By Sean Cronin
It's been five years since Andre Fabre sealed a record ninth win in ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix des Chenes and the maestro made it a double-digit tally with Coolmore and Westerberg's Ancient Rome (War Front) in Thursday's latest renewal of the one-mile test. The 4-5 favourite had bettered a June 11 debut second at Compiegne with a July 13 breakthrough score at Deauville and doubled up back at the Normandy venue in an Aug. 10 conditions heat last time. Settled off the clear leader Claim The Crown (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in second after breaking on the lead, he was stirred into action for his challenge passing the quarter-mile marker and quickened clear in style once hitting the front with 300 metres remaining to easily register a career high by two lengths from Scherzo (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Claim The Crown rallied gamely once headed and kept on well to finish a neck further back in third.
Ancient Rome is one of seven scorers from as many runners produced by MGSW G1 Prix Saint-Alary, G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Irish Oaks placegetter Gagnoa (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and is thus a full-brother full to G3 Naas Juvenile Fillies Sprint victrix Etoile. The January-foaled dark bay is also a half-brother to Listed Prix Amandine third Galateia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), a yearling colt by Justify and weanling filly by Justify. His dam is kin to three black-type winners, namely G1 Epsom Derby-winning sire Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), GSW G1 Irish Derby third Dawn Patrol (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Listed Salsabil S. victrix Kissed (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Thursday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX DES CHENES-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-9, 2yo, c/g, 8fT, 1:42.57, g/s.
1–ANCIENT ROME, 129, c, 2, by War Front
1st Dam: Gagnoa (Ire) (MGSW & MG1SP-Fr, G1SP-Ire, $597,492), by Sadler's Wells
2nd Dam: Gwynn (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Victoress, by Conquistador Cielo
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Westerberg; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (KY); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, €75,900. *Full to Etoile, GSW-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Scherzo (Fr), 129, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Persian Belle (GB), by Machiavellian. (€70,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Malcolm Parrish; B-T De La Heronniere, Mme D & A De La Heronniere (FR); T-Yann Barberot. €16,000.
3–Claim the Crown (Ire), 129, c, 2, Acclamation (GB)–Crown Light (GB), by Zamindar. (40,000gns RNA Wlg '19 TATFOA; £115,000 Ylg '20 GOFFUK). O-Teme Valley; B-Tinnakill Bloodstock & I Thompson (IRE); T-Roger Varian. €12,000.
Margins: 2, NK, HF. Odds: 0.80, 5.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Green Fly (GB), Antharis (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
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