By Tom Frary
After the success for Nurlan Bizakov in the Lagardere, it was the turn of another rising force in French breeding Yeguada Centurion to enjoy the limelight as Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) lit up ParisLongchamp in the G1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac, a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland in November.
Coming off a course-and-distance win in the G3 Prix d'Aumale Sept. 8, the Christopher Head trainee had the perfect tow in third as Aurelien Lemaitre contained her enthusiasm. Let loose with 300 metres remaining, the homebred surged clear for an emphatic five-length success from Jim Bolger's outsider Gan Teorainn (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), with Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) a short neck away in third.
This was a first Group 1 for Christopher Head and his famous family was around him afterwards. That it came in the year of Freddy's retirement was not lost on his father. “It's a funny thing,” Head, Sr. said. “I'm happy for him. He's the fifth generation and I hope there will be many more successes.” Christopher, whose filly Tigrais (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}) had lost her chance when stumbling exiting the stalls in the opener, commented, “The filly is extraordinary. I'll discuss it with her owners, whether we wait until next year or try the Breeders' Cup. I knew she'd be okay on that ground, as she proved last time she handles soft and I think she can go further–2000 [metres] will be easy for her. It's quite a surprise, as this was a very good race with all the Europeans.”
Lemaitre enjoyed one of the most straightforward rides of the afternoon and said, “She is a little Ferrari. She has a huge heart, is handy and tough and you can do what you want with her–nothing worries her. You put her in the back, she drops the bit. When you tighten your heels, she goes!”
The Wertheimers' TDN Rising Star Kelina (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was disappointing, with the 21-10 favourite fading to last of the dozen runners. Jim Bolger said of Gan Teorainn, who had been second a week previously in the G3 Weld Park S., “One way or another, she's going to be a next-year filly. Today they didn't go very fast and only raced for the final furlong and a half. Next year we will probably start her at a mile and a quarter and she should get a mile and a half.”
Aidan O'Brien said of Never Ending Story, who like the first race's third Breizh Sky ran the fastest split in pursuit, “She ran very well. Ryan thought she was definitely going to be second but she came third, so she might be a little bit weak and will improve through the winter. She could run in the [GI] Breeders' Cup [Juvenile] Fillies Turf Mile, but we'll have to see how she comes out of it.”
Pedigree Notes
Blue Rose Cen's victory in the race that Freddy's sister Criquette holds the joint-record in is a huge moment for Leopoldo Fernández Pujals' operation. Like Belbek's dam, the mare responsible for this luminary was secured at Tatts December, with 110,000gns paid at the 2018 edition of that auction. Blue Rose Cen is the only known foal to date out of Queen Blossom (Ire) (Jeremy), a daughter of the G3 Silver Flash S.-placed Mark Of An Angel (Ire) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}) whose career successes included the G3 Park Express S. and GIII Santa Barbara S.
Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX MARCEL BOUSSAC – CRITERIUM DES POULICHES-G1, €400,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-2, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:40.45, vsf.
1–BLUE ROSE CEN (IRE), 123, f, 2, by Churchill (Ire)
1st Dam: Queen Blossom (Ire) (GSW-Ire & US, $220,859), by Jeremy
2nd Dam: Mark Of An Angel (Ire), by Mark Of Esteem (Ire)
3rd Dam: Dream Time (GB), by Rainbow Quest
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Yeguada Centurion SLU (IRE); T-Christopher Head; J-Aurelien Lemaitre. €228,560. Lifetime Record: 6-4-1-0, €325,060. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Gan Teorainn (Ire), 123, f, 2, Saxon Warrior (Jpn)–Dance Troupe (GB), by Rainbow Quest. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Ennistown Stud (IRE); T-Jim Bolger. €91,440.
3–Never Ending Story (Ire), 123, f, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–Athena (Ire), by Camelot (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €45,720.
Margins: 5, SNK, SNK. Odds: 4.70, 50.00, 6.70.
Also Ran: Start Me Up (Fr), Breege (GB), Ardent, Aspen Grove (Ire), Shalromy (Fr), Dandy Alys (Ire), Wed (Fr), Habana (Ger), Kelina (Ire). Video, sponsored by TVG.
Well clear! Blue Rose Cen wins the Group 1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac at @paris_longchamp! pic.twitter.com/EBgrMKVCB6
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 2, 2022
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