Tag Archive for: Prix de l’Abbaye

Makarova magic seals Abbaye success

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Makarova led a British domination with a winning swansong performance in the Prix de l’Abbaye Longines at ParisLongchamp.

Ridden by Tom Marquand and trained by Ed Walker, Makarova was settled in the chasing pack as favourite Bradsell and Desperate Hero traded blows at the front end of the five-furlong sprint.

It looked as though Bradsell might seal another Group One triumph entering the final furlong, but Makarova was making ground down the outside and swept through to win going away.

Bradsell just held on for second from the fast-finishing Believing, with Desperate Hero fourth and No Half Measures fifth, with all those runners hailing from British yards.

“She’s the forgotten filly, Makarova, she’s only rated 105 by the British handicapper and that’s Listed level – but she’s Group One-placed, Group Two-placed and a Group Three winner,” said Walker.

“She’s always been slightly underestimated by the punters, she’s always a big price. Having finished third in a Group One last time out she was 16-1 today.

“She’s always been the underdog but she’s very consistent, she doesn’t do a lot wrong, especially when she gets conditions like this.

“We were a lot more confident in our camp than the odds would have suggested, she put in a career-best effort last time and probably upped it again today.

“That is the last run of her career, I’m pretty confident. Jeff (Hobby, owner) and I will discuss it but she owes us nothing, that was the last roll of the dice.

“Everything came right so I think that will probably be it.”

Marquand said: “Everything went perfect on her. To be frank, as soon as I tacked onto the back of Bradsell, she began to travel.

Makarova and connections at ParisLongchamp (Ashley Iveson/PA)

“I knew we were live, they hadn’t gone that quick so it was just whether we had that bit of speed but I think that ground was probably slow enough to take the sting out of them and let her stamina come into play.

“I’m just thrilled for the owners as she is obviously homebred and Ed has had her from day one as well – it’s brilliant. Everything came together beautifully today and it’s seemed to the last couple of weeks.

“Whenever someone has said a horse is going to retire, they come out and win. I’m thrilled for them.”

Of defeating Bradsell, and therefore relegating his wife, fellow jockey Hollie Doyle, into second place, Marquand added: “They’ve clashed loads of times, it’s the inevitability of us both being fortunate enough to ride in Group Ones.

“Unfortunately there can only be one winner of every race. It’s part of the job and whilst I’m sure she’ll be disappointed Bradsell hasn’t won, she’ll be pleased too for me.”

Doyle, who has ridden Bradsell in all but one of his starts, said: “He’s run a huge race, jumped, travelled, I got to where I wanted to be.

“It just probably blunted his turn of foot (the going), when I push the button on quick ground he’s away.

“I had to fight hard to get past the two on my inside, had those covered and got away from them and then unfortunately a mudlark has come for me late. I thought it was a great performance considering.”

Archie Watson, Bradsell’s trainer, said: “He’s done nothing wrong, Hollie just felt whilst he went well on the ground, he went well enough on it to beat the others, he was a bit vulnerable late to a closer.

“I couldn’t be happier with him, he’s run a massive race. I’m delighted for Ed with that filly, she deserved a Group One.”

Bradsell could now head to the Breeders' Cup
Bradsell could now head to the Breeders’ Cup (Mike Egerton/PA)

Of next steps Watson added: “I’ve always thought the turning, quick five furlongs over there (at the Breeders’ Cup) would really suit. We’ll get him home and see if we’re happy with him, that’ll be the plan as long as everyone’s happy.”

Billy Loughnane partnered the George Boughey-trained Believing and he felt the ground may have gone against her.

He said: “The race was incredibly tough. Believing ran really well after a good start. But she wasn’t travelling fast enough and so she got a bit outpaced. So we lost ground.

“She’s capable of handling soft ground, but, on good ground, she’s even better. She’s a star, a wonderful mare.”



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Bradsell and Believing clash again in battle for Abbaye honours

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Archie Watson’s Bradsell and Hollie Doyle will have to overcome stall nine if they are to make it a Group One hat-trick in Sunday’s Prix de l’Abbaye.

