By Tom Frary
With Ballydoyle's Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) and Juddmonte's Halfway Line (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}) missing from the line-up for Sunday's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau, Malcolm Parrish's American Flag (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Tres Americanqueen {Fr}, by American Post {GB}) occupied pole position for ParisLongchamp's time-honoured course-and-distance trial for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and he did not disappoint with another sharp display. Gaining a following with a six-length win over a mile at Saint-Cloud in November and a smooth three-length success in the Listed Prix Omnium II over the same track and trip Mar. 18, the Yann Barberot-trained relative of the G2 Grand Prix de Deauville winner Tres Blue (Ire) (Anabaa Blue {GB}) was held up at the tail of the five-runner field early by Christophe Soumillon.
Unleashed out wide to take command a furlong from home, the 9-10 favourite was soon clear and could again coast to the line for a comfortable 2 1/2-length verdict over Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) as Rajapour (Ire) (Almanzor {Fr}) surrendered his unbeaten record a short neck away in third. “It could be that I can finally train the top horse I have been dreaming of,” Barberot said. “This is why we wake up every morning. He has a lovely temperament and does everything easily and it all starts from there.”
American Flag will be one of the leading French runners in the upcoming Classics here and at Chantilly and his trainer added, “I have never pushed him hard, this was not a target and I wanted to keep something in the tank for the major races to come. First, it will be the [May 14] Poule d'Essai des Poulains and then the [June 4 Prix du] Jockey Club if he shows us that he can stay. The only answer I don't have yet is which ground he prefers. He has always run on soft or very soft, so good is a question mark.”
Pedigree Notes
American Flag, who was a €102,000 purchase at the 2021 Arqana Deauville August Sale, is out of a daughter of the dual group-placed Tres Ravi (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) whose six black-type performers include the aforementioned Tres Blue who was also runner-up in the G1 Deutsches Derby. She also produced Tres Blue's G2 Prix de Royallieu-placed full-sister Tres Rapide (Ire), who is the second dam of the G2 Prix Eugene Adam and G3 Prix Exbury winner and G1 Prix Ganay runner-up Pretty Tiger (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon runner-up Pretty Boy (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}). Tres Americanqueen's 2-year-old colt American Thunder (Fr) is by Night Of Thunder (Ire).
Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX DE FONTAINEBLEAU-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 4-16, 3yo, c/g, 8fT, 1:44.64, hy.
1–AMERICAN FLAG (FR), 128, c, 3, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Tres Americanqueen (Fr), by American Post (GB)
2nd Dam: Tres Ravi (Ger), by Monsun (Ger)
3rd Dam: Tres Magnifique (GB), by Gay Fandango
1ST GROUP WIN. (€102,000 Ylg '21 ARQAUG). O-Malcolm Parrish; B-Chevotel de la Hauquerie (FR); T-Yann Barberot; J-Christophe Soumillon. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, €89,900. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire), 128, c, 3, Muhaarar (GB)–Danega (GB), by Galileo (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Jaber Abdullah; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited (IRE); T-Andreas Schutz. €16,000.
3–Rajapour (Ire), 128, c, 3, Almanzor (Fr)–Raydara (Ire), by Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire).
1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-H H Aga Khan; B-His Highness The Aga Khan's Studs S C (IRE); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €12,000.
Margins: 2HF, SNK, 2HF. Odds: 0.90, 7.90, 1.90.
Also Ran: Maniatic (Ire), Royal Shake (GB). Scratched: Halfway Line (GB), Victoria Road (Ire). Video, sponsored by TVG.
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