By Sean Cronin
Godolphin's Manobo (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) maintained his perfect record when routing his rivals by 10 lengths and more in last month's Listed Prix Turenne at Saint-Cloud and continued on the upgrade with a game performance in Saturday's G2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay at ParisLongchamp, leading home a Charlie Appleby exacta for his fourth straight win. The 7-10 favourite, who had opened up with victories at Newbury and Kempton, employed patient tactics from the outset and lobbed along off a steady tempo in sixth for most of the 15-furlong stamina test. Stoked into action once into the straight, he wrested control from long-time leader Interpretation (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) soon after passing the quarter-mile marker and was driven out from there to hold the dual threat of stablemate Kemari (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Tides of War (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) by 3/4-of-a-length and a neck.
“We came here with a bit of confidence and were hopeful the step up in trip and the ground would suit him,” said trainer Charlie Appleby. “He has put up some good performances to date and a one-two is very pleasing as it starts off proceedings well. It's always nice to get that first winner out of the way as it steadies the ship, so to speak, and I'm delighted. I'm also delighted that Kemari came back to the form of his [Royal] Ascot win and, on the evidence of that, we've got two nice horses for next year. We'll probably them both away for the year now.”
Looking ahead to how conditions might be affected by forecast rain over the course of the fixture, Appleby joked, “The ground is already opening up and, if they get all that forecast rain, then we'll need a mile-and-a-quarter horse for the [seven-furlong G1 Prix de la] Foret!”
Manobo is the third of five foals and one of two winners from as many runners produced by MGSW G1 Prix de l'Opera runner-up Tasaday (Nayef), herself a half-sister to G3 Desmond S. victor Tribal Beat (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}) out of G3 Prix de la Nonette and G3 Prix Fille de l'Air victrix Tashelka (Fr) (Mujahid). His second dam Tashelka, in turn, is a half-sister to stakes-winning G1 Prix Jean Prat third Tashkandi (Polish Precedent) and to the dam of G1 Sun Met-winning South African champion Whisky Baron (Aus) (Manhattan Rain {Aus}). The May-foaled homebred bay is a half-brother to G2 Celebration Mile second Turgenev (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a 2-year-old colt by Shamardal and a yearling colt by New Approach (Ire).
Saturday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX CHAUDENAY-G2, €200,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-2, 3yo, 15fT, 3:21.76, vsf.
1–MANOBO (IRE), 128, g, 3, by Sea the Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Tasaday (Hwt. Older Mare-UAE at 9.5-11f, MGSW & G1SP-Fr, SW & GSP-Eng, SP-UAE, $817,731), by Nayef
2nd Dam: Tashelka (Fr), by Mujahid
3rd Dam: Tashiriya (Ire), by Kenmare (Fr)
1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-James Doyle. €114,000. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0, €150,120. *1/2 to Turgenev (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), GSP-Eng, $269,016. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Kemari (GB), 128, g, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Koora (GB), by Pivotal (GB). (400,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Fittocks Stud (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. €44,000.
3–Tides of War (Ire), 128, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Walklikeanegyptian (Ire), by Danehill). O-Fitri Hay, Michael Tabor & Susan Magnier; B-Fitri Hay (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €21,000.
Margins: 3/4, NK, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.70, 7.60, 39.00.
Also Ran: Interpretation (Ire), Tashkhan (Ire), Alter Adler (Ger), Love Child (Ire), Sa'ad (Fr), Kertez (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
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