By Tom Frary
As far as group 1 reintroductions go, Sunday's Prix Ganay was nothing other than straightforward for Anthony Oppenheimer's G1 Champion S. hero Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) as he treated the ParisLongchamp crowd to an early-season treat. Positioned behind the Godolphin pacemaker Wren's Day (Medaglia d'Oro) by Frankie Dettori, the 3-5 favourite avoided a tactical conundrum and although it took until just before the furlong pole to properly master that surprise package, he strode away in his Frankel-esque style to win by four lengths, with last year's winner Cloth of Stars (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) finishing 3/4 of a length behind his little-known stablemate Wren's Day, a 24-1 shot, in third.
For John Gosden, it was mission accomplished with a welcome minimum of fuss. “That was a perfect race with a good even regular pace and they did not just quicken at the end,” he said. “He quickened very nicely and it was a great race for his first start of the season. The plan is definitely to come here for the first Sunday in October and he will run again soon, possibly in the [G1] Tattersalls Gold Cup [at The Curragh May 27]. He's a stronger horse this year and is still growing. I'm very impressed with him. He was very good during the race and very relaxed afterwards, which was great to see. He's become a stronger, wiser horse this year and conserves his energy better–he is much cooler and Frankie rides him beautifully. Mr Oppenheimer is talking about Ascot and the Prince of Wales's. If it's genuine good-to-firm, there's no reason we don't go there. You've got the Tattersalls Gold Cup and the Prince of Wales's and they are beautifully spaced. At some point he will have a summer freshener before the Arc.”
Dettori was equally impressed. “We went a nice pace, I sat second, kicked early. I thought the pacemaker was going a bit, but this horse has got another gear. He's good.” Anthony Oppenheimer added, “The new Longchamp is a lovely place and we are very happy to be here. I'm always nervous watching him, but he really was very good. They went quite quick, but Frankie gave him a lovely ride. It was on the faster side of good, so that was nice to see as we know he goes really well in softer ground. We think he will improve from that and hopefully we will now go to Ireland and then on to Royal Ascot. He wouldn't run in the Prince of Wales's if it was very firm, but other than that we will go there and we'll definitely come back for the Arc.”
Godolphin's two runners seemed to be the wrong way round and the operation's Lisa-Jane Graffard could not hide her surprise at the outcome. “That was a bit of a head-scratcher,” she said. “Wren's Day was ridden with aggression and Pierre-Charles [Boudot] thought he might win the race in the straight. The colt normally leads Talismanic and Cloth of Stars in their work, but might get a promotion now. He looks another string to our bow. We were happy with Cloth of Stars–he is probably best over 12 furlongs with a fast pace, was a bit keen and not able to make progress at a crucial stage, but we don't want to make excuses. Cracksman was very impressive.”
Having provided Frankel's take-off as a sire at Ascot six months ago, Cracksman could ensure the Juddmonte giant stays on an upward trajectory throughout 2018. His dam, the soft-ground loving Rhadegunda (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), was also responsible for the G3 Solario S. scorer Fantastic Moon (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and her 3-year-old Military Band (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) is held in some regard by Saeed bin Suroor despite finishing unplaced in Newmarket's Wood Ditton S. earlier this month. The third dam is the 1000 Guineas and Sussex S. heroine On the House (Be My Guest), whose descendants include the G2 Royal Lodge S. winner Leo (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and who is related to the G1 Coronation S. winner Rebecca Sharp (GB) (Machiavellian) and these connections's G1 Epsom Derby, G1 Eclipse S. and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}).
Sunday, Longchamp, France
PRIX GANAY – PRIX DE L'INAUGURATION DE PARISLONGCHAMP-G1, €600,000, LCP, 4-29, 4yo/up, 10 1/2fT, 2:09.44, gd.
1–CRACKSMAN (GB), 128, c, 4, by Frankel (GB)">Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Rhadegunda (GB) (SW-Fr), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: St Radegund (GB), by Green Desert
3rd Dam: On the House, by Be My Guest
O-Anthony Oppenheimer; B-Hascombe & Valiant Studs (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. €342,840. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Eur at 9.5-11f, G1SW-Eng & G1SP-Ire, 8-6-1-1, €1,924,970. *1/2 to Fantastic Moon (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), GSW-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Wren's Day, 128, c, 4, Medaglia d'Oro">Medaglia d'Oro–Season's Greetings (Ire), by Ezzoud (Ire). O-Godolphin SNC; B-Darley (KY); T-Andre Fabre. €137,160.[bullet ad=”us-bred-ky-bred”]3–Cloth of Stars (Ire), 128, h, 5, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Strawberry Fledge, by Kingmambo. (400,000gns Ylg '14 TATOCT). O-Godolphin SNC; B-Peter Anastasiou (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €68,580.
Margins: 4, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 0.60, 24.00, 3.50.
Also Ran: Rhododendron (Ire), Finche (GB), Wild Chief (Ger), Air Pilot (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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