The UK and Irish raiders have a fantastic record in the Group One sprint over five furlongs, but the race has not always gone to the fancied runners.

Part of the reason for that is down to the draw, although the likes of Move In Time, Marsha, Mabs Cross and Highfield Princess last year have all defied a double-figure stall in the past 10 years.

“We’d have liked to have been a little bit closer to the rail but I don’t think it stops us, we’re happy to run,” said Oliver St Lawrence, racing manager to Bradsell’s owners, Victorious Racing.

“It would have been better to have been two or three closer to the rail, but there’s no excuses.

“Highfield Princess, Mabs Cross, Move In Time, Tangerine Trees – they’ve all won from double-figure stalls so it’s not impossible so we march on.”

Winner of the Coventry Stakes two years ago, injury threatened to finish Bradsell’s career. But he has been brought back expertly this season to be unbeaten, including two defeats of George Boughey’s Believing in the Nunthorpe and the Flying Five at the Curragh.

“Believing has a nice draw, which is good, so we can hopefully settle that argument in everyone’s minds!” Lawrence continued.

“They’ve emerged as the top two around, the only other around is Lazzat who won the Maurice de Gheest and he’s heading for the Golden Eagle in Australia, I believe. Hopefully all will be revealed and the rain stays away.

“I think next year will depend on how he runs over the next short while, but I think he will probably retire. Archie and the team have done an amazing job to get him back and it is testament to the horse himself.”

The team behind Believing have been thankful of the journey they have been on with their filly and are hoping she can go out on a high for them, with the sales beckoning.

Harry Herbert, racing manager for her syndicate, Highclere Racing, said: “We’ve got the better draw this time, but neither of us have got the ground really. At least we are inside him.

“There’s not much between them in what we’ve seen the last twice.

“I’ve actually been looking back at the race she ran on Champions Day last year and she travelled so well until the furlong marker and didn’t get home over six.

“She has won on soft ground in Chantilly so we’ll just have to take it as it comes. This is her last race anyway before she heads to the December sales.”

He went on: “She’s in very good form, has travelled over there really well and she doesn’t owe us anything. She’s just been the most phenomenal filly and incredible for the syndicate – most of them will be over there to see her race for the last time for them.

“She’s been remarkable as a syndicate horse, these are such rare items. To race as much as she does, placed in the first four in five Group Ones and second in two, it’s extraordinary so it would be incredible if she could bow out – for us anyway – with a Group One win.”

No Half Measures has improved at a rate of knots for Richard Hughes
No Half Measures has improved at a rate of knots for Richard Hughes (PA)

As ever there is a strong UK and Irish challenge with Richard Hughes’ improving No Half Measures the mount of Oisin Murphy, and Ryan Moore on Aesop’s Fables for Aidan O’Brien.

There are two juveniles in receipt of plenty of weight – John Ryan’s Mill Reef runner-up La Bellota and Boughey’s filly Englemere, while Tom Clover has fitted Rogue Lightning with first-time blinkers having finished just over a length behind Highfield Princess last year.

Richard Brown, of owners Wathnan Racing, said: “This seems to be the time of year where he thrives and it was his best run of the year when he was just beaten in the Group Three over track and trip a few weeks ago. We hope he will have an each-way chance.”



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Clover hoping Lightning can strike in Abbaye

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Rogue Lightning is limbering up for another crack at the Prix de l’Abbaye at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.

The four-year-old changed hands at the end of last season when purchased by Wathnan Racing for £1million following a fifth-placed run in the same French sprint at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting 12 months ago.

Beaten only a length and a quarter from a wide draw, the gelding will contest the race again having run over course and distance last time out.

That performance was in the Prix du Petit Couvert, a five-furlong Group Three in which he finished third when beaten only a short head on soft ground.

Conditions will be testing when the bay returns to Paris for the Abbaye and Clover is hoping a change in headgear will also be of benefit to the horse.

