By Sean Cronin
Last term's G1 Prix Saint-Alary and G2 Blandford S. heroine Above The Curve (American Pharoah–Fabulous {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) encountered stellar opposition in Sunday's G2 Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud and halted a three-race losing streak with a pillar-to-post victory in the 10 1/2-furlong contest.
Coolmore and Westerberg's 'TDN Rising Star' was undone by Saint-Alary runner-up Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and the reopposing Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) when third in October's G1 Prix de l'Opera before running seventh in both November's GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and this month's G2 Mooresbridge S. on seasonal return last time.
The eventual winner was swiftly into stride and held sway at a comfortable pace. In command throughout, the 47-10 chance was shaken up when threatened at the top of the straight and stayed on relentlessly under a drive inside the final quarter-mile to hit the line strong with a two-length buffer from Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}). German raider India (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) kept on well to finish one length adrift third while 'TDN Risng Star' Nashwa, who held every chance turning for home, faded out of contention in the latter stages and finished another 1 1/4 lengths back in fourth.
“I am delighted to win this race for Joseph O'Brien and in these famous silks too,” said Maxime Guyon. “We used to ride together and know each other very well indeed. He said that she is a very straightforward filly with a huge action and to go on if nobody wanted the lead. She travelled beautifully and quickened well. She had the race in the bag quite early.”
Hollie Doyle, reflecting on a satisfactory return to action for G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Nassau S. heroine Nashwa, added, “She's a big, burly mare and I think she just got tired. She's grown a lot and has put on a lot of weight. She had a busy year last year and was coming back off her first proper break. She probably needed the run and I think she'll come on for it.”
Pedigree Notes
Above The Curve is the third of six reported foals and one of two scorers produced by an unraced sibling of eight black-type performers headed by MG1SW sire Giant's Causeway (Storm Cat). She is a full-sister to G3 Irish 1000 Guineas Trial and G3 Weld Park S. third Thinking Of You and her dam Fabulous (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was bred to Justify last year, has the unraced 3-year-old filly Deadly Nightshade (Justify) and a 2-year-old filly and yearling filly by Justify to come. Descendants of the April-foaled bay's MGSW second dam Mariah's Storm (Rahy), herself kin to G1SP sire Panoramic (GB) (Rainbow Quest), also include MG1SW sires Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Decorated Knight (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), Classic heroines Joan of Arc (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Marvellous (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), MG1SW distaffer Happily (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and elite-level performers Vatican City (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Coolmore (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Taj Mahal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Sunday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX CORRIDA-G2, €130,000, Saint-Cloud, 5-28, 4yo/up, f/m, 10 1/2fT, 2:14.17, gd.
1–ABOVE THE CURVE, 126, f, 4, by American Pharoah
1st Dam: Fabulous (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Mariah's Storm, by Rahy
3rd Dam: Immense, by Roberto
O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Maxime Guyon. €74,100. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, GSW-Ire & SP-Eng, 9-4-1-2, €444,496. *Full to Thinking of You, MGSP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Mqse De Sevigne (Ire), 126, f, 4, Siyouni (Fr)–Penne (Fr), by Sevres Rose (Ire). O-Baron Edouard de Rothschild; B-SC Ecurie de Meautry (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €28,600.
3–India (Ger), 126, m, 5, Adlerflug (Ger)–Ivory Coast (Fr), by Peintre Celebre. O-Gestut Ittlingen; B-Gestut Hof Ittlingen (GER); T-Waldemar Hickst. €13,650.
Margins: 2, 1, 1 1/4. Odds: 4.70, 8.10, 4.10.
Also Ran: Nashwa (GB), Baiykara (Fr), Romagna Mia (GB). Video, sponsored by TVG.
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