Makfi’s Make Believe On Top In the Foret

Not seen since finishing last of five in the G1 St James’s Palace S. at Royal Ascot June 16, Make Believe bounced back in style under a rail-hugging ride from Longchamp supremo Olivier Peslier to book a possible ticket to the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile. Losing his unbeaten tag in the G3 Prix Djebel over this trip at Maisons-Laffitte Apr. 2, the bay had turned the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains into a procession under forcing tactics here May 10 prior to his Royal Ascot flop and subsequent holiday. Granted a perfect stalking position and ideal lead early, he was sheltered by the solid yardstick Toormore covering the least amount of ground hard against the fence. Cruising at the top of the straight with his jockey motionless as the habitual slow-starter and favorite Limato languished five lengths adrift of him, he was finally sent to the front with 300 meters remaining and with a shake of the reins was quickly in safe territory. With Limato motoring out wide but also hanging down to his right, Make Believe was coaxed to the line to record a comfortable success. “He was very tired after the St James’s Palace, so maybe he had a harder race than we thought in the French Guineas, but he’s back to his best now,” trainer Andre Fabre commented. “We could think about the Breeders’ Cup Mile, but we’ll discuss it as I don’t know at the moment if he stays in training as a 4-year-old.”

Sunday, Longchamp, France
QATAR PRIX DE LA FORET-G1, €300,000, LCP, 10-4, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:17.05 (NTR), gd.
1–MAKE BELIEVE (GB), 126, c, 3, by Makfi (GB)
1st Dam: Rosie’s Posy (Ire), by Suave Dancer
2nd Dam: My Branch (GB), by Distant Relative (Ire)
3rd Dam: Pay the Bank (GB), by High Top (Ire)
(180,000gns Wlg ‘12 TADEC). O-Prince A A Faisal;
B-Aston Mullins Stud (GB); T-Andre Fabre; J-Olivier
Peslier. €171,420. Lifetime Record: 6-4-1-0,
€545,188. *1/2 to Dubawi Heights (GB) (Dubawi
{Ire}), MGISW-US & GSP-Eng, $947,696. Werk Nick
Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
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2–Limato (Ire), 126, g, 3, Tagula (Ire)–Come April (GB),
by Singspiel (Ire). (£41,000 Ylg ‘13 DNPRM). O-Paul
G Jacobs; B-Seamus Phelan (IRE); T-Henry Candy.
€68,580.
3–Toormore (Ire), 128, c, 4, Arakan–Danetime Out
(Ire), by Danetime (Ire). (£36,000 Ylg ‘12 DNPRM).
O-Godolphin; B-BEC Bloodstock (IRE); T-Richard
Hannon. €34,290.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1HF, NK. Odds: 3.90, 1.20, 7.00.
Also Ran: Amy Eria (Ire), Taniyar (Ire), Gordon Lord Byron (Ire), Ride like the Wind (Ire), Suedois (Fr), La Berma (Ire), Custom Cut (Ire), G Force (Ire), Penorka (Fr), Salateen (GB). Click for the Racing Post result, the PMU PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.