“It’s very much the plan to go to France for the Abbaye, he ran well in the race last year from a difficult draw,” said Clover.

“He ran a really gallant race last time out, he was just beaten a head in the Group Three.

“We’re going to change up the head gear and change it for the straight blinkers as he’s gone well in them at home.

“We have our fingers crossed for a good draw and that he should shape up pretty well, I appreciate it’s a deep race but he looks in good form at home and I think he deserves to run.

“Looking at their going report, they envisage it’s going to be French soft ground come Sunday, that will be English good to soft so that will be absolutely fine.”



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Highfield Princess takes Abbaye crown

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Highfield Princess bounced back to her very best to claim the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines with a thrilling late thrust at ParisLongchamp.

John Quinn’s star mare was a regular on the scoresheet at the highest level last season, but although running with real credit throughout the current campaign, she had just the one victory to her name in 2023 as she headed to the French capital.

Having to overcome both a disappointing showing at the Curragh last time and a tricky draw in stall 14, Jason Hart was urging his mount forwards throughout as George Boughey’s Perdika blazed a trail from stall one.

The Boughey raider still looked to have plenty up her sleeve as the field entered the final furlong but as the line approached Perdika’s stride was shortening, while Highfield Princess was edging ever closer and in the shadow of the post, the six-year-old surged to the front to register a welcome return to the sprinting big-time.

Quinn said: “I’m thrilled really. Down the years we have had plenty of horses run really well at this wonderful meeting. In the Abbaye, El Astronaute was third, Liberty Beach was beaten two heads, Safe Voyage was beaten two heads in the Foret.

“It is one of the greatest meetings in the world and I hoped I would one day train a winner here and it is wonderful.”

He went on: “She tries hard and you could say from where she was drawn she was inconvenienced. But she toughed it into the race and toughed it out of the race because two furlongs out she was flat out, but fair dues to her.

“It was a very brave decision (to keep her in training) considering she had won three Group Ones in Europe and was probably one of the best fillies around. I’m so pleased they have been totally vindicated.

“She’s shown she’s as good as any sprinting mare in the world. She showed today what a top-class, sprinting filly she is.”

Jason Hart returns to the winner's enclosure aboard Highfield Princess
Jason Hart returns to the winner’s enclosure aboard Highfield Princess (Ashley Iveson/PA)

Quinn will now be urging Highfield Princess’ owners to give the go-ahead for a second tilt at the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint having finished fourth at Keeneland last November.

When asked about the mare’s next run being at Santa Anita next month, Quinn said: “Why not? It was all about today and she came through it well.

“We were very happy with her the last couple of weeks. I will need to speak to my owner but I would be strongly suggesting it.

“We needed to see how today went and today went very well. I wouldn’t rule out the Breeders’ Cup or the big sprint at Hong Kong in December.

“It’s John and his family’s decision whether she’ll race on next year, but as long as she’s OK she could go to Santa Anita or Sha Tin.”

Hart added: “She was flat out all the way. It was only in the last 50 yards when the leader tied up that I knew we were going to win. What a mare, she’s so tough.”

Perdika kept hold of the silver medal with Aidan O’Brien’s Aesop’s Fables and Tom Clover’s Rogue Lightning also on the premises.



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‘Rogues’ raring to go with two big chances on Arc weekend

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The Rogues Gallery Racing Club is set to fly the flag for syndicate owners at ParisLongchamp on Sunday when Rogue Millennium and Rogue Lightning both go for Group One glory.

Middleham Park Racing famously enjoyed a memorable success in the Prix de l’Abbaye with The Platinum Queen 12 months ago and there could be more joy for smaller owners this weekend.

Rogue Lightning is entered for the same five-furlong contest this term, while Rogue Millennium heads for the Prix de l’Opera over 10 furlongs.

Trainer Tom Clover told Sky Sports Racing: “It’s very exciting to be going over for Arc day with two runners in Group One races for Rogues Gallery.

“They are a great syndicate and it’s a huge thrill to be going out there. The Rogues Gallery have been with us for four years or so now and they are a great bunch – it’s just a fantastic syndicate.

