Galileo's St Leger Second Illinois Annexes Arc Weekend Opener

Coolmore's G1 St Leger runner-up Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}–Danedrop {Ire}), by Danehill), winner of Royal Ascot's G2 Queen's Vase back in June, fired the opening salvo of ParisLongchamp's Arc weekend and delivered a battling performance to prevail in the 15-furlong G2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay.

The 2-5 favourite, who had also placed in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and G1 Grand Prix de Paris, went straight to the lead and held sway until turning for home. Under pressure when headed briefly by Trafalgar Square (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) with 300 metres remaining, he regained control entering the final furlong and kept on strongly to defeat that rival by an ultimately comfortable two lengths. Last month's Listed Prix Turenne victrix Strassia (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) fared best of the remainder and finished 3 1/2 lengths back in third.

“He's a lovely horse, he's straightforward and stays very well,” said trainer Aidan O'Brien. “He's lazy, but finds plenty and Ryan [Moore] said he'd have no problem coming back in trip if he needs to. In an ideal world you'd prefer to get a lead, but we're very happy as it was a lovely race to come to after he got beat in the Leger. He should be a lovely four-year-old. I was obviously concerned when the other horse came to him, but he finds loads and Ryan gave him a great ride. That will probably be it for him for this year, I'd imagine. It's a nice, long winter and he'll be ready to start early in the spring. Ryan said he could start in Dubai or anywhere.”

🏆 Illinois (R.Moore – A.O'Brien – @Ballydoyle) décroche le premier groupe du grand week-end de “l'Arc”, le #Qatar Prix Chaudenay (Gr.2)

Il succède au palmarès à Double Major, en lice dans le Qatar Prix du Cadran (3e course à 14h33) pic.twitter.com/JUXYCrvq2v

— Equidia (@equidia) October 5, 2024

Pedigree Notes

Illinois, one of his sire's 258 pattern-race winners, is the 16th of 17 foals and one of eight scorers out of German Broodmare Of The Year Danedrop (Ire) (Danehill), whose leading performer is five-time Group 1-winning G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes heroine Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}). Danedrop has also produced G3 Chester Vase winner and G1 Grand Prix de Paris third Venice Beach (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G3 Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Stakes victrix Broadway (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the dual stakes-placed Debutante (Fr) (Gold Away {Ire}). The latter is the dam of this term's G3 Prix Vanteaux winner Dare To Dream (Fr) (Camelot {GB}). Danedrop also has a 2-year-old colt by Churchill (Ire) to come.

Saturday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX CHAUDENAY-G2, €200,000, ParisLongcamp, 10-5, 3yo, 15fT, 3:16.80, sf.
1–ILLINOIS (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Danedrop (Ire) (Broodmare Of The Year-Ger), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Rose Bonbon (Fr), by High Top (Ire)
3rd Dam: Lady Berry (Fr), by Violon d'Ingres (Fr)
O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €114,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Eng, MG1SP-Fr, GSP-Ire, 9-3-4-2, €731,948. *Full to Venice Beach (Ire), GSW-Eng & G1SP-Fr, $216,579; and Broadway (Ire), GSW-Ire; and 1/2 to Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}), MG1SW-Ger, G1SW-Eng & Fr, GSW-Ity, $5,044,792; and Debutante (Fr) (Gold Away {Ire}), MSP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Trafalgar Square (Fr), 128, g, 3, Kendargent (Fr)–See You Always (GB), by Siyouni (Fr). (€80,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG). O-Ecurie Hugo et Pierre Pilarski & Gousserie Racing; B-Ecurie X (FR); T-Patrice Cottier. €44,000.
3–Strassia (Fr), 125, f, 3, Kendargent (Fr)–Stracy (Fr), by Motivator (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€33,000 Ylg '22 ARQSEP). O-Guy Pariente Holding & Ecurie Bernd & Torsten Raber; B-Guy Pariente Holding (FR); T-Ludovic Gadbin. €21,000.
Margins: 2, 3HF, 3/4. Odds: 0.40, 9.00, 38.00.
Also Ran: Columbus (Ger), Vigatata (Fr), Dollar Index (Fr), Ragnar City (Fr), Shamarkand (Fr).