By Sean Cronin
Coolmore and Westerberg's G3 Stanerra Stakes victrix Grateful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}–Tepin, by Bernstein), who hit the board in last month's G2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster, made the necessary transition under an inspired ride from Christophe Soumillon to secure a career high in Saturday's G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu at ParisLongchamp. She became the fourth winner on the card for a dominant Aidan O'Brien.
Employing patiently tactics and settled off the tempo for most of this 14-furlong marathon, the 207-10 chance made relentless headway out wide in the straight to join the front rank with 100 metres and had enough left in the tank to outlast River Of Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) by 3/4-of-a-length.
“The lads bought her dam [for $8-million at Fasig-Tipton's 2017 November Mixed Sale] and she was an incredible racemare,” said O'Brien. “It's an incredible day and the result of the team's work. Christophe [Soumillon] gave her a superb ride. When she won the Group 3 race in Ireland, we used waiting tactics and I told Christophe to bide his time today. Tepin has unfortunately died and I imagine that her daughter will eventually pick up the baton at stud sooner or later.”
Woodford Thoroughbreds racing manager Lincoln Collins was satisfied with the performance of runner-up River Of Stars and commented, “River of Stars is a marvellous filly, who invariably produces her best. In 15 races, she has only ever once finished out of the first four. She is due to go through the ring at the Tattersalls December Sale, so a Group 1 placing is a great update to her catalogue page.”
Cristian Demuro, rider of third home Mistral Star, added, “It was a brave effort and I thought that she might just get there, but she had to give best at the end. She was tackling this trip for the first time, so her performance was a very good one.”
Pedigree Notes
Grateful, who becomes the 103rd elite-level winner for her late sire, is the third of four foals and one of two scorers from as many runners out of multiple Grade I-winning dual US champion Tepin (Bernstein), who also bagged Royal Ascot's G1 Queen Anne Stakes. Tepin, whose other winner is last month's G2 Golden Fleece Stakes runner-up Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), is a full-sister to GII Peter Pan Stakes and GIII Coolmore Lexington Stakes placegetter Prime Cut. She is also kin to three-time Grade II winner Vyjack (Into Mischief). Grateful's stakes-placed third dam Round It Off (Apalachee) is a half-sister to GII Ladies Handicap and dual GIII Carousel Stakes victrix Miss Slewpy (Slewpy).
🏆 Grateful (C.Soumillon – A.O'Brien) remporte le #Qatar Prix de Royallieu (Gr.1) !
Le jockey 🇧🇪 n'avait plus gagné un Groupe 1 à ParisLongchamp depuis le 14 mai 2023 (Prix Saint-Alary avec Jannah Rose)
C'est un coup de 4⃣ pour Aidan O'Brien (@Ballydoyle) pic.twitter.com/M88CqS38WH
— Equidia (@equidia) October 5, 2024
Saturday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX DE ROYALLIEU-G1, €300,000, ParisLongcamp, 10-5, 3yo/up, f/m, 14fT, 3:03.43, sf.
1–GRATEFUL (IRE), 123, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Tepin (MGISW-US, GISW-Can & G1SW-Eng, $4,437,918), by Bernstein
2nd Dam: Life Happened, by Stravinsky
3rd Dam: Round It Off, by Apalachee
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg; B-Tepin Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Christophe Soumillon. €171,420. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire & GSP-Eng, 7-3-0-1, €249,177. *1/2 to Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), GSP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–River Of Stars (Ire), 130, m, 5, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Amazone (Ger), by Adlerflug (Ger). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (400,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA). O-Woodford Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Dr Klaus Schulte (IRE); T-Ralph Beckett. €68,580.
3–Mistral Star (GB), 130, f, 4, Frankel (GB)–Shirocco Star (GB), by Shirocco (Ger). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Helena Springfield Ltd; B-Meon Valley Stud (GB); T-Hughie Morrison. €34,290.
Margins: 3/4, HF, NK. Odds: 20.70, 17.00, 6.90.
Also Ran: Thunder Roll (Ire), Rouge Sellier (Ire), Sea Theme (Ire), Term Of Endearment (GB), One Evening (GB), Ottery (GB), Caius Chorister (Fr), Lily Hart (Ire), Amneris (Ire), Mosaique (Fr), War Of Dance (Ire), Port Fairy (Ire). Scratched: Rue Boissonade (Fr).
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