Andre Fabre
Recovered from an injury which forced the abandonment of any and all plans for this term's rescheduled one-mile Classics, the belated reintroduction of Godolphin's homebred Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal) in Sunday's Listed Qatar Prix Kistena at Deauville was as straightforward as starting odds of 2-5 might suggest and the Andre Fabre trainee maintained his perfect record, going six-for-six, with an impressive 2 1/2-length dismissal of Wanaway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) in the six-furlong dash. Settled under cover in sixth after an alert departure from the outside stall, last term's G1 Prix Morny...
Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Insights features a half-brother to classy sprinter Reckless Abandon (GB) (Exchange Rate). 1.25 Deauville, Cond, €27,000, 2yo, c/g, 6fT ERASMO (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) is a half-brother to the high-class sprinter Reckless Abandon (GB) (Exchange Rate) who debuts for Godolphin and Andre Fabre in this "Qatar Prix Des...
Godolphin's champion Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) and fellow MG1SW Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal) will not line up against one another in the July 12 G1 Prix Jean Prat, the Racing Post reported on Tuesday. The former, an unbeaten champion at two for trainer Charlie Appleby, ran third in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas early last month, before a runner-up performance in the G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot on June 20. He will represent the royal blue in the Jean Prat, while Andre Fabre trainee Earthlight, who won the G1...
Andre Fabre felt a slow start contributed to Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal)'s defeat in Sunday's G1 Prix du Jockey Club. The G1 French 2000 Guineas winner was aiming to double up in the French Derby, but having broken slowly from stall one, the Godolphin runner found the rest of the field in front of him after 100 yards. Having circled the other 15 runners, he just about hit the front before his run petered out and John Gosden's Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) sprinted clear to win going away, leaving...
By 3.35pm on Sunday, the Derby and Oaks will already be old news and the dust will be settling after Chantilly's early-afternoon prestige races. As if all the Classics that played out over the longest weekend were mere support acts, Juddmonte's sovereign Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is back to take up most of the headline inches in a renewal of Sandown's G1 Coral-Eclipse which rates as one of the finest in its recent history. No horse in training has the same draw as the 6-year-old and although the Classic generation...
Upset on his return when second in the Listed Prix de Montretout over a mile at Chantilly June 10, Godolphin and Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd's Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) was back in shape and on track in Sunday's G2 Prix du Muguet at Saint-Cloud. Taken straight to the lead by Pierre-Charles Boudot, last year's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero was threatened and briefly headed by the G3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil winner Pretreville (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}) passing two out. Quickly regaining the advantage, the 3-5 favourite finished full of...
Andre Fabre's 'TDN Rising Star' Ocean Atlantique (American Pharoah) may head to next month's G1 Investec Derby at Epsom, with stablemate and fellow 'Rising Star' Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal) likely to contest the French version. Fabre has no intention of stepping Victor Ludorum up to a mile and a half yet, and the G1 Prix du Jockey Club has always been his aim. American Pharoah colt Ocean Atlantique is owned by Coolmore, whose chief Epsom hope Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is out to 10-1 for the Derby following his Royal...
Andre Fabre's unbeaten Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal) is eyeing a return in the July 12 G1 Prix Jean Prat, after a minor sprain kept him on the bench instead of contesting the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau last month. The Godolphin runner will have a gallop at Saint-Cloud next week. Having won all five races at two, including two Group 1s, Earthlight was prominent through the winter in the betting for the G1 English 2000 Guineas. "He's doing ok, he's back in work," said Fabre. "He's going to go to Saint-Cloud next...
Cherie Amour (Fr) (Shalaa {Ire}) makes all at Clairefontaine to become the first winner for her Haras de Bouquetot-based freshman sire (by Invincible Spirit {Ire}). 3rd-Clairefontaine, €22,000, Mdn, 6-4, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:26.80, sf. CHERIE AMOUR (FR) (f, 2, Shalaa {Ire}--Angel Falls {GB}, by Kingmambo), a May 21 third-of-four contesting a five-furlong newcomers' test at Deauville last time, was sharpest from the gates and seized immediate control of this return. In command throughout, the 13-10 pick was bustled along when tackled by Chiri Tsubaki (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) passing the quarter-mile...
Victor Ludorum. With such a name should we ever have doubted him? Fifteen years after his late sire Shamardal blazed to glory in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains for the first half of his own Classic double, Victor Ludorum (Ire) set up a double of a different kind at Deauville on Monday, passing the Godolphin baton to his fellow colour-bearer and last year's champion juvenile Pinatubo (Ire) to attempt to complete a posthumous Classic double for Shamardal within a week. Should the much lauded Pinatubo resurface in the manner which...
After all the worry and uncertainty of the past few weeks, the first of the European Classics to be staged in the time of COVID-19 provided a reassuring outcome as Godolphin's TDN Rising Star Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal) made class tell over the straight mile at Deauville. As it was before the huge disruption wrought by the virus, so it remains at least in this sphere with the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner confirming the form of the Arc card's juvenile highlight to regain the winning thread in Monday's G1...
Nine colts will go postward for Monday's €360,000 G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Deauville. Godolphin's Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal) is one of three nominations from the Andre Fabre stable and has drawn stall two for the straight one-mile test. Stablemates Alson (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) and Arapaho (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) are housed alongside and will exit gates three and one, respectively.