By Tom Frary
Winning ParisLongchamp's G1 Grand Prix de Paris for the 14th time, Andre Fabre was also ending a drought of 10 years since the last as the Wertheimers' Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}–Sosia {Ger}, by Shamardal) prevailed at ParisLongchamp on Saturday evening. Third in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club last time, the homebred became the latest to emerge to bestow extra gravity on that Chantilly Classic as he swept by his contemporaries up this hallowed straight.
Ideally placed in fourth early by Maxime Guyon, the 5-2 second favourite took over 1 1/2 furlongs from home and stayed on powerfully to emerge the two-length winner. Ballydoyle's G2 Queen's Vase scorer Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was second, a neck in front of Coolmore's previously-unbeaten favourite Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}).
Sosie, who beat the operation's subsequent G3 Prix la Force winner Atlast (Fr) (Farhh {GB}) on debut at Chantilly in September before running second in the Listed Prix Isonomy back there the following month, had his Jockey Club prep in this track's Prix de Ferrieres conditions event in April where he beat the useful Rouget colt Arrow Eagle (Fr) (Gleneagles {Ire}).
Without clear racing space in the straight when push came to shove in the Classic itself, the homebred stayed on behind Look De Vega (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) looking for all the world as if this mile-and-a-half trip was going to be his forte.
The Eclipse third of Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Irish Derby second of Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) had franked that form and this was further proof that the latest renewal was up to scratch. “Beforehand, you could think that this horse would do well over a mile and a half, he is an uncomplicated horse, sound and easy to train,” Fabre said. “Is he good enough for a race like the Arc? We don't know, but we will prepare him for the race. He is lightly-raced, has improved with every run and there could be more to come.”
The owner-breeders' racing manager Pierre Yves Bureau added, “He looked great before the race and has run the race we hoped for after his good performance in the Jockey Club. We will think about the Arc in time, but it is a nice problem to have.”
Hermine Bastide, representing Coolmore, said of the runner-up and third, “Illinois has run a great race again. You have to be very happy with the performance. Delius has lost nothing in defeat–he is a very nice horse and really caught the eye with his run in the straight.”
Pedigree Notes
Sosie's dam is the Listed Prix Coronation-placed Sosia (Ger) (Shamardal), who is also responsible for the dual listed-winning and G3 Prix Fille de l'Air runner-up Anasia (GB) (Intello {Ger}), the listed winner Copie (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) and the G3 Prix Daphnis runner-up Sosino (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}). The second dam Sahel (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) produced the G1 Premio Lydia Tesio winner Sortilege (Ire) (Tiger Hill {Ire}) and is the second dam of last year's G2 Union-Rennen winner and G1 Grosser Preis von Baden runner-up Straight (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}).
Sahel is a full-sister to the G1 Deutsches Derby-winning duo Samum (Ger) and Schiaparelli (Ger) and the G1 Preis der Diana heroine and Deutsches Derby runner-up Salve Regina {Ger}) and to Sanwa (Ger), dam of the runaway Deutsches Derby hero and sire Sea The Moon (Ger) by Sea The Stars. Sosia's unraced 2-year-old colt by Camelot (GB) is named Uther (GB).
Sosie lands the Grand Prix de Paris!
Third in the Prix du Jockey Club last time out, Andre Fabre's three-year-old powers away from Illinois and company to grab Group 1 glory this time around for @maximeguyon_off at @paris_longchamp… pic.twitter.com/nnsWYDf58o
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 13, 2024
Saturday, ParisLongchamp, France
GRAND PRIX DE PARIS-G1, €600,000, ParisLongchamp, 7-13, 3yo, c/f, 12fT, 2:31.02, sf.
1–SOSIE (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Sea The Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Sosia (Ger) (SP-Fr), by Shamardal
2nd Dam: Sahel (Ger), by Monsun (Ger)
3rd Dam: Sacarina (GB), by Old Vic (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Maxime Guyon. €342,840. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-1, €568,790. *1/2 to Anasia (GB) (Intello {Ger}), MSW & MGSP-Fr, $147,779; Copie (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}), SW-Ger; and Sosino (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), GSP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Illinois (Ire), 128, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Danedrop (Ire), by Danehill. O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €137,160.
3–Delius (GB), 128, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Whatami (GB), by Daylami (Ire). TDN Rising Star. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (675,000gns Wlg '21 TATFOA). O-Mrs John Magnier, Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Mr & Mrs David Brown (GB); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €68,580.
Margins: 2, NK, HF. Odds: 2.50, 3.70, 2.10.
Also Ran: Tamfana (Ger), Internaute (Ire), Saganti (Fr), Mondo Man (GB), Sibayan (Fr). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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