By Sean Cronin
Much of the positive vibe surrounded Franz Schubert ahead of this early Jockey-Club pointer, but it was Godolphin's second-string Graphite who enjoyed the better trip of the pair and duly proved the one to give Andre Fabre an eighth edition. Fourth behind stablemate Veranda (Fr) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) in a mile debutantes contest at Maisons-Laffitte in September, the grey returned there a month later to deny the dual subsequent scorer Stunning Spirit (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) over this trip. Ideally placed in mid-division against the rail by Pierre-Charles Boudot as his slow-starting stablemate Franz Schubert ended up towards the back trapped wide, Graphite had a gap inside the last quarter mile and seized it to grind his way to the front passing the furlong marker and deny Phelps Win in course-record time. Franz Schubert, who there was a buzz about beforehand, made significant progress from a compromising position in the straight and will be favoured by many to reverse the form next time.
Lisa-Jane Graffard of Godolphin commented, “The winner had a very nice trip and is quite mature, while Franz Schubert is still a bit tender. He travelled well and finished well and there is room for improvement, so that is most encouraging.” Graphite is the last foal out of Fairly Grey, who was runner-up in the G3 Prix d'Aumale and whose initial progeny proved to be the GII Del Mar Derby-winning sire Fairly Ransom. She is herself a full-sister to the G1 Prix Ganay-winning sire Fair Mix (Ire) related to a host of stakes winners Stateside.
Sunday, Chantilly, France
PRIX LA FORCE-G3, €80,000, CHY, 4-9, 3yo, c/g, 9fT, 1:48.27 (NTR), gd.
1–#@GRAPHITE (FR), 128, c, 3, by Shamardal
1st Dam: Fairly Grey (Fr) (MGSP-Fr), by Linamix (Fr)
2nd Dam: Fairlee Wild, by Wild Again
3rd Dam: Raise Me, by Mr. Prospector
(€250,000 Ylg '15 AROCT). O-Godolphin SNC; B-Haras de Saint Pair (FR); T-Andre Fabre; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, €56,200. *1/2 to Fairly Ransom (Red Ransom), GSW & GISP-US, SW & GSP-Fr, $418,529 (USA); and Fairly Fair (Fr) (Sinndar {Ire}), SW-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Phelps Win (Fr), 128, c, 3, Muhtathir (GB)–Take Grace (Fr), by Take Risks (Fr). O/B-Mme Nadine Chiari (FR); T-Henri-Alex Pantall. €16,000.
3–Franz Schubert (GB), 128, c, 3, Dansili (GB)–Measured Tempo (GB), by Sadler's Wells. O-Godolphin SNC; B-Darley (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €12,000.
Margins: NK