By Tom Frary
Deauville's G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet has a habit of producing shock winners and there was another to add to the list on Sunday as Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) got up late to deny last year's heroine Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in a thriller. Last seen enjoying a confidence-boosting success in the July 21 G3 Grand Prix de Vichy, Albert Frassetto, John d'Amato and Mike Pietrangelo's G3 Prix de Flore and Listed Prix Zarkava winner who was third in the 2019 G1 Prix de Diane was anchored in rear early by Cristian Demuro. Making her move wide on the home turn, the 23-1 shot needed all of the straight to get past the reigning GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf title-holder but managed it on the line to prevail by a short head, with the G1 Pretty Polly S. scorer Thundering Nights (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) 1 1/4 lengths away in third. “This is a dream really–these races personally I used to watch on TV and they were not for me, but here I am winning a group 1 in Deauville, it's such a thrill,” trainer Gianluca Bietolini said. “I knew I had the filly in great form and she was doing very well after Vichy with a much less complicated season this year than last. We made the right choices for her and she has come through this season more straightforwardly, so I felt it was a really good time to try her again in a group 1 race.”
Much water has flown under the bridge since Grand Glory was beaten a head and half a length when making the frame in the 2019 Diane and despite maintaining an admirable level of consistency, few would have predicted that the bay would make the requisite jump required to get to this esteemed level. Her efforts last season included the aforementioned wins in ParisLongchamp's Prix Zarkava and Saint-Cloud's Prix de Flore, a second to Ambition (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G2 Prix Corrida staged at Lyon-Parilly and a third behind Ebaiyra (Distorted Humor) in the 12 1/2-furlong G2 Prix de Pomone here. Third to Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) on her comeback in the 10-furlong G3 Prix Exbury on heavy ground back at Saint-Cloud Mar. 21, she was uncharacteristically disappointing when last of six in the G3 Prix Allez France at ParisLongchamp May 2 before finishing third in the latter venue's G3 La Coupe again over this trip June 13.
Buoyed by her success at Vichy, Grand Glory showed what a sudden uptick in self-belief can do as she mastered a strong field of fillies and mares including the ultimately disappointing 9-5 favourite Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) without a hint of fluke. Bietolini is considering the G1 Prix de l'Opera de Longchamp now Oct. 3. “It looks to me that she is back to the level of her Diane run as a 3-year-old, but she's not in the Arc and I wouldn't want to go there anyway,” he said. “The Opera is enough for us and maybe we'll have another great day there. She'll head to the farm after that.” James Fanshawe said of the runner-up, “She's run a great race and was beaten narrowly, but that's the game–you win and you lose so hats off to the winner. I'm very happy that she's come back to her best after Goodwood and we'll take it race-by-race with the plan to come back for the Opera and then go to the Breeders' Cup like last year.”
Grand Glory's dam Madonna Lily (Ire) (Daylami {Ire}), whose final foal is the useful 4-year-old gelding Bois d'Argent (GB) (Toronado {Ire}), is a daughter of the listed-placed Maria de La Luz (GB) (Machiavellian) who produced the GII Canadian S. winner Minakshi (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}). She is also the second dam of the Scandinavian juvenile champion and Listed Meydan Classic-placed Irish Trilogy (Ire) (Gregorian {Ire}) hailing from the family of the Australian group 1-winning mother and daughter Arapaho Miss (Aus) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) and the Preakness S. hero and champion sire Tom Rolfe (Ribot {GB}).
Sunday, Deauville, France
DARLEY PRIX JEAN ROMANET-G1, €250,000, Deauville, 8-22, 4yo/up, f/m, 10fT, 2:06.99, g/s.
1–GRAND GLORY (GB), 126, m, 5, by Olympic Glory (Ire)
1st Dam: Madonna Lily (Ire), by Daylami (Ire)
2nd Dam: Maria de La Luz (GB), by Machiavellian
3rd Dam: Light of Hope, by Lyphard
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€18,000 Ylg '17 AROCT). O-Albert Frassetto, John d'Amato & Mike Pietrangelo; B-Elevage Haras de Bourgeauville (GB); T-Gianluca Bietolini; J-Cristian Demuro. €142,850. Lifetime Record: 16-6-3-3, €447,190. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Audarya (Fr), 126, m, 5, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Green Bananas (Fr), by Green Tune. (€125,000 Ylg '17 AROYRG). O-Mrs A M Swinburn; B-SARL Haras d'Ecouves (FR); T-James Fanshawe. €57,150.
3–Thundering Nights (Ire), 126, f, 4, Night of Thunder (Ire)–Cape Castle (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire). (€17,000 RNA Wlg '17 GOFNOV; €19,000 RNA Ylg '18 TIRSEP). O-Shapoor Mistry; B-Manjri Farm (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €28,575.
Margins: SHD, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 23.20, 6.30, 3.50.
Also Ran: Ambition (GB), Cayenne Pepper (Ire), Ebaiyra, Lady Bowthorpe (GB), Insinuendo (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
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