By Tom Frary
This race lost a key player when Shutter Speed (GB) (Dansili {GB}) was ruled out due to the rain-affected going, but another TDN Rising Star in Sobetsu stepped forward to inject a touch of class over the course and distance over which she had won the May 14 G1 Prix Saint-Alary. Eighth of nine in the June 3 G1 Epsom Oaks and third in the G1 Nassau S. back at this trip at Goodwood last time Aug. 3, the bay who is becoming a genuine soft-ground specialist was in front initially before settling in third for James Doyle. As the returning G1 Prix de Diane heroine Senga loomed on her outer in early straight, she was asked to move forward and take command and duly responded in her usual game fashion to do so with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining. Staying on strongly as that rival flattened out, the homebred had put her seal on the contest in which the Diane faller Onthemoonagain made further progression as she denied Senga the runner-up spot.
Charlie Appleby is looking at big targets again with Sobetsu. “We have had this in mind for her for a long time, ever since her run in the Oaks where we hoped for ease in the ground and it didn't happen,” he explained. “The truth is, she didn't stay a mile and a half at Epsom and she had since run a very good race in the Nassau. With the ground like it is in Deauville at present, we were quite confident. She has had two solid races in a short period of time, so maybe she needs a break. She could possibly go for the [G1 Prix de l'] Opera [at Chantilly Oct. 1], but we also have in mind the [GI] QEII Cup at Keeneland.” Senga's trainer Pascal Bary said, “It looks like she might have needed it and she was also a bit wide throughout, so we will stick to the plan which is the Opera followed by the [GI] Breeders' Cup Fillies & Mares Turf.”
Sobetsu hails from the outstanding dynasty of Doff the Derby, responsible for two Epsom Classic winners in the brilliant champion Generous (Ire) and Imagine (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), who upstaged her full-sister Strawberry Roan (Ire) by also winning the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas. The Listed Prix Caravelle-winning Lake Toya, who was also third in the G3 Prix de Flore, is a daughter of Shinko Hermes who also produced three other black-type performers headed by the Listed Winkfield S. scorer and G3 Prix des Chenes third Sixth Sense (Ire) (Shamardal). She is also the second dam of last year's G1 Japanese 2000 Guineas hero Dee Majesty (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), while the family also includes the ill-fated G1 Grand Criterium scorer Horatio Nelson (Ire) (Danehill), the GIII Monrovia H. and G3 C. L. Weld Park S. winner and G1 Phoenix S. third Wedding Bouquet (Ire) (Kings Lake). She is the second dam of the multiple Group 1-winning miler and sprint champion Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).
Saturday, Deauville, France
SHADWELL PRIX DE LA NONETTE-G2, €130,000, DVL, 8-19, 3yo, f, 10fT, 2:05.94, g/s.
1–SOBETSU (GB), 126, f, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Lake Toya (SW & GSP-Fr, SW-Eng, $135,852), by Darshaan (GB)
2nd Dam: Shinko Hermes (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Doff The Derby, by Master Derby
O-Godolphin; B-Darley (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-James Doyle. €74,100. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr & G1SP-Eng, 7-3-0-2, €319,004. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Onthemoonagain (Fr), 126, f, 3, Cape Cross (Ire)–Ma Preference (Fr), by American Post (GB). (€55,000 Ylg '15 AROCT). O-Martin S Schwartz Racing; B-Patrick Chedeville (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €28,600.
3–Senga, 126, f, 3, Blame">Blame–Beta Leo, by A.P. Indy. O-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd; B-Flaxman Holdings Ltd (KY); T-Pascal Bary. €13,650.
Margins: 2HF, 3/4, HD. Odds: 2.00, 6.60, 2.20.
Also Ran: Strathspey (GB), Araaja (Ire), Penny Lane (Ger), Vue Fantastique (Fr), Ibiza (Fr), Body Sculpt (Fr). Scratched: Shutter Speed (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
