By Tom Frary
Deauville's Assumption Day bank holiday fixture was the scene of a shock as last year's champion Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) proved flat on his return and ended up a disappointing fifth. With the long odds-on favourite a shadow of his former self when never a factor and beaten 3 1/2 lengths, the race became an ordinary group 3 and it was left to the British raider First Sitting to capitalise under Gerald Mosse. Last seen finishing third in the G3 La Coupe at Chantilly June 17, the bay tanked along in second early following the favourite's pacemaker Zafiro and after committing 500 metres out stayed on to reverse the La Coupe form with that race's runner-up Garlingari. “All we were coming here for was to be second to Almanzor, but we thought if we ever had a chance to beat him today would be the day,” winning trainer Chris Wall said. “Gerald got him in a good position and gave him a perfect ride. He had not run so well in the past on firm ground, but today the good ground was perfect for him and he's a very honest horse who gives his all. That's a step up again and we'll enter him in the [Sept. 30 G2] Prix Dollar at Chantilly and he is also entered in the Istanbul meeting, but I don't know if it is right to go that far with him.”
Jean-Claude Rouget was not forthcoming on his thoughts about Almanzor's run, but jockey Christophe Soumillon told the Racing Post, “If I had had enough gas I would have gone between them, but it wasn't there and he wasn't able to accelerate like last year. He might need more [work], but obviously I am disappointed.”
The Juddmonte-bred First Sitting, who was sold out of Dermot Weld's and then David O'Meara's yard to eventually join Chris Wall's Newmarket set-up at the end of 2015, had flashed ability when winning by five lengths in a handicap over an extended 11 furlongs at Windsor last June and at Newmarket in August. Second on his black-type debut in the Listed Prix de Boulogne over 10 furlongs at Saint-Cloud in September, his next try at that category was when seventh in the G3 Gordon Richards S. at Sandown Apr. 28 before he beat the solid performers Spark Plug (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) and Mount Logan (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) in Goodwood's Listed Festival S. May 27 prior to his La Coupe defeat at the hands of Robin of Navan (Fr) (American Post {GB}).
The winner is a full-brother to the G1 Matron S.-winning highweight Emulous and the Listed Criterium de Vitesse scorer Daring Diva (GB), with the latter going on to produce the G2 Ridgewood Pearl S. winner Brooch (Empire Maker), Listed Naas Oaks Trial winner and G2 Blandford S. runner-up Caponata (Selkirk) and MGSP Raymonda (Lonhro {Aus}). The second dam Queen of Song (His Majesty) is a full-sister to the GI Jersey Derby scorer Cormorant from the immediate family of the GII Beverly Hills H. and GII Santa Maria H. scorer Swing Time (Buckpasser) and the GII Kentucky Oaks heroine and GI American Oaks and GI Alabama S. runner-up Bag of Tunes (Herbager {Fr}). The latter is the third dam of the G1 Ranvet S. and G1 Underwood S. winner Foreteller (GB) who shares Dansili as a sire with First Sitting. Still to come from Aspiring Diva are an as-yet unraced 3-year-old colt by Frankel (GB) named Elphin (GB), his 2-year-old full-sister named Arbitrary (GB), a yearling colt by Intello (Ger) and a foal full-sister to the winner.
Tuesday, Deauville, France
PRIX GONTAUT-BIRON HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB-G3, €80,000, DVL, 8-15, 4yo/up, 10fT, 2:06.11, gd.
1–FIRST SITTING (GB), 126, g, 6, by Dansili (GB)
1st Dam: Aspiring Diva (SP-Fr), by Distant View
2nd Dam: Queen of Song, by His Majesty
3rd Dam: Song Sparrow, by Tudor Minstrel (GB)
*1st Group win. (15,000gns 3yo '14 TA14; 35,000gns 4yo '15 TA15). O-Bringloe & Clarke; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Chris Wall; J-Gerald Mosse. €40,000. Lifetime Record: SW-Eng, 22-6-4-2, €151,547. *Full to Emulous (GB), Hwt. Older Mare-Ire at 7-9.5f, G1SW-Ire, $528,533; and Daring Diva (GB), SW-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Garlingari (Fr), 126, g, 6, Linngari (Ire)–Garlinote (Fr), by Poliglote (GB). O/T-Corine Barande-Barbe; B-Corine Barande-Barbe & Mme Jean-Jacques Massy (FR). €16,000.
3–Zafiro (Fr), 123, g, 5, Sageburg (Ire)–La Romagne (Fr), by Art Francais. (€45,000 Ylg '13 AROCT). O-Ecurie Antonio Caro; B-Haras de Nonant Le Pin & Paul Tholly (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €12,000.
Margins: 3/4, 2, NO. Odds: 6.80, 5.60, 28.40.
Also Ran: Subway Dancer (Ire), *Almanzor (Fr), *Alignement (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
*Dead-heated for fifth.
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