By Tom Frary
Lining up for Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club as the least-experienced, Haras de la Morsangliere's Look De Vega (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}–Lucelle {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire}) took the required leap forward on a remarkable stakes debut to become the third member of his sire line to capture this Chantilly Classic.
Following a seven-length Fontainebleau success in November with another authoritative win in ParisLongchamp's Prix de Croissy conditions event last month, the Carlos and Yann Lerner-trained , the relative of another winner of the race in its current guise in Lawman (Fr) bay was always happy following the pace and when sent through to take control with 300 metres remaining gave generously for Ronan Thomas.
Stretching out for a two-length triumph, the 5-1 shot was followed home by the outsider First Look (Fr) who made it a one-two for the sire. Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was third, a further neck away with Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) fourth as he had been in the 2,000 Guineas. Over two decades on from his Jockey Club victory with Anabaa Blue (GB), Carlos Lerner is set on the big one in October in which his previous Jockey Club hero managed only ninth. “I am so exited and so happy–this horse is a machine,” he said. I have always had in the back of my mind that he would be a top horse and now I can say he is the best I ever trained. Twenty three years is a long wait to come across a top one again, but we have been lucky. He will stay further–he is in the Arc and that will be his target.”
The most notable takeaway from this year's Jockey Club was how straightforward it was for the winner, which is a surprise given he had raced only twice previously and had never been anywhere near a black-type event. His draw in three was an advantage, of that there is no doubt, but the way he sauntered around Chantilly's bends in the wake of the front duo headed by the over-racing leader Fast Tracker (GB) (Churchill {Ire}) is testament to his admirable temperament. Cutting between Ramadan (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) and Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to take control 1 1/2 furlongs out, he was soon beyond recall from the chasing Fabre duo, looking for all the world like a horse who had been around the block several times.
Yann Lerner admitted to a rare sense of zen as a race that should have been tension-laden unfolded without hitch or glitch. “I have never watched a race as relaxed as I did this one,” he said. “When we won at Fontainebleau, we immediately thought about this race and he had a more or less perfect winter until February, where we had a little bit of a setback and that was the only dark point in the past. What is really incredible is his mental state, we hadn't worked him a lot since his first seasonal reappearance.”
“We won the race against time and he had come on a lot for the run at Longchamp last time and been perfect since,” Lerner added. “We brought him here for a racecourse gallop and his work was amazing. You always fear for lack of experience, but this horse is strong in his mind and Ronan gave him a perfect ride. My father won this race 23 years ago and I was very young, so my feelings are totally different. I share the responsibilities with my father and I understand better what they said then about waking up early every morning to eventually live these moments.”
“At the moment we don't have any plans whatsoever, this was the big plan and he confirmed today what we thought of him,” he concluded. We will go home and recover and see how he is after this race, however he does have an entry in the Arc and I think he can stay the mile and a half, absolutely no doubt. The Arc can be a very tricky race and he can adapt to those conditions, he is a horse that ticks all the right boxes because he has shown today what he can do in the future.”
“For any breeder, this is the most rewarding trophy,” part-owner and part-breeder Lucien Urano declared. “Carlos told me this was the best horse he had ever trained and Ronan gave him a perfect ride–he is also a major actor in this success. We are partners with Carlos, Mrs Mestrallet and Mr Madar–this is all about friendship and sharing.”
Unbeaten Look De Vega lands the French Derby in style for @CYLerner and @RonanThomass at @fgchantilly pic.twitter.com/5iHp23TiHH
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 2, 2024
Pedigree Notes
Look De Vega's pedigree is all about the Jockey Club, with his sire–registering his 21st individual group 1 winner and first European group 1 Derby winner–successful here in 2010 five years on from his sire Shamardal having taken the initial renewal of the Classic staged over its current 10 1/2-furlong trip. In addition, the dam Lucelle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) is a granddaughter of Laramie (Gulch) whose son Lawman (Fr) by Invincible Spirit (Ire) was the 2007 Jockey Club laureate and, for good measure, also produced the G1 Prix de Diane heroine Latice (Ire) (Inchinor {GB}).
A half-sister to the G2 Lancashire Oaks and G3 Prix Allez France winner The Black Princess (Fr) (Iffraaj {GB}), Lucelle is also linked to Mujadil's sire Satri (Ire) who captured the G3 Prix du Palais-Royal and was runner-up in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest. Her as-yet unnamed 2-year-old colt by the 2016 Jockey Club hero Almanzor (Fr) was a €24,000 purchase by Marc Pimbonnet at Arqana Deauville October.
Sunday, Chantilly, France
QATAR PRIX DU JOCKEY CLUB-G1, €1,500,000, Chantilly, 6-2, 3yo, c/f, 10 1/2fT, 2:09.81, hy.
1–LOOK DE VEGA (FR), 128, c, 3, by Lope De Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Lucelle (Ire), by High Chaparral (Ire)
2nd Dam: Larceny (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire)
3rd Dam: Laramie, by Gulch
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€160,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG). O-Haras de la Morsangliere, C & Y Lerner, Ecurie des Charmes & Patrick Madar; B-Haras de la Morsangliere & Ecurie des Charmes (FR); T-Carlos and Yann Lerner; J-Ronan Thomas. €857,100. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €886,100. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–First Look (Ire), 128, c, 3, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Bilissie (GB), by Dansili (GB). (€340,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG). O-Ecurie Ama.Zingteam; B-Haras de la Perelle (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €342,900.
3–Sosie (Ire), 128, c, 3, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Sosia (Ger), by Shamardal. 1ST GROUP BLACK-TYPE. O/B-Wertheimer et Frere (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €171,450.
Margins: 2, NK, 1HF. Odds: 5.00, 24.00, 6.70.
Also Ran: Ghostwriter (Ire), Mondo Man (GB), Alcantor (Fr), Sunway (Fr), Diego Velazquez (Ire), Grecian Storm (GB), Arrow Eagle (Fr), Ramadan (Fr), Dollar Index (Fr), Fast Tracker (GB), Atlast (Fr). Scratched: Wahdan (Ire). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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