Warm Heart takes Prix Vermeille glory for O’Brien and Doyle

Warm Heart’s brilliant season continued as she landed the Qatar Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp for Aidan O’Brien.

The Galileo filly came into the Group One off the back of a Yorkshire Oaks success on the Knavesmire in late August, a race that was her first under rider James Doyle.

Prior to that she was fifth in the Irish Oaks, but her year has included plenty of winning as she took both the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Haras De Bouquetot Fillies’ Trial Stakes at Newbury.

Her trip to Paris was also a success as she reunited with Doyle and was given a fine ride, finding plenty when pressed to defeat Francis-Henri Graffard’s Melo Melo by a neck at 11-4.

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Hermine Bastide of owners Coolmore said: “She loves good ground and is super generous. James Doyle said she hadn’t had the easiest of races and yet she showed a lot of determination. The team will decide the next step.”

Doyle found the race less than straightforward but was impressed with Warm Heart’s will to win, saying: “The race was a bit of a trappy contest.

“Normally, she exits the gates very well but she slipped today, losing her action for a few strides, and so I found myself further back than I would have liked and a bit fenced-in.

“They didn’t go very fast and I was worried during the race, she showed a lot of determination to come out on top.

“Once in the lead, she doesn’t really stop, but tends to idle a bit and wait for the others, which is what she did in the Yorkshire Oaks, and what she did again today.”

Warm Heart is not entered in the Arc and while she could be supplemented, Doyle considers the ground to be crucial as he does not believe she will appreciate soft conditions. In the build up to France, O’Brien mentioned the Breeders’ Cup as the likely destination.

Doyle said: “As for the Arc, her connections will decide. My feeling is that she needs good ground – being a light-actioned sort, and the going is therefore important in that regard.



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“We’ve already seen editions of the Arc being run on fast ground, it can happen, but it’s not common either.”

Speaking at the Curragh, O’Brien confirmed Santa Anita as the plan, rather than the Arc.

He said: “We went to France with her as we were afraid the ground was going to go. We’re delighted with her and it will probably be the Breeders’ Cup before we see her again.”

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