By Tom Frary
Providing another boost to his G1 Grand Prix de Paris conqueror Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Haras de la Perelle and Stephane Wattel's Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) came out on top in Sunday's premier French Arc trial for the 3-year-old colts, the G2 Qatar Prix Niel at ParisLongchamp.
Despite his win, an Arc rematch with Onesto is uncertain according to connections who were able to enjoy a moment in the sun with the admirable flag-bearer of the Stephane Wattel stable. Always happy taking a lead in third, the 3-1 shot was sent to the front by Gregory Benoist two out and had enough energy to run away from the whip en route to a comfortable 3/4-of-a-length verdict over TDN Rising Star Lassaut (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}). Lassault holds and Arc entry, as does True Testament (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) who was a length behind in third, while the May 29 G1 Tokyo Yushun hero and 19-10 favourite Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) could only manage fourth, a further two lengths away.
“I don't know about the Arc, firstly I don't think he'll recover in just three weeks and secondly, there is the ground issue as this is not the best surface for him,” Wattel said. “There is also the quality of the opposition to consider, but he'd answered some questions today as he was ready to run in the Grand Prix de Deauville and at the last moment we decided not to run. I'll leave a decision as to the Arc to the owners and I'll be honest with them.”
Pedigree Notes
Simca Mille, who also captured Chantilly's G3 Prix du Lys over this trip June 19 and was in front of the day's St Leger hero Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Grand Prix de Paris, is the first foal out of Swertia (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) who is a daughter of the Prix de Conde, G3 Prix Penelope and G3 Prix Cleopatre-placed Sanjida (Ire) (Polish Precedent). She is in turn kin to three black-type winners headed by the three-times top-level winner and Prix de Diane heroine Sarafina (Fr) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}), who later produced the G3 Prix d'Aumale scorer Savarin (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and her G3 Prix Messidor-winning full-brother Geniale (Jpn). Swertia's unraced 2-year-old filly by Kodiac (GB) is named Sadia (Ire), while she also has a yearling filly by Invincible Spirit (Ire).
Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX NIEL-G2, €130,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-11, 3yo, 12fT, 2:32.81, sf.
1–SIMCA MILLE (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Tamayuz (GB)
1st Dam: Swertia (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Sanjida (Ire), by Polish Precedent
3rd Dam: Sanariya (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
(€68,000 RNA Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Haras de la Perelle &
Stephane Wattel; B-Haras de la Perelle (IRE); T-Stephane
Wattel; J-Gregory Benoist. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 9-4-4-0,
€294,060. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Lassaut (Fr), 128, c, 3, Almanzor (Fr)–Lady Family (Fr), by
Sinndar (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. 'TDN Rising Star'.
(€67,000 RNA Ylg '20 GOFORB). O-Riviera Equine SARL, Haras
d'Etreham Et Al; B-Haras d'Etreham & Riviera Equine SARL
(FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €28,600.
3–True Testament (Ire), 128, c, 3, Siyouni (Fr)–To Eternity (GB),
by Galileo (Ire). O/B-Lady Bamford (IRE); T-Andre Fabre.
€13,650.
Margins: 3/4, 1, 2. Odds: 3.10, 2.30, 9.00.
Also Ran: Do Deuce (Jpn), Aikhal (Ire), L'Astronome (GB), Deputy Ruler (Ire). Video, sponsored by TVG.
Simca Mille wins the Group 2 Qatar Prix Niel at @paris_longchamp. pic.twitter.com/dYqy4b9Sam
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 11, 2022
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