By Sean Cronin
PRIX JACQUES LAFFITTE-Listed, €52,000, MLF, 4-10, 4yo/up, 9fT, 1:47.50, gd.
1–ULTRA (IRE), 126, c, 4, Manduro (Ger)–Epitome (Ire), by Nashwan. O-Godolphin SNC; B-Darley (IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona. €26,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 6-4-1-0, €284,090. *1/2 to Synopsis (Ire) (In the Wings {GB}), GSW-Fr, $117,540.
2–Wireless (Fr), 126, h, 6, Kentucky Dynamite–Sachet, by Royal Academy. (€80,000 RNA 3yo '14 ARQARC). O-Leram SRO. €10,400.
3–Le Juge (Ire), 126, c, 4, Dansili (GB)–Mambo Light, by Kingmambo. (€850,000 Ylg '14 ARAUG). O-OTI Management Pty Ltd. €7,800.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3HF, 2. Odds: 1.70, 10.00, 14.20.
Ultra developed a splint around this time last year and was forced to sidestep all Classic engagements after annexing the 2015 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp, and had just a second in the July 17 G2 Prix Eugene Adam here and a sixth in Deauville's Aug. 15 G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano to add to an unbeaten three-race juvenile campaign. Enjoying favoritism in this comeback, he was well away to race third along the rail in the wake of fellow Godolphin colourbearer Bravo Zolo (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) and easily outclassed overmatched rivals once shaken up for his bid with 300 metres remaining to provide Andre Fabre with a clean sweep of the day's three stakes races. “He had all sorts of small problems earlier last season which slowed down his training,” explained Godolphin's Lisa-Jane Graffard. “He caught a virus after he returned and was out again for the rest of the year. He's obviously a good horse, but showed he needed this today and should come on a lot for the run. We'll wait and see how he improves before making any decisions.”
The homebred chestnut is a half to G3 Prix Minerve victress Synopsis (Ire) (In the Wings {GB}) and the dual stakes-placed Epic Simile (GB) (Lomitas {GB}). His dam, herself a daughter of MGSW Italian champion Proskona (Mr. Prospector), is a half-sister to GII Canadian H. winner Calista (GB) (Caerleon) and has also produced the 2-year-old filly Irish Abbey (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and a yearling filly by Raven's Pass. Proskona is also the third dam of MG1SW sire Act One (GB) (In the Wings {GB}), and the top-level performers Gharir (Ire) (Machiavellian), who ran third in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains, and G1 Fillies' Mile runner-up Summer Symphony (Ire) (Caerleon). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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