By Sean Cronin
Largely unconsidered as the 26-1 outsider of six, Merry Fox Stud's homebred 2-year-old filly Acer Alley (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) created waves with a late burst for glory in Sunday's G3 Prix La Rochette at ParisLongchamp. She had previously bettered a June 11 first-up fourth going seven furlongs at Compiegne with a June 21 Saint-Cloud maiden score over the same trip in her only other start last time and raced fifth of the six runners from flagfall here. Nudged into contention with 500 metres remaining, Acer Alley came under increased pressure once inside the final quarter mile and displayed a smart turn of foot in the closing stages to swoop late for a career high. At the line, Acer Alley held a half-length advantage from Making Moovies (Ire) (Dabirsim {Fr}), who edged out British raider El Bodegon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) by a short neck for second, and will now point to next month's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac for her next outing.
“The idea was to go to the [G3] Prix Six Perfections in Deauville, after she won at Saint-Cloud last time, but I felt she was not quite ready for that race,” revealed winning trainer Francis Graffard. “She just needed more time and the owner [Craig Bennett] trusted my judgement. She came back right again and had been working very well at home, but you never know what might happen on the track as this was only her third career start and facing colts for the first time. We thought we had to give it a try to see if we had any chance of going for a Group 1 on Arc weekend. The owner is a breeder, he would love to win the [G1] Prix Marcel Boussac and, if she's well, we will go for that.”
Acer Alley becomes the second pattern-race winner produced by an unraced half-sister to the Merry Fox Stud operation's G1 Moyglare Stud S. victrix Cursory Glance (GB) (Distorted Humor). The March-foaled homebred bay is a half-sister to last term's GI Turf Classic hero Digital Age (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire})–himself a 325,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling in 2017–and a weanling colt by Dubawi (Ire). Her second dam Time Control (GB) (Sadler's Wells) is a full-sister to G2 Prix de Malleret victrix Time On (GB), who threw G3 Oh So Sharp S. winner Mot Juste (Distorted Humor). Time Control, in turn, is a daughter of G3 Musidora S. victrix and and G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Nassau S. third Time Away (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), herself a granddaughter of MG1SW distaffer Time Charter (Ire) (Saritamer).
Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX LA ROCHETTE-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-5, 2yo, 7fT, 1:24.04, g/s.
1–ACER ALLEY (GB), 122, f, 2, by Siyouni (Fr)
1st Dam: Willow View, by Lemon Drop Kid
2nd Dam: Time Control (GB), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Time Away (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (180,000gns RNA Ylg '20 TATOCT). O/B-Merry Fox Stud Ltd (GB); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Olivier Peslier. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, €56,200. *1/2 to Digital Age (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), GISW-US, $1,263,460. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Making Moovies (Ire), 126, c, 2, Dabirsim (Fr)–Grace Lady (Fr), by Muhtathir (GB). O-Ecurie Pierre Pilarski & Jean-Philippe Dubois; B-Jean-Philippe Dubois (IRE); T-Didier Guillemin. €16,000.
3–El Bodegon (Ire), 126, c, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Al Andalyya, by Kingmambo. (70,000gns Ylg '20 TAOCT). O-Nas Syndicate & A F O'Callaghan; B-Cecil & Martin McCracken (IRE); T-James Ferguson. €12,000.
Margins: HF, SNK, 1 1/4. Odds: 25.90, 4.10, 16.00.
Also Ran: New Science (GB), The Wizard of Eye (Ire), Zelda (Fr). Scratched: Rebel Path (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
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