Wootton Bassett's Incarville Wins Saint-Alary Thriller

Monday's G1 Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary had a wide-open feel beforehand and that was reflected in the finish with less than a length separating the first four home in the ParisLongchamp feature. In the event, it was Gerard Augustin-Normand's Incarville (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) who prevailed in a three-way photo with Cirona (GB) (Maxios {GB}) and Es La Vida (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) as TDN Rising Star Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was a close-up fourth and possibly unlucky. Runner-up in the 10 1/2-furlong G3 Prix Cleopatre at Saint-Cloud at the beginning of May, Incarville was held up in rear early by Christophe Soumillon along with Sibila Spain but whereas she had room for a clear run down the outside at the top of the straight her previously-unbeaten peer was shut in for crucial moments there. Eating into the long-time leader Cirona's advantage with every stride, the winner who returned at 10-1 was able to overhaul her in the final stride. At the line, a head separated Incarville and the G3 Prix de la Grotte scorer Cirona, with the 35-1 shot Es La Vida the same margin behind in third and Sibila Spain only a half-length further away having finished off strongly when granted sufficient racing space.

“I'm so happy, it's been a long time since I won a group 1 and I want to thank Gerard Augustin-Normand for his support as he bought some of the horses in my yard to help me,” trainer David Smaga explained. “Besides her first run when she was unplaced, this filly has never run a bad race and definitely has a preference for soft ground–there is no doubt about that. She has also improved with every run this season and is versatile regarding tactics. Christophe Soumillon gave her a great ride and we will be back in four weeks' time for the [G1 Prix de] Diane [at Chantilly].”

Launched in the hot 7 1/2-furlong Deauville August debutantes contest won by Juddmonte's Petricor (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Incarville was 25-1 and did nothing to show those odds as unrealistic as she beat only one of her 10 rivals with that ironically being the smart Sweet Lady (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). Later that month, the grey went under to Anasia (GB) (Intello {Ger}) when runner-up over a mile at the same meeting and was not seen until winning by four lengths over that trip on heavy ground at Compiegne at the beginning of October. Four weeks later, she came to this venue to add to her tally over nine furlongs again on a heavy surface and returned from her winter break to be second to Philomene (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in Saint-Cloud's G3 Prix Penelope Apr. 6. Back over the same course and distance for the Cleopatre, she was no match for Harajuku (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) there but found testing conditions much more in her favour to turn things around.

For Cirona's trainer Christophe Ferland, the decision to head to this race was vindicated. “I passed on the Pouliches as I was convinced she would stay this trip and left it to my jockey to ride her as he wished,” he said. “Nobody wanted the lead and she didn't go that fast in front, but it took her a little while to find her best stride. I'm absolutely delighted with the performance and she ran a blinder, so we'll be heading for the Diane now.” Christopher Head was left ruing the fortune of Sibila Spain and said, “Anyone can see she was so unlucky, but I didn't want her to go to the front as she had on her last two runs as I know she can be placed anywhere in a race. Today proved she has the quality to compete at this level and there is the Diane to come, but before we consider that I have to see how she comes out of the race and talk to the owner and see if he wants to supplement again.”

Incarville is the last known foal out of Ilhabela (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), a 12-furlong Deauville winner who David Smaga bought for €170,000 at the 2009 Arqana August Sale. Her dam Vadsa Honor (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}) was the winner of the Listed Prix de Thiberville before producing the classy Vahorimix (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) who held the unusual distinction of being awarded both the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois in the stewards' room. Vadsa Honor, who is also the second dam of the G1 Irish St Leger heroine Voleuse de Coeurs (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), was a half-sister to the listed-placed Vadlava (Fr) (Bikala {Ire}) whose four black-type winners are headed by the GI Breeders' Cup Mile-winning sire Val Royal (Fr) (Royal Academy) and also include the Listed Prix de Lieurey winner Vadlamixa (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}).

Vadlamixa is in turn the dam of the G1 Queen Anne S. and G1 Prix d'Ispahan hero Valixir (Ire) (Trempolino) and is the second dam of the G1 Prix du Mouin de Longchamp-winning sire Vadamos (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}). Her daughter Vadaza (Fr) (Zafonic) was responsible for two winner of this prize in Vadawina (Ire) (Unfuwain) in 2005 and Vazira (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in 2014, while her half-sister Vadlawysa (Ire) (Always Fair) produced the Listed Prix Imprudence winner Valima (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) who is in turn the dam of the G1 Prix de Diane heroine Valyra (GB) (Azamour {Ire}).

Monday, ParisLongchamp, France
SAXON WARRIOR COOLMORE PRIX SAINT-ALARY-G1, €250,000, ParisLongchamp, 5-24, 3yo, f, 10fT, 2:10.45, sf.
1–INCARVILLE (FR), 126, f, 3, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
     1st Dam: Ilhabela (Ire), by Azamour (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Vadsa Honor (Fr), by Highest Honor (Fr)
     3rd Dam: Vadsa, by Halo
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN, 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Naji Nahas (FR); T-David Smaga; J-Christophe Soumillon. €142,850. Lifetime Record: 7-3-3-0, €207,410. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Cirona (GB), 126, f, 3, Maxios (GB)–Coco Demure (Ire), by Titus Livius (Fr). O-Ecurie Waldeck; B-Scuderia Waldeck SNC (GB); T-Christophe Ferland. €57,150.
3–Es La Vida (Ger), 126, f, 3, Soldier Hollow (GB)–Exotic Rose (Ger), by Manduro (Ger). (€3,000 RNA Ylg '19 BBOCT). O-Bernd Dietel; B-T Jordan & B Dietel (GER); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €28,575.
Margins: HD, HD, HF. Odds: 5.80, 14.00, 22.00.
Also Ran: Sibila Spain (Ire), Love Child (Ire), Rumi (Fr), Harajuku (Ire), Penja (Fr), Vrigny (Fr), Anasia (GB), Sky Sister (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.