Sunday, Longchamp, France
QATAR PRIX DE L'ABBAYE DE LONGCHAMP-G1, €350,000, Longchamp, 10-7, 2yo/up, 5fT, 1:01.17, hy.
1--
WIZZ KID (IRE), 133, f, 4, by Whipper
1st Dam: Lidanski (Ire) (SP-Ire), by Soviet Star
2nd Dam: Lidanna (GB), by Nicholas
3rd Dam: Shapely Test, by Elocutionist
O-Mme Maeve Mahony; B-Ballylinch Stud; T-Robert Collet; J-Gerald Mosse; €199,990. Lifetime Record: GSP-Eng, 14 starts, 4 wins, 8 places, €570,999.
Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--
Mayson (GB), 137, c, 4, Invincible Spirit (Ire)--Mayleaf (GB), by Pivotal (GB). O-David W Armstrong; B-Highfield Farm LLP; T-Richard Fahey; €80,010.
3--
Hamish McGonagall (GB), 137, g, 7, Namid (GB)--Anatase (GB), by Danehill. (15,000gns wnlg '05 TATDEC; 17,000gns yrl '06 DONAUG). O-Reality Partnerships I; B-J P Coggan & Whitsbury Manor Stud; T-Tim Easterby; €40,005.
Margins: NK, HF, 2HF. Odds: 8.30, 2.10, 24.00.
Also Ran: Ballesteros (GB), Sole Power (GB), Inxile (Ire), Humidor (Ire), Monsieur Joe (Ire), Borderlescott (GB), Govinda, Spirit Quartz (Ire), Tangerine Trees (GB), Tiddliwinks (GB), Beyond Desire (GB), Definightly (GB), Secret Asset (Ire), Taajub (Ire), Swiss Spirit (GB). Scratched: Cay Verde (GB).
Click for the Racing Post chart, the AmWest PPS or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. Click for Equidia video.
Wizz Kid was the ready winner of the G2 Prix du Gros-Chene at Chantilly for the second consecutive year June 3, but was well below that level when only 10th in the June 19 G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot. She ran a creditable second to Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the Aug. 5 G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville Aug. 5, and firm ground offered no assistance when sixth in the G1 Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock Sept. 8 last time. However, a return to home shores and softer terrain did not help Wizz Kid initially here, as she broke awkwardly and was niggled along towards the rear whilst Inxile (Ire) (Fayruz {GB}) blazed his usual trail up front. Making headway as favored Mayson hit the front at the quarter pole, she was still four lengths down and ridden along as that rival went clear with Hamish McGonagall at the furlong marker. But Gerald Mosse set to work, and Wizz Kid came with a turbo-charged late run to nail that pair close home, even allowing her veteran partner to take it easy in the final strides. "It's a victory which she deserved as she has been unlucky a couple of times in the big races," said Ballylinch Stud manager John O'Connor. She was beaten just over a length, but only finished fifth and didn't have a particularly good run in this race last year. Today, everything went her way. She likes a good, fast pace early on, and she finishes well. She's so brave, and maybe the cheekpieces help her to concentrate a little early on. We're delighted for her, and she's a homebred, which is even better." Trainer Robert Collet added, "This is just a great moment, and I'm very proud of this filly. She had knocked at the door a few times at this level and had always run with great credit. As she's by Whipper, I'm sure the heavy ground helped and, being the only French-trained horse in the field, we take great pride that she has kept the prize at home, which doesn't happen very often in this race. I will run her again at Ascot in the [Oct. 20 G2] British Champions Sprint, where I will be privileged to see Frankel run on the card." An emotional Gerald Mosse, who claimed his first victory in the event, continued, "She wasn't the biggest horse in the race, but she certainly had the biggest heart. I was in a little trouble at halfway, but the pace was very fast and I knew the leaders would come back to me, although I did not imagine that she would be capable of delivering such tremendous acceleration at the end."
