By Sean Cronin
Al Shaqab Racing's Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}–Traffic Jam {Ire}, by Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), off the track since failing to land a blow in Chantilly's June 19 G1 Prix de Diane, exacted revenge on that Classic's winner, 'TDN Rising Star' Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), with a late rush to secure a career high in the flickering embers of Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Opera Longines at ParisLongchamp.
The €260,000 Arqana August graduate had earlier annexed Saint-Cloud's Apr. 29 G3 Prix Cleopatre before taking second behind another 'TDN Rising Star', Above The Curve (American Pharoah), when contesting the May 29 G1 Prix Saint-Alary over this 10-furlong course and distance in her penultimate start. With this effort, she has punched her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland in November.
Shuffled back through the pack to race towards the rear after a sharp getaway, the 41-1 outsider responded to pressure from the turn into the straight to go fifth entering the final furlong and pounced inside the final 50 yards to deny Nashwa and Above The Curve by 3/4-of-a-length and a short head.
It was most certainly a case of right time, right place for Place Du Carrousel and breeder Ballylinch Stud, whose yearling half-sister by Kingman (GB) is due under the hammer as lot 261 on day two of Tattersalls' upcoming October Book 1 sale.
“Andre Fabre has done a magnificent job with the filly,” said Al Shaqab's racing manager Rupert Pritchard-Gordon. “He told me that she needed a break after the Prix de Diane as the filly had a hard race that day. He was worried because she hadn't had a prep race beforehand and that's why we went to Compiegne for a public gallop, which did her good. She's a tough filly, she got some good cover during the race and displayed neat powers of acceleration. To see these colours win on Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe day is very important.”
“We had a good race,” continued Mickael Barzalona. “They went off fast from the gates, but I managed to hold a good position on my filly. She did backpedal a bit during the race, but that enabled her to get a breather. She didn't expend any unnecessary energy in this ground and came with a steady run. Once she swung around [eventual fifth] Rumi, she finished with great gusto.”
The ground was a compromising factor for G1 Prix de Diane heroine Nashwa, who made a bold effort from the front only to be collared by the winner in the final metres. “She ran very well and, given her draw, it was not an easy task,” said John Gosden. “She had to make her effort quite early on and, furthermore, the very soft ground did not help her. We have no idea where she will go next. It's hard to get beaten, but she ran a good race.”
Above The Curve's trainer Joseph O'Brien reflected, “Above The Curve ran a good race on this ground. I'm proud of her as she was keeping very good company.”
Pedigree Notes
Place Du Carrousel, who becomes the 17th Group 1 winner for her sire (by Shamardal), is the first of four foals out of G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris victrix Traffic Jam (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), herself the leading performer produced by a multiple-winning sibling of stakes-winning G1 Racing Post Trophy second Winged Cupid (Ire) (In the Wings {GB}). Descendants of her fourth dam Hiwaayati (GB) (Shadeed), herself a half-sister to G2 Prix Maurice de Gheest victor Lead On Time (Nureyev) and Group winning G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and G1 July Cup runner-up Great Commotion (Nureyev), include G1 Coronation S. victrix Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and this year's G1 Oaks heroine Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Traffic Jam has the hitherto unraced 2-year-old filly Nariman Point (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the aforementioned yearling filly by Kingman (GB) and a weanling filly by Sea The Stars {Ire}) to come.
Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX DE L'OPERA LONGINES-G1, €500,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-2, 3yo/up, f/m, 10fT, 2:12.64, vsf.
1–PLACE DU CARROUSEL (IRE), 123, f, 3, by Lope De Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Traffic Jam (Ire) (GSW-Fr, $211,247), by Duke Of Marmalade (Ire)
2nd Dam: Place De l'Etoile (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Sweet Emotion (Ire), by Bering (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€260,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Al Shaqab Racing & Ballylinch Stud; B-Ballylinch Stud, Alexis Adamian & Mme Fan Adamian (IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona. €285,700. Lifetime Record: 6-3-2-0, €401,750. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Nashwa (GB), 123, f, 3, Frankel (GB)–Princess Loulou (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). O-Imad Al Sagar; B-Blue Diamond Stud Farm (UK) Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. €114,300.
3–Above The Curve, 123, f, 3, American Pharoah–Fabulous (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Joseph O'Brien. €57,150.
Margins: 3/4, SHD, 1. Odds: 41.00, 1.50, 3.80.
Also Ran: My Astra (Ire), Rumi (Fr), Tuesday (Ire), Mqse De Sevigne (Ire), Trevaunance (Ire), Jupyra (Fr), Fall In Love (Ire), Insinuendo (Ire), Agave (GB), Rosacea (Ire), La Parisienne (Fr), Zefania (Fr), Ebaiyra. Video, sponsored by TVG.
Never rule out Monsieur Fabre!
It's an Arc day double for the master trainer and @mickaelbarzalon as Place Du Carrousel wins the Prix de l'Opera and @BreedersCup #wayi entry!
— World Horse Racing (@WHR) October 2, 2022
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