By Sean Cronin
Darley's first-crop sire Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) became Europe's latest freshman off the mark when Godolphin's homebred juvenile Will Scarlet (GB) eased to a smooth victory in Thursday's €34,000 Prix du Bassin Parisien over seven furlongs at ParisLongchamp.
1st-ParisLongchamp, €34,000, Cond, 6-15, 2yo, 7fT, 1:26.60, gd.
WILL SCARLET (GB) (c, 2, Masar {Ire}–Lady Marian {Ger} {G1SW-Fr, GSW & G1SP-Ger, $546,566}, by Nayef), a May 25 debut runner-up tackling 6 1/2 furlongs at this venue last time, recovered from a sluggish getaway to stalk the tempo in a handy third through the early fractions. Impeded along the rail by the errant Jojo Junior (Fr) (Hunter's Light {Ire}) soon after turning for home, the 2-5 favourite worked his way outwards into the clear passing the furlong pole and quickened smartly to deny Intellect (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) by an ultimately snug 3/4-of-a-length in the dying strides, becoming the first winner for his freshman sire (by New Approach {Ire}). Will Scarlet, half-brother to a yearling filly by Kingman (GB), is the ninth of 10 foals and fifth scorer out of G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine and G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) and G1 Prix Jean Romanet runner-up Lady Marian (Ger) (Nayef), who was the second highest-priced lot when knocked down for 1.8-million guineas at Tattersalls' 2008 December Mares sale. The February-foaled bay is also kin to dual Group 2-winning G1 Jebel Hatta fifth Loxley (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}). His dam is a half-sister to German Group 3 victor Lucidor (Ger) (Zafonic) and hails from the family of multiple Group 1-winning sire Lomitas (GB) (Niniski). Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, €23,000. Video, sponsored by TVG.
O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Andre Fabre.
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