Dubawi's Erupt Takes the Grand Prix de Paris

In a middle-distance division that badly needed an alternative to John Gosden's deadly duo, Tuesday's G1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp may just have offered that as the Niarchos Family's Erupt (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) extended his unbeaten sequence in impressive style. Educated via the Listed Coupe des Trois Ans at Lyon-Parilly May 7 and G3 Prix du Lys at Chantilly June 14, the homebred was thrust back to 7-1 in the betting with the English and Irish Derby form represented by Storm the Stars (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and a much-respected Andre Fabre protagonist in Ampere (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}) lining up. Breaking best before being settled in third for Stephane Pasquier granted a perfect tow into the race by Ballydoyle's Archangel Raphael (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Storm the Stars, the bay showed that essential Dubawi kick two out to quickly gain the advantage over the spent Irish challenger and the Epsom Derby third and Irish Derby runner-up. Quickly into the clear, he never looked like relenting en route to a two-length verdict over the 11-10 favorite Ampere, with Storm the Stars 1 1/4 lengths away in third. “He is a lovely little horse with a great temperament who takes everything in his stride,” the owner-breeders' racing manager Alan Cooper said of the supplemented colt. “We didn't hesitate in supplementing him, as he was doing so well and this is a great reward.” Erupt had booked this ticket with a game neck win over Ampere's stable companion Sarrasin (GB) (Monsun {Ger}) on ground that was deemed too lively in the Prix du Lys, a race used by connections of the subsequent Grand Prix de Paris winners Rail Link (GB), Montmartre (Fr) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in recent times. The first and last of those went on to make their presence felt in the Oct. 4 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and that is where Erupt will be targeted. “As a trainer, you always hope to win a group 1 and I'm happy this is behind me now,” commented Francis-Henri Graffard. “This horse shows nothing in the mornings and that is why we first took him to Lyon. Ever since, he has improved and after winning the Lys he has been just perfect. Nothing seems to bother him and I imagine we'll give him a break now. I had not entered him in this, but he is in the Arc and I will run him first in the [Sept. 13] G2 Prix Niel.”

Tuesday, Longchamp, France
JUDDMONTE GRAND PRIX DE PARIS-G1, €600,000, LCP, 7-14, 3yo, c/f, 12fT, 2:31.07, gd.
1–&ERUPT (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Mare Nostrum (GB) (GSW & MG1SP-Fr, $106,559), by Caerleon
2nd Dam: Salvora, by Spectacular Bid
3rd Dam: Grand Luxe, by Sir Ivor
O/B-Niarchos Family (Ire). T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Stephane Pasquier. €342,840. Lifetime Record: 4 starts, 4 wins, €418,340. *1/2 to Marie de Medici (Medicean {GB}), SW-Eng & GSP-Fr, $103,783. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.

2–Ampere (Fr), 128, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Amorama (Fr), by Sri Pekan. O/B-Haras de Saint Pair (FR); T-Andre Fabre. €137,160.
3–Storm the Stars, 128, c, 3, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Love Me Only (Ire), by Sadler's Wells. ($150,000 RNA Yrl '13 KEESEP). O-Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum; B-Summer Wind Farm (KY); T-William Haggas. €68,580.

Margins: 2, 1 1/4, SHD. Odds: 7.30, 1.10, 2.90.
Also Ran: Silverwave (Fr), Balios (Ire), Archangel Raphael (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.