By Sean Cronin
Edouard de Rothschild's Alcantor (Fr) (New Bay {GB}–Bianca De Medici {GB}, by Medicean {GB}) was a picture of calmness during the extended preliminaries of Tuesday's Prix Chapeau Rouge at Saint-Cloud and exploded onto the scene with a rare display of authority to attain 'TDN Rising Star' status in taking fashion.
The seven-furlong contest has been used as a springboard to higher by others, most notably subsequent Group 1 winners Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Arapaho (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Alcantor is the second Rising Star for his sire (by Dubawi {Ire}), whose first was G1 Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up New Energy (Ire). He becomes the first juvenile winner of the campaign for Andre Fabre, who also nurtured Glen Shiel and Arapaho.
The €180,000 Arqana December graduate was swiftly into stride and comfortable on the lead throughout. Turning for home with a three-length buffer, the 11-5 favourite soon doubled his advantage without breaking sweat and was on cruise control inside the final quarter-mile, gearing down late to easily outclass Bateau Blanc (GB) (Kendargent {Fr}), himself a full-brother to G2 Derby Italiano hero Tokyo Gold (Fr), by a facile 2 1/2 lengths.
Wow! Check this out from André Fabre's Alcantor on debut at Saint-Cloud 😧 pic.twitter.com/uZ9cntF3Pv
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 6, 2023
“I bought him as a foal in Deauville and he was raised at [Haras de] Meautry,” de Rothschild said. “We do so sometimes and we can compare our crop to others. He has been quite impressive, my first runner with [Bauyrzhan] Murzabayev in the saddle, and we were quite hopeful beforehand.” With no immediate targets on the horizon, and a seemingly patient approach intended, France Galop's President added, “There are no plans at this time, we feel the success is more the result of a true quality rather than precocity.”
Pedigree Notes
Alcantor is the seventh of eight foals and sixth scorer from as many runners out of a multiple-winning half to stakes-winning Hungarian champion Thunder Teddington (GB) (Halling). The March-foaled bay is a half-brother to G2 Union-Rennen victor Boscaccio (Ger) (Mount Nelson {GB}) and a yearling filly by Romanised (Ire). Descendants of Alcantor's third dam Trevillari (Riverman), herself a full-sister to G1 Prix Saint-Alary victrix Treble, include dual G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}), GI Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile S. third Tsigane (Fr) (Anabaa) and last year's G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup victor Francesco Guardi (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). His fourth dam Trevilla (Lyphard) is an unraced half-sister to storied champion Triptych (Riverman).
1st-Saint-Cloud, €30,000, Mdn, 6-6, unraced 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:29.29, g/s.
ALCANTOR (FR), c, 2, by New Bay (GB)
1st Dam: Bianca De Medici (GB), by Medicean (GB)
2nd Dam: Tremiere (Fr), by Anabaa
3rd Dam: Trevillari, by Riverman
(€180,000 Wlg '21 ARQDEC) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €15,000. *1/2 to Boscaccio (Ger) (Mount Nelson {GB}), GSW-Ger. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
O-Baron Edouard de Rothschild; B-SCEA du Grand Chene (FR); T-Andre Fabre; J-Bauyrzhan Murzabayev.
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