Sunday's G1 Longines Grosser Preis von Baden looked a competitive affair beforehand, but Godolphin's always highly-regarded and long-absent Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) turned it into his own personal procession with as impressive a display to have been witnessed at the picturesque Iffezheim venue. Allowing William Buick an armchair ride as he clicked into autopilot in an isolated lead, the 23-10 second favourite already had all rivals in trouble turning for home in what amounted to a Dubai Millennium-style exhibition. Keeping up the remorseless gallop to the line, the bay came home alone with a yawning 14-length gap to the 3-year-old filly Donjah (Ger) (Teofilo {Ire}) and another 4 1/4 lengths to Gestut Ittlingen's G1 Deutsches Derby hero and 9-5 favourite Laccario (Ger) (Scalo {GB}) in third. “Ghaiyyath is an amazing horse,” commented Buick, who was gaining his first group 1 win since his own comeback from injury. “He is a monster, an absolute monster. Let's hope that he will be around for a while.”
Ghaiyyath, who issued early notice that he was an above-average proposition when winning the G3 Autumn S. at Newmarket in October 2017, has proven hard to keep on the track with patience the watchword for the imposing colt. Not seen after that success until registering a three-length verdict in the G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange over 10 furlongs at ParisLongchamp in September, he was next in evidence in totally dominant mood from the front in the G2 Prix d'Harcourt back there Apr. 7. When it came to the G1 Prix Ganay over an extra half furlong there three weeks later, he was only third as the 1-2 favourite as Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) bounded past in the straight and connections were left with the impression that he had failed to fire.
This was a resounding statement of intent from the bay on his first attempt at a trip that Charlie Appleby felt would fit perfectly and it would be no surprise were connections to tilt at the Oct. 6 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at France's premier track that he knows so well. “He was very impressive in the Prix d'Harcourt in the spring–you very rarely see a horse do what he did that day,” Buick added. “For one reason or another, he disappointed in the Prix Ganay but Charlie has always been adamant that Ghaiyyath will stay a mile and a half and he showed that today.”
Appleby, who had picked him out as the stable's most exciting prospect at the start of the season, was not ruling out a crack at the Arc and commented, “I am very lucky to be in this position with Ghaiyyath and we have always felt that a mile and a half was going to be his trip. It was a very impressive performance and I am delighted that the horse has shown us today what we have always felt he could potentially do. This race is a very good preparation for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and it is a nice discussion that we can have over the next 10 days or two weeks. All of my decisions are made with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and we look forward to talking about Ghaiyyath and deciding whether we head towards Longchamp or look elsewhere.”
Ghaiyyath's dam is the Late Gita Weld's homebred G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Nightime (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is also responsible for the GI Man o'War S., G3 Kilternan S. and G3 Blue Wind S. heroine Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and the listed-placed Sleeping Beauty (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}). The latter is in turn the dam of the GIII With Anticipation S. runner-up Irish Territory (Ire) (Declaration of War), while Zhukova is now in the Godolphin broodmare band after being secured for 3.7million gns at the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. The second dam is the Listed Platinum S. winner Caumshinaun (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) who is connected to the GI Sword Dancer Invitational hero King's Drama (Ire) (King's Theatre {Ire}). Nightime's yearling and foal colts are also by Dubawi, with the former being snapped up by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for 700,000gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale.
Sunday, Baden-Baden, Germany
147TH LONGINES GROSSER PREIS VON BADEN-G1, €250,000, Baden-Baden, 9-1, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:30.08, gd.
1–GHAIYYATH (IRE), 132, c, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Nightime (Ire) (G1SW-Ire, $299,507), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Caumshinaun (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: Ridge Pool (Ire), by Bluebird
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€1,100,000 Wlg '15 GOFNOV). O-Godolphin; B-Springbank Way Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. €150,000. Lifetime Record: MGSW & G1SP-Fr, GSW-Eng, 7-5-0-2, €345,854. *1/2 to Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 9.5-11f, GISW-US & MGSW-Ire, $499,594; and Sleeping Beauty (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), SP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Donjah (Ger), 121, f, 3, Teofilo (Ire)–Dyanamore, by Mt. Livermore. (€100,000 Ylg '17 BBASEP). O-Darius Racing; B-Gestut Karlshof (GER); T-Henk Grewe. €60,000.
3–Laccario (Ger), 125, c, 3, Scalo (GB)–Laccata (GB), by Lomitas (GB). O-Gestut Ittlingen; B-Gestut Hof Ittlingen (GER); T-Andreas Wohler. €25,000.
Margins: 14, 4 1/4, 4HF. Odds: 2.30, 19.00, 1.80.
Also Ran: Colomano (GB), Accon (Ger), Akribie (Ger), Amiro (Ger), Ashrun (Fr), Communique (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
147TH LONGINES GROSSER PREIS VON BADEN-G1, €250,000, Baden-Baden, 9-1, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:30.08, gd.
1–GHAIYYATH (IRE), 132, c, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Nightime (Ire) (G1SW-Ire, $299,507), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Caumshinaun (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: Ridge Pool (Ire), by Bluebird
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€1,100,000 Wlg '15 GOFNOV). O-Godolphin; B-Springbank Way Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. €150,000. Lifetime Record: MGSW & G1SP-Fr, GSW-Eng, 7-5-0-2, €345,854. *1/2 to Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 9.5-11f, GISW-US & MGSW-Ire, $499,594; and Sleeping Beauty (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), SP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Donjah (Ger), 121, f, 3, Teofilo (Ire)–Dyanamore, by Mt. Livermore. (€100,000 Ylg '17 BBASEP). O-Darius Racing; B-Gestut Karlshof (GER); T-Henk Grewe. €60,000.
3–Laccario (Ger), 125, c, 3, Scalo (GB)–Laccata (GB), by Lomitas (GB). O-Gestut Ittlingen; B-Gestut Hof Ittlingen (GER); T-Andreas Wohler. €25,000.
Margins: 14, 4 1/4, 4HF. Odds: 2.30, 19.00, 1.80.
Also Ran: Colomano (GB), Accon (Ger), Akribie (Ger), Amiro (Ger), Ashrun (Fr), Communique (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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