Oasis Dream’s Free Port Lux Comes Good In the Dollar
Updated: October 3, 2015 at 12:47 pm
Disappointing of late and only fifth trialling for the Arc in the 12-furlong G2 Prix Foy here last time Sept. 13, the Arqana Arc Sale-bound Free Port Lux returned to his previous best to take center stage in a renewal in which the people’s choice Cirrus des Aigles (Fr) (Even Top {Ire}) was below par. Successful in this venue’s 11-furlong G2 Prix Hocquart last May and the G3 Prix du Prince d’Orange over this track and trip four months later, the bay who was also fourth in the 2014 G1 Grand Prix de Paris had managed only one placing in five outings so far this term when second in Deauville’s G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron at this distance Aug. 15. Sheltered in fifth early against the rail with Cirrus des Aigles just ahead, Free Port Lux stayed close to that rival as he loomed large in midstretch. Switched around by Thierry Jarnet when it was clear that the veteran three-times winner of this race was not going to be a factor, he squeezed between Air Pilot and Fractional in the last 50 meters to prevail. “I’ve made some mistakes with him–running him on soft ground and also over a mile and a half, which is too far for him really,” conditioner Freddy Head said of the 4-year-old who was due to sell that evening. “He’s a good-ground horse and a mile and a quarter is his best game.”
Saturday, Longchamp, France
QATAR PRIX DOLLAR-G2, €200,000, LCP, 10-3, 3yo/up, 9f 165yT, 1:59.58, gd.
1–FREE PORT LUX (GB), 126, c, 4, by Oasis Dream (GB)
1st Dam: Royal Highness (Ger) (GISW-US, GSW & MG1SP-Fr, $991,081), by Monsun (Ger)
2nd Dam: Reem Dubai (Ire), by Nashwan
3rd Dam: Gesedeh (Ire), by Ela-Mana-Mou (Ire)
(€220,000 Ylg ‘12 ARAUG). O-Olivier Thomas; B-Ecurie des Monceaux (GB); T-Freddy Head; J-Thierry Jarnet. €114,000. Lifetime Record: 16 starts, 4 wins, 9 places, €449,924. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Fractional (Ire), 126, g, 6, Manduro (Ger)–Sharp Point (Ire), by Royal Academy. O-Godolphin SNC; B-Darley (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €44,000.
3–Air Pilot (GB), 126, g, 6, Zamindar–Countess Sybil (Ire), by Dr Devious (Ire). O/B-Lady Cobham (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. €21,000.
Margins: 3/4, NO, 3/4. Odds: 7.90, 12.60, 10.10.
Also Ran: Elliptique (Ire), Cirrus des Aigles (Fr), French Navy (GB), Zipzip (Ire), Al Waab (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.