By Tom Frary
Earning TDN Rising Star status with a 10-length maiden win at Newmarket in September before finishing fifth in the G1 Fillies' Mile back there the following month, Sobetsu returned with a vengeance here to make a mockery of her insulting odds. Third on debut behind the well-regarded Stoute filly Spatial (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) and subsequent G3 Nell Gwyn S. runner-up Unforgetable Filly (GB) (Sepoy {Aus}) over seven furlongs on Newmarket's July course last August, the homebred had taken her leap forward on the Rowley Mile in the mile maiden won recently by Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Taghrooda (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and it followed that she was duly sent off the joint-favourite for the Fillies' Mile alongside Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). In the event, it was a surprise that she ended 15 lengths in arrears of her chief rival but the good-to-firm ground was blamed and she was put away for a winter's strengthening. Sent straight to the fore from her wide post by William Buick, the bay enjoyed a perfect lead from the outsider Estelle Ma Belle (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}) until committed at the top of the straight. Soon clear, the homebred was relentless in the testing ground as Vue Fantastique held off a clutch of closers headed by another TDN Rising Star in Coronet. “The key to her is always going to be the ground and we've been waiting for some soft,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “This course is ideal for her and she won really well. We'll see how she is before deciding on her target, but she is ground-dependant. She will definitely stay a mile and a half.”
Fabrice Chappet, trainer of Saturday's G1 Abu Dhabi Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Precieuse (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), has enjoyed a weekend to remember and was delighted with the showing of Vue Fantastique. “What is very interesting about this filly is she is improving from one race to another and that was her best performance today,” he said. “Obviously, as she was bought recently by Martin Schwartz, her future lies in America but she could go first for the [G1 Prix de] Diane [at Chantilly June 18], a race he has won before and will be keen to win again.” John Gosden said of Coronet, who was held up at the back before staying on late, “She takes a while to warm up and has to be ridden like that–that's her style. I'm delighted with that performance after her time off and she will most definitely stay a mile and a half. She would prefer good-to-firm, but that's not an excuse for today. We will have to decide between the [June 2 G1 Epsom] Oaks of the [G2] Ribblesdale [S. at Royal Ascot June 22].”
Sobetsu is the last known foal of the Listed Prix Caravelle winner and G3 Prix de Flore third Lake Toya, whose dam Shinko Hermes also produced three other black-type performers headed by the Listed Winkfield S. scorer and G3 Prix des Chenes third Sixth Sense (Ire) (Shamardal). Shinko Hermes, who is also the second dam of last year's G1 Japanese 2000 Guineas hero Dee Majesty (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is a half to the brilliant G1 English and Irish Derby and G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. hero Generous (Ire) and a full-sister to the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas runner-up Strawberry Roan (Ire) and the G1 Epsom Oaks and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Imagine (Ire). She in turn is the dam of four group winners, most notably the ill-fated G1 Grand Criterium scorer Horatio Nelson (Ire) (Danehill). Another half-sister is the GIII Monrovia H. and G3 C. L. Weld Park S. winner and G1 Phoenix S. third Wedding Bouquet (Ire) (Kings Lake), who is the second dam of the multiple Group 1-winning miler and sprint champion Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).
Sunday, Deauville, France
THE GURKHA COOLMORE PRIX SAINT-ALARY-G1, €250,000, DVL, 5-14, 3yo, f, 10fT, 2:05.92, sf.
1–#@&SOBETSU (GB), 126, f, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Lake Toya (SW & GSP-Fr, SW-Eng, $135,852), by Darshaan (GB)
2nd Dam: Shinko Hermes (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Doff The Derby, by Master Derby
O-Godolphin; B-Darley (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. €142,850. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, €169,500. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Vue Fantastique (Fr), 126, f, 3, Motivator (GB)–Exit The Straight (Ire), by Exit To Nowhere. (€70,000 Ylg '15 AROCT). O-Martin S Schwartz Racing; B-John Studd (FR); T-Fabrice Chappet. €57,150.
3–Coronet (GB), 126, f, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Approach (GB), by Darshaan (GB). O/B-Denford Stud Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden. €28,575.
Margins: 3, 1 3/4, SHD. Odds: 20.20, 27.50, 3.60.
Also Ran: Hebah (Ire), Gold Luck (Fr), Lady Frankel (GB), Body Sculpt (Fr), Peace in Motion, Asking (Ire), Estelle Ma Belle (Fr), Monroe Bay (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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