Territories' Rougir Takes The Opera On The Line

Le Haras de la Gousserie's 3-year-old Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) ran third in last year's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, following up with a win in Deauville's Oct. 20 G3 Prix des Reservoirs, but was winless in six outings this term. Lining up for Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Opera Longines at ParisLongchamp coming back off a narrow defeat when third in August's G2 Prix de la Nonette, the 23-1 outsider continued the theme of long-priced winners on the Bois de Boulogne venue's card with a last-gasp thrust to deny G1 Prix Jean Romanet heroine Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) in a bobbing finish for a career high. This campaign has not been without its notable moments for the March-foaled chestnut, with a third in the July 18 G3 Prix Chloe at Chantilly and a fourth in the Aug. 3 G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville the stand-out efforts so far. Rougir employed patient tactics and settled in rear for most of the 10-furlong contest. Last of 14 turning for home, she made relentless headway under pressure in the straight to challenge out wide approaching the furlong marker and would not be denied under a late drive to nail Grand Glory on the line in a thrilling finish.

“It's my first Group 1 win, it's a moment I'll cherish forever and I'll certainly celebrate it,” beamed winning trainer Cedric Rossi. “She has been unlucky in some of her races, but she has never disappointed us in any way and today was the right day to win.”

Heading Stateside for a trip to Del Mar's Breeders' Cup meet is now on the cards for the winner, with the conditioner explaining, “This race has a “Win And You're In” ticket for the [GI] Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and, if she's well, she'll definitely go there.”

Haras de la Gousserie's Pauline Chehboub had added cause for celebration with the operation's representatives Skazino and Sealiway adding lustre to the weekend with fine performances in defeat in the G1 Prix du Cadran and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, respectively. “What a marvellous filly she is and she left her heart out on the track like she always does,” she said. “Rougir never runs a bad race, whatever the ground. Sometimes she has missed by a little and today the nose was in our favour. The whole family is here and she has capped a memorable weekend for us. Skazino ran well in Saturday's Cadran and it was a great performance by Sealiway in the Arc after such a long break. We are hoping to go to the Breeders' Cup next month.”

Maxime Guyon had registered just one prior win in the contest, that coming with Shalanaya (Ire) (Lomitas {GB}) in 2009, and the rider was in jubilant mood afterwards. “That went well!” he said. “Her trainer told me the ground wouldn't be a problem, but we were badly drawn and had to be patient. I would like to thank connections for trusting me again, as I didn't give her the best of rides [when a four-length eighth] in the French Guineas. It's magic and I am really happy for Cedric [Rossi] too. The filly really deserved that.”

As is so often the way in these ding-dong encounters, Gianluca Bietolini trainee Grand Glory was in front just before and just after the line, but the camera doesn't lie. Nonetheless, she outstripped her seventh in last year's renewal and a trip abroad might yet be on the cards before the paddocks beckon. “Grand Glory has run yet another huge race,” said Bietolini. “We won the Prix Jean Romanet by a nose and today we were beaten by one. That's the magic of racing and there are no excuses. This will be her last year in training and we will have a look at where she goes next. She has been invited to run in the [G1] Japan Cup, but nothing has been decided for the moment.”

Edouard Monfort was delighted with the run of 49-1 outsider Eudaimonia, who weaved a scenic passage from rear and stayed on to deny last term's G1 Prix Jean Romanet and GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) by a neck for third in the dying strides. “We have looked after Eudaimonia all year,” the trainer admitted. “With the help of John Hammond, racing manager for her owner, we have been able to keep her fresh all year. She didn't have ideal conditions for her first two runs of the year so we didn't force her. Today was the big day and we were glad that the rain came. We chose this race over the [Listed] Prix Dahlia and the [G2] Prix Dollar and it was the right decision to do so. She is a lovely mare who has improved massively. That was a proper race, there are no excuses for anyone and she deserved that. The front pair are two very good horses and well done to them, but I am also very proud of Eudaimonia. She is entered [in the G2 Premio Lydia Tesio] in Italy next month and if the ground is soft, we will have a look. There is also the [Oct. 17 G2] Prix du Conseil de Paris [back here] and we will see how she comes out of this. We might even think about travelling abroad with her this winter. Why not?”

Rougir, originally named Lune de Printemps (Fr), is the third of four foals and becomes the first Group 1 winner for her second-crop sire. Her dam, Listed Prix Coronation runner-up Summer Moon (Fr) (Elusive City), has produced the twice-raced 2-year-old gelding Lunaire (Fr) (Recorder {GB}) and is the leading performer bred from G3 Prix de Royaumont runner-up Kalatuna (Fr) (Green Tune). Rougir's third dam, Listed Prix Comte Gaston d'Oultremont victrix Kalasinger (Chief Singer {Ire}), is the best horse out of Kasala (Blushing Groom {Fr}). Kasala is a full-sister to Listed Prix de la Theve winner Kadissya, herself the dam of three stakes winners, headed by G1 Epsom Derby and G1 Irish Derby-winning sire Kahyasi (Ire) (Ile de Bourbon). Kasala is also kin to G3 Premio Roma Vecchia victrix Karkisiya (Caro {Ire}) as well as to the dam of G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine and G1 Irish St Leger runner-up Key Change (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX DE L'OPERA LONGINES-G1, €500,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-3, 3yo/up, f/m, 10fT, 2:11.15, hy.
1–ROUGIR (FR), 123, f, 3, by Territories (Ire)
1st Dam: Summer Moon (Fr) (SP-Fr), by Elusive City
2nd Dam: Kalatuna (Fr), by Green Tune
3rd Dam: Kalasinger (Fr), by Chief Singer (Ire)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€11,000 Wlg '18 ARQDEC; €55,000 Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Le Haras de la Gousserie; B-Jan Krauze (FR); T-Cedric Rossi; J-Maxime Guyon. €285,700. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr, 13-4-1-3, €457,640. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Grand Glory (GB), 128, m, 5, Olympic Glory (Ire)–Madonna Lily (Ire), by Daylami (Ire). (€18,000 Ylg '17 AROCT). O-Albert Frassetto, John d'Amato & Mike Pietrangelo; B-Elevage Haras de Bourgeauville (GB); T-Gianluca Bietolini. €114,300.
3–Eudaimonia (Fr), 128, m, 6, Vision d'Etat (Fr)–Elenya (Ire), by Lawman (Fr). (€14,000 Ylg '16 BBAGS). O-Mrs Rebecca Philipps; B-Ecurie M Tschopp & Haras de Grandcamp EARL (FR); T-Edouard Monfort. €57,150.
Margins: NO, 1 1/4, NK. Odds: 22.90, 6.20, 49.00.
Also Ran: Audarya (Fr), Thundering Nights (Ire), Zeyaadah (Ire), Sibila Spain (Ire), Incarville (Fr), Ambition (GB), Joan of Arc (Ire), Palmas (Ger), Burgarita (GB), Ikat (Jpn), Babylone (Fr). Scratched: Penja (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.