Caravaggio's Tenebrism Storms To Jean Prat Glory

Delivering the potent acceleration that had seen her claim joint-champion status among the juvenile fillies in the G1 Cheveley Park S. at Newmarket in September, TDN Rising Star Tenebrism (Caravaggio) was firmly in command under optimum conditions in Deauville's seven-furlong G1 Haras d'Etreham Prix Jean Prat on Sunday. Able to draft in mid-pack early, Ballydoyle's 13-2 shot who sports the Westerberg silks was unleashed between Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and Rozgar (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) and after gaining the lead 100 metres from the line stayed on strongly to record a 1 1/4-length verdict over Light Infantry (GB) (Fast Company {Ire}). There was a blanket for the minors, with Light Infantry a short neck in front of Lusail, who was in turn a nose ahead of Accakaba (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), with a nose also separating that rival and Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and a short head between that Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero and Rozgar. “The pace was a little slow and we had to wait–it was tight for room and they were all on top of each other, but she's got that great turn of foot and is a fast filly,” Ryan Moore said of the winner, who had been eighth in the 1000 Guineas and fourth in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot last time June 17.

Tenebrism, whose immediate entry is in Goodwood's star-studded G1 Qatar Sussex S. July 27, was providing another landmark for Aidan O'Brien, who had yet to win the Jean Prat. “She's always shown plenty–she won the Cheveley Park on her second start and the ground was very fast for the Guineas and she got banged around and never got into any rhythm,” Moore, who had returned from action at Belmont hours earlier, added. “She was still a bit green at Ascot and struggled around the bend, but finished well and ran a good race but it was nice to come to a level track on nice ground today. She accelerated through the gap like a motorbike–Caravaggio was fast and she's out of Immortal Verse, who is well known here. She was very comfortable over seven today.”

Light Infantry, who had like Lusail been an eye-catcher when ninth in the 2000 Guineas having missed the break, is set for a return visit to Deauville for next month's G1 Prix Jacques le Marois. “We thought the seven furlongs on fast ground would be against him and I'd like to think he has a bright future and will definitely be better at a mile,” trainer David Simcock said. “He ran better than his finishing position suggested at Newmarket and hopefully he'll come back here in August for the Jacques Le Marois. He is a very straightforward, very talented horse who handles any ground.”

Lusail was putting up another solid effort at the top level and trainer Richard Hannon said, “The mixed tempo of the race maybe cost us the win and other than that, there is nothing more to say. He is very consistent and will almost certainly win us another big one soon. He will most likely head to Goodwood for the [G2] Lennox Stakes or the Sussex.” Christophe Ferland said of Accakaba, “I am torn somewhere between satisfied and disappointed not to have won. I love this filly. She has an exceptional turn of foot and this was a proper race, with the best horses at seven furlongs and a mile–she'll now head to the [G1] Prix Maurice De Gheest.”

Charlie Appleby was pleased with the effort of Modern Games, who was found out by the drop from a mile. “We've got caught for a turn of foot, dropping back to seven and in the end, we know the mile is his best trip,” he said. “Trying to find a mile race for him at this time of the year is difficult, but there is the Sussex or the Jacques Le Marois and if he goes to the former he'll run alongside Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and if he goes for the Marois it will be with Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {Ire}). As
always, he ran a very solid race.”

Pedigree Notes:

Tenebrism, whose much-larger 2-year-old half-sister Statuette (Justify) is making waves having won the G2 Airlie Stud S., currently rates as her sire's best performer from his first crop. The aforementioned Immortal Verse, who captured the G1 Coronation S. and this venue's G1 Prix Jacques le Marois, is out of the Listed Prix La Camargo winner and G3 Prix Fille de l'Air runner-up Side of Paradise (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and is a full-sister to Go Lovely Rose (Ire) who is responsible for four black-type performers including the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. runner-up Roseman (Ire) (Kingman {GB}).

Side of Paradise is a daughter of Mill Princess (Ire) (Mill Reef), renowned for producing the Breeders' Cup Mile hero and champion sire Last Tycoon (Ire), as well as the G3 Goldene Peitsche-winning fellow sire Astronef (Ire) and the G3 Prix du Bois scorer and stakes producer The Perfect Life (Ire) (Try My Best). Another of Mill Princess's daughters, Save Me The Waltz (Ire) (Kings Lake), is in turn the dam of the GI Matron S. heroine Sense of Style (Thunder Gulch) and the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Valentine Waltz (Ire) (Be My Guest), while the moderate performer Zelda (Ire) (Caerleon) proved one of the family's best in her second career. Under her are the top sprinter Zipping (Ire) (Zafonic) and the G2 Prix du Gros-Chene winner Beauty Is Truth (Ire) by Immortal Verse's sire Pivotal (GB). Her trio of group 1 winners by Galileo (Ire) are Hermosa (Ire), Hydrangea (Ire) and The United States (Ire).

Sunday, Deauville, France
HARAS D'ETREHAM PRIX JEAN PRAT-G1, €400,000, Deauville, 7-10, 3yo, c/f, 7fT, 1:22.87, g/s.
1–TENEBRISM, 125, f, 3, by Caravaggio
     1st Dam: Immortal Verse (Ire) (Ch. 3yo Filly-Eng at 7-9.5f, G1SW-Eng & Fr, $1,053,873), by Pivotal (GB)
     2nd Dam: Side Of Paradise (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
     3rd Dam: Mill Princess (Ire), by Mill Reef
TDN Rising Star. O-Westerberg, Coolmore & Merribelle Stables; B-Merriebelle Stables, Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €228,560. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, 5-3-0-0, €447,745. *1/2 to Statuette (Justify), GSW-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Light Infantry (Fr), 128, c, 3, Fast Company (Ire)–Lights On Me (GB), by Kyllachy (GB).
1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€25,000 Ylg '20 ARQDOY; £82,000 2yo '21 GOFTY). O-Never Say Die Partnership; B-Barbara Moser (FR); T-David Simcock. €91,440.
3–Lusail (Ire), 128, c, 3, Mehmas (Ire)–Diaminda (Ire), by Diamond Green (Fr). (160,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. €45.720.
Margins: 1 1/4, SNK, NO. Odds: 6.40, 27.00, 5.70.
Also Ran: Accakaba (Ire), Modern Games (Ire), Rozgar (Ire), New Energy (Ire), Tribalist (GB), Mangoustine (Fr), Texas (Fr), Siam Paragon (Fr). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.