Fr) (Dansili {GB}), SW & MGSP-Fr, $139,138. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Endless Time (Ire), 127, f, 4, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Mamonta (GB), by Fantastic Light. (115,000gns Wlg '12 TATFOA; 180,000gns Ylg '13 TAOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Mabaki Investments (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. €80,010.
3–Siljan's Saga (Fr), 127, m, 6, Sagamix (Fr)–Humoriste (Fr), by Saint Cyrien (Fr). (€2,500 Ylg '11 ARNOV). O-Eric Palluat de Besset & Emmanuel Tassin; B-Mme Antoinette Ouvry (FR); T-Jean-Pierre Gauvin. €40,005.
Margins: 1 3/4, HF, NK. Odds: 2.00, 17.20, 2.30.
Also Ran: Mille et Mille (GB), Sky Hunter (GB), Quick Jack (Ire), Slatina (Ire), Pallasator (GB), Litigant (GB), Settler's Son (Ire), Penglai Pavilion, Montaly (GB), Candarliya (Fr), Justice Belle (Ire), Mambomiss (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Prior to the Cadran, Vazirabad had a flawless record in black-type company over an excess of 12 furlongs, with a seventh in the July 3 G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud over that trip the only time he was unable to enjoy the winner's spot in six consecutive outings. Coming here 12 months ago off wins in the G3 Prix de Lutece and G2 Prix Chaudenay at Longchamp, the dark bay justified favouritism to deal with Siljan's Saga before returning to beat Big Orange (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup over two miles at Meydan Mar. 26. Back in his native France to win the May 29 G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier over this course and distance, the homebred was only beaten around two lengths as the even-money favourite for the Grand Prix prior to reverting to 15 furlongs to garner G3 Prix Gladiateur at Chantilly Sept. 11.
Only a short neck separated him from Quest For More (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the Cadran over another five furlongs back there at the start of the month, but with his aura of invincibility now gone he entered the stalls at odds of 2-1 which now seem generous. Always cruising in rear of mid-division under a typically cool Soumillon ride, he made up ground easily turning for home as the leaders began to crumble. Angled into the slipstream of Godolphin's classy filly Endless Time, he quickly had control approaching the final furlong which was unknown territory for her and was able to coast to the line with the race in safe keeping. “He'll be around for a few more seasons yet if he keeps sound and will be in Dubai again next season,” Alain de Royer-Dupre said. “We'll give him a prep race this time, rather than go straight for Dubai Gold Cup.”
Visorama captured this card's G3 Prix de Flore 13 years ago prior to finishing second in the following season's G2 Prix Corrida and third in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. She is a full-sister to the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains third Visionary (Fr) and a half to the G1 Prix de la Foret winner Varenar (Fr) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) and the G2 Prix Greffulhe-winning sire Visindar (GB) (Sinndar {Ire}). Another of her full-siblings, the G1 Prix de Diane third Visionnaire (Fr), was later responsible for the G3 Prix la Rochette winner Visionario (Ire) (Spinning World), the MGSP Visiyani (Fr) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) and G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly runner-up Vison Celebre (Ire) (Peintre Celebre). The dam's first offering since Vazirabad is a colt foal by Sinndar (Ire).
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