“They are a great group of people who are really good friends and have just had a fantastic journey with a couple of cracking horses in Rogue Millennium and Rogue Lightning.

“To be going to Arc day with two horses who cost around £80,000 between them is just fantastic.

“They’ve got people from all over, including the Isle of Man and Ireland, and there’s a huge variety, with even Rishi Persad one of the ‘Rogues’. I think there’s around 90 members going over, so it will be a fair old raid on Paris and we’re looking forward to having a good time.”

Rogue Millennium has already claimed a Group Two prize in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot and was a fine runner-up to Tahiyra in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown last time out.

The Dubawi filly, who has been on the go since April, also has a good third to India in the Prix Allez France over this course and distance to her credit.

“I’m really pleased with her, she just seems to thrive on racing,” commented Clover. “She’s certainly an improving filly and her form over course and distance looks really strong.

“It was an amazing day to go over to Leopardstown and finish second behind Tahiyra, when she travelled so strongly through the race and hit the line really strong.

“She seems in really good form. We’re pretty versatile in terms of the ground, but it will be fantastic to see top-class racing on good ground.”

Rogue Lightning steps up in class for the Abbaye but deservedly so after following up two handicap wins with a Listed-class victory in the Scarbrough Stakes at Doncaster.

“It’s a tough race but he’s up to 110 after winning a Listed race last time and he looks an improving sprinter,” added Clover.

“Danny (Tudhope), who rode him last time out, said he is really fast and he’s just been learning on the job.

“He can seem a little green when getting to the front but then the way he put the race to bed up to the line in that last half a furlong was quite impressive, we felt.

“With the sprinting division being pretty open this year, we thought why not have a go. The sprinters seem to be taking it in turn to win these races this year, so he deserves to take his chance.

“He came out of the race in fantastic form and a strong-run race like the Abbaye should suit him.

“It’s a massive step up to go for a Group One, but on the ratings you can make a case for him and some of his sectionals and fractions this year have been very good. He’s a horse we’ve always held in high regard.”



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In-form Moss Tucker primed for Abbaye bid

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Moss Tucker is being readied for a second tilt at the Prix de l’Abbaye following his Group One breakthrough at the Curragh earlier this month.

Having landed the Phoenix Sprint at the track in August, the five-year-old followed up in the Flying Five Stakes to provide trainer Ken Condon with his first top-level success in over two years.

While Moss Tucker was undoubtedly aided by the fact the likes of Highfield Princess, Bradsell and Art Power underperformed in Ireland, he was not beaten far when fifth in last year’s Abbaye and Condon is looking forward to seeing him head back across the Channel on Arc weekend.

“All being well, he goes to Longchamp. He was good at the Curragh obviously, and he seems to have come out of the race well,” said the Kildare-based trainer.

“He did run well in the Abbaye last year. Obviously, the draw is very crucial there and we’ll just have to see how that works out, but we’ve been happy with the horse so far.

“He’s upped his form again this year. He won the Phoenix Sprint prior to the Flying Five, which was a career-best, and he obviously stepped forward again then to win a Group One.

“He’s five years old now and he’s had a good few starts, but he’s obviously on very good terms with himself and seems to be improving.”

Trainer Ken Condon at the Curragh
Trainer Ken Condon at the Curragh (Brian Lawless/PA)

While Moss Tucker appears versatile when it comes to underfoot conditions, Condon is keeping his fingers crossed the ground is on the soft side at ParisLongchamp to give him the best possible chance of success.

He added: “We got the rain on the day at the Curragh and maybe that inconvenienced some of the quicker horses, whereas when there’s cut in the ground we know our horse is capable of running very well.

“Nine times out of 10 it’s relatively soft on Arc weekend and that won’t be a problem for this horse. He’s tough and reliable and he tries, so he has all the attributes for soft ground.”

Moss Tucker’s Flying Five win was a first Group One triumph for Condon since Laws Of Indices landed the Prix Jean Prat in the summer of 2021 and he admits it was nice to be back in the big time.

Condon said: “Group One wins are hard to come by and those kind of horses that are competitive in Group Ones are difficult to come by.

“It’s been a couple of years since we won one and the likeable thing about this lad is where he started and where he’s got to. It’s definitely been a good journey, he’s kept improving, he likes training and likes racing and has given his owners fantastic sport.”



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Cox hoping sun shines for Get Ahead on Arc weekend

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Clive Cox was left beaming with pride after Get Ahead came agonisingly near to breaking her Group One duck at the Curragh on Sunday – and is now keeping a close eye on the weather with a trip to Paris a possibility for his progressive filly.

The daughter of Showcasing has always been a consistent performer for the Beechdown Stables handler and owners Hot To Trot Racing, but has excelled this season in claiming the Listed Cecil Frail Stakes earlier in the campaign before going close in a Chantilly Group Two in her next start.

Further respectable efforts have followed, including when tasting Group One action for the first time in the Nunthorpe, but she took her form to the next level when beaten half a length by Ken Condon’s Moss Tucker in the Flying Five Stakes.

The unfancied 22-1 shot looked to have done enough to secure the big-race shock before being passed late in the day, but having displayed she is still progressing, Cox is now crossing his fingers that conditions remain dry at ParisLongchamp over the next few weeks so Get Ahead can take her chance in the Prix de l’Abbaye on October 1.

“It was a fantastic run and I was so proud of her,” he said.

“I was very concerned when the storms blew through just before. But she got into a nice rhythm and finished off really strong and for a moment I thought we had it in the bag before the winner came by us close home, it was a really exciting run.

“She’s a wonderful filly and has just strengthened and continued progressing. We always had belief she would come good at the best level and she put in a top-class performance.

“I’m pleased that she has come home fine from the race and the journey. She does have an entry in the Abbaye. We have always felt she is better on better ground than soft ground, but on Sunday we probably witnessed that good to soft ground is not too bad.

“The Abbaye is a possibility, if it was too soft then that would be out of her bounds, but who knows, with the weather we have been getting recently we hope it might just remain in her favour all being well. We’re in the lap of the gods and it is interesting, but you do get a dry Arc weekend occasionally.”

Another Abbaye possible for Cox is his Beverley Bullet scorer Kerdos, who has delighted connections with his progress this term.

Kerdos was victorious in the Beverley Bullet
Kerdos was victorious in the Beverley Bullet (David Davies/PA)

He has a plethora of options including this Sunday’s Betfred Scarbrough Stakes at Doncaster and the Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes at Newbury on September 23.

“He only ran last weekend, so we are giving Doncaster consideration, but he does have a Listed penalty now,” said Cox.

“He also has an entry in the Abbaye and we have a Group Three at Newbury to consider on Dubai Duty Free day.

“We will just feel our way forwards with him having only run last week, but I was thrilled with how he equipped himself at Beverley and he has come out of the race really well.”



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Highfield Princess to be aimed at Abbaye after unfortunate Curragh outing

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Highfield Princess could bid to get back on track in the Prix de l’Abbaye providing she is fine following her below-par performance at the Curragh.

John Quinn’s star mare was tasked with defending her Flying Five Stakes crown on day two of the Irish Champions Festival, but nothing went to plan for the evens favourite who finished midway down the field in fifth as Ken Condon’s Moss Tucker landed a surprise victory.

Slipping on exiting the stalls, Jason Hart’s mount was immediately on the back foot, and although she quickly made up ground and was still giving her all at the finish, was never able to land a telling blow in a race she won with supreme style 12 months prior.

It was a rare disappointment from the ultra-consistent six-year-old who has been a real force on the sprinting scene over the past two seasons and, although reported to be coughing and showing signs of being in season by the vet post-race, Quinn believes Highfield Princess’ troubles at the start played a key role in her bad day at the office.

“She was scoped afterwards and was absolutely fine so the coughing was just mud that was kicked back because she got behind early on so she was fine on that front,” explained Quinn.

“Missing the break did not help her. Jason said she lost her hind legs when she came out and with the first stride she took her hind legs went. She was on the back foot straight away and did well to finish where she did in the end. It’s just one of those things and these things can happen.”

She will now be given a thorough check by the team at Quinn’s Highfield Stables, with a run at ParisLongchamp on October 1 pencilled in for her next start.

Quinn added: “She’s fine this morning. We’ll have a good look at her and if she is OK we will run her in the Abbaye.”



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Abbaye target for Athletico as connections seek ideal conditions

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The Prix de l’Abbaye is likely to be the next stop for Go Athletico as connections target optimum conditions for their sprinting star at ParisLongchamp.

The five-year-old is yet to finish outside of the first two in three starts for Adrian McGuinness, claiming Listed honours on stable debut at Cork before finishing second in two high-class Curragh sprint events most recently.

Go Athletico does have the option of returning to the Kildare venue for the Group One Flying Five Stakes during the Irish Champions Festival, but it would be somewhat fitting if he were to head to France in search of big-race success on October 1 having raced 26 times there, winning on six occasions, before transferring to Ireland for €165,000 in the spring.

“We have him in the Flying Five but I don’t think the ground will come up soft enough for him,” said Barry Irwin, CEO of Team Valor, who own the horse in partnership with Shamrock Thoroughbreds.

“He’s a very honest horse and he’s going to try every time, but he can’t go unless there is some moisture in the ground and it was just against him last time.

“I don’t think you will see him again until the Abbaye. That’s where we are pointing and depending on what kind of draw he gets and how the ground turns up, he has a tremendous turn of foot and under the right circumstances he can run with the top horses.

“I think five or five and a half furlongs is what he is made for really.”



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2023 Prix de l’Abbaye Trends

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Run at Longchamp on the same day as the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the Prix de l’Abbaye is a Group One sprint run over a distance of 5f and run at Longchamp racecourse.

The race always attracts the best sprinters from across Europe and often all over the world, but in recent years the English-based yards have done well – winning 15 of the last 21 renewals.

Here at Geegeez we take a look back at past winners and highlights the key trends to take into the 2023 renewal, this year run on Sunday 1st October.

Recent Prix de l’Abbaye Winners

2022 - THE PLATINUM QUEEN (7/5 fav)
2021 – A CASE OF YOU (108/10)
2020 – WOODED (13/2)
2019 – GLASS SLIPPERS (128/10)
2018 – MABS CROSS (12/1)
2017 – BATTAASH (9/4 fav)
2016 – MARSHA (16/1)
2015 – GOLDREAM (15/2)
2014 – MOVE IN TIME (3/1)
2013 – MAAREK (15/2)
2012 – WIZZ KID (7/1)
2011 – TANGERINE TREES (14/1)
2010 – GILT EDGE GIRL (25/1)
2009 – TOTAL GALLERY (10/1)
2008 – MARCHAND d’OR (2/1 fav)
2007 – BENBAUN (13/2)
2006 – DESERT LORD (25/1)
2005 – AVONBRIDGE (10/1)
2004 – VAR (8/1)
2003 – PATAVELLIAN (9/1)
2002 – CONTINENT (4/1 jfav)

 

Prix de l’Abbaye Trends

21/21 – Aged 6 or younger
20/21 – Raced in the last 6 weeks
18/21 – Yet to win a Group 1 race
17/21 – Had won over 5f before
16/21 – Won between 3-6 times before
15/21 – Won by UK-based yards
15/21 – Finished in the top 3 last time out
14/21 – Favourites placed in the top 4
14/21 – Came from a single-figure draw
13/21 – Returned 10/1 or shorter in the betting
11/21 – Aged 5 or 6 years-old
7/21 – Had raced at Longchamp before
6/21 – Won last time out
4/21 – Ran at Newbury last time out
4/21 – Winning favourites
5 of the last 7 winners were aged 3 years-old
Just one winning 2 year-old since 1978 (The Platinum Queen, 2022)
Just one winner aged 7+ in the last 45 runnings



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