By Tom Frary
It had to happen and thankfully it did. Frankie's final ride at Deauville was one for the memory store on Sunday, as one of the world's finest of all time engineered a super-smooth eighth victory in the G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois out of Cheveley Park Stud's Rolls Royce Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Starscope {GB}, by Selkirk). Showing why he is and has been so prominent in his trade for so long, the Italian judged the pace set by Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) to a tee as he anchored the Gosdens' 4-year-old in rear early.
Only delivered when it was necessary and not a second before, Inspiral was able to cruise to that G1 Prix du Jockey Club runner-up passing the furlong pole and was soon beyond recall for her own second edition. Surprisingly an 8-1 shot, perhaps because of doubts about her performance at a rain-soaked Goodwood and about the 11-day turnaround from the G1 Sussex S., she was in a class of her own here en route to a comfortable 1 1/4-length verdict over Yeguada Centurion's 2-1 favourite as last year's runner-up Light Infantry (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}) again made the frame the same margin away in third.
This was also a remarkable fourth consecutive win for the Clarehaven-Dettori axis, with Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) having also brought up consecutive successes in 2020 and 2021. “She's a fantastic filly and this is my last race at Deauville, so to finish with a win like this is incredible,” the rider said. “I was very easy on her at Goodwood, as this was always the target and she showed what a true champion she is. I've won every race here and 19 group ones, so I have great memories–some wonderful days and wonderful nights!”
They've done it again! Inspiral and @FrankieDettori land the Group 1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois at @fgdeauville 👑 pic.twitter.com/bCXCxnW5AU
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 13, 2023
Even before she showed a distaste for the mud at Goodwood, Inspiral had failed to spark in Ascot's G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on similar ground with only a narrow defeat to Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot in between offering hope that she retained the kind of ability that had seen her dazzle in the G1 Coronation S. at the previous Royal meeting. This was categoric proof that she not only retained that level of proficiency, but can also be seen as a career-best as she left some of this year's mile Classic protagonists trailing as well as the impressive G1 Prix Jean Prat hero Good Guess (GB) (Kodiac {GB}).
While Big Rock was able to tick off regular sectionals of around 11.5 seconds until two out, the extra fuel that Frankie had saved throughout the first three furlongs served him well as the Head colt began to feel the pinch. Swallowing up his advantage with splits of 11.34, 11.08 and 11.36 between the four and the one, she was able to coast to the line with the high-class 3-year-old having used up all his speed. “She needs a good pace and not soft ground, and on her conditions she got to work today. When she's good, she's very good and this is the stuff of dreams,” Dettori added.
Gosden Sr is looking at the Breeders' Cup Mile for the winner and said, “To win this great race twice with Palace Pier, twice with this filly and of course with Kingman is a great honour and very special. I like it because it's run on a straight, flat and fair track and usually there are no hard-luck stories. Inspiral can be brilliant on her day and was pretty fresh–she's only run twice this year–and came here in top order.”
“She can grab the bridle and the pace was all on the far side, which worried us as she was drawn one but she's been given a great ride as she's ended up in stall 12 effectively and come around the long way in the end. She got left at Ascot and can play about when that happens. When Frankie took her to the front he looked after her and maybe we will take her to Santa Anita, even though it is a tight track for her.”
Christopher Head said of Big Rock, “He has run a very good race and been beaten by a better horse. There are no excuses and he ran big. There is no disgrace being beaten by this top filly and we'll stick to the plan and head to the [G1] Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.”
Pedigree Notes
Starscope, who was runner-up in the G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Coronation S., had produced just the listed-placed middle-distance performer Celestran (GB) (Dansili {GB}) prior to Inspiral but has now delivered Cheveley Park with another illustrious runner in the red, white and blue. She is a daughter of Moon Goddess (GB) (Rainbow Quest), also the dam of the Listed Rosemary S. winner Solar Magic (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) but more importantly a half-sister to the operation's G1 Eclipse S. and G1 Juddmonte International-winning sire Medicean (GB). Also connected to the G2 Keio Hai Nisai S. winner Mondreise (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) and the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero and leading sire Caro (Ire), her 2-year-old colt by Siyouni (Fr) is named Megastar (GB), while she has a yearling son of Ulysses (Ire) and a 2023 full-sister to Inspiral to follow.
Sunday, Deauville, France
PRIX DU HARAS DE FRESNAY-LE-BUFFARD JACQUES LE MAROIS-G1, €1,000,000, Deauville, 8-13, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:36.62, g/s.
1–INSPIRAL (GB), 128, f, 4, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Starscope (GB) (MG1SP-Eng, $251,626), by Selkirk
2nd Dam: Moon Goddess (GB), by Rainbow Quest
3rd Dam: Mystic Goddess, by Storm Bird
O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden; J-Frankie Dettori. €571,400. Lifetime Record: Champion 2yo Filly-Eur, MG1SW-Eng, 10-6-2-0, €2,193,120. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Big Rock (Fr), 125, c, 3, Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire)–Hardiyna (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire). O/B-Yeguada Centurion SLU (FR); T-Christopher Head. €228,600.
3–Light Infantry (Fr), 131, c, 4, Fast Company (Ire)–Lights On Me (GB), by Kyllachy (GB). (€25,000 Ylg '20 ARQDOY; £82,000 2yo '21 GOFTY). O-Never Say Die & Light Infantry Partnership; B-Barbara Moser (FR); T-David Simcock. €114,300.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1 1/4, 1. Odds: 7.80, 2.10, 9.00.
Also Ran: Onesto (Ire), Triple Time (Ire), Erevann (Fr), Good Guess (GB), Angers (Fr), Hi Royal (Ire), Life In Motion (Ire), Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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