Gleneagles Colt Takes the Greffulhe

Fit from an Apr. 3 10 1/2-furlong conditions heat triumph at Saint-Cloud, Jean-Louis Bouchard's 3-year-old colt Baby Rider (Fr) (Gleneagles {Ire}) was back over that course and distance to win Saturday's G2 Prix Greffulhe. He had earlier bettered a Sept. 3 debut second tackling one mile at ParisLongchamp with an Oct. 16 maiden score back over that trip at Fontainebleau in his only other starts. Settled second early by Stephane Pasquier–in this staging post for Chantilly's June 6 G1 Prix du Jockey Club won by Study of Man (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in 2018–the Pascal Bary-trained 3-1 second choice began to get the upper hand over the long-time leader Smile Makers (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) from the furlong pole and battled to a neck success, with 11-10 pick Martial Eagle (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}) 2 1/2 lengths behind in third.

“His debut second last year, behind a future Group 3 winner, was very good indeed,” said trainer Pascal Bary. “I was slightly disappointed by his second start, which I thought he would win more easily, but he didn't handle the course too well at Fontainebleau. He had come on a lot on for his first win of the year when he won a conditions race here. He is easy to train, he has a lovely temperament and I think there is more improvement to come. He is a legitimate contender for the [June 6 G1] Prix du Jockey Club [at Chantilly].” Owner Jean-Louis Bouchard added, “All credit goes to Pascal Bary and to Gerard Larrieu, who selected him at the sales, and the jockey put the last touch nicely. It was a perfect team effort and the dream is still alive.”

Baby Rider, half-brother to a yearling filly by Cracksman (GB), becomes the fifth pattern-race winner for his sire (by Galileo {Ire}) and marks the first black-type scorer for Listed Prix Ceres third Gyrella (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), herself one of four stakes performers out of G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches placegetter Ysoldina (Fr) (Kendor {Fr}). Ysoldina, whose leading performer is G1 Epsom Derby hero Wings of Eagles (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}), is herself kin to G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Belle et Celebre (Fr) (Peintre Celebre), MGSW Scandinavian champion and three-time G3 Stockholm Cup victor Appel Au Maitre (Fr) (Starborough {GB}) and MGSW G2 Premio Lydia Tesio and G2 Prix Jean Romanet victrix Whortleberry (Fr) (Starborough {GB}).

Saturday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX GREFFULHE-G2, €130,000, Saint-Cloud, 5-1, 3yo, 10 1/2fT, 2:10.12, gd.
1–BABY RIDER (FR), 128, c, 3, by Gleneagles (Ire)
1st Dam: Gyrella (Ire) (SP-Fr), by Oasis Dream (GB)
2nd Dam: Ysoldina (Fr), by Kendor (Fr)
3rd Dam: Rotina (Fr), by Crystal Glitters
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (220,000 Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard; B-Aliette & Gilles Forien (FR); T-Pascal Bary; J-Stephane Pasquier. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, €108,960. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Smile Makers (Fr), 128, c, 3, Kendargent (Fr)–Pearly Shells (GB), by Efisio (GB). (€80,000 Ylg '19 OSASEP). O-Le Haras de la Gousserie; B-SCEA Haras de Saint Pair (FR); T-Frederic Rossi. €28,600.
3–Martial Eagle (Ire), 128, c, 3, Adlerflug (Ger)–Montezuma (Ger), by Monsun (Ger). O-Gestut Schlenderhan; B-Stall Ullmann (IRE); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €13,650.
Margins: NK, 2HF, 2HF. Odds: 2.80, 14.00, 1.10.
Also Ran: Pouvoir Royal (Ire), Cash Equity (Fr), Sa'ad (Fr), Inside Glory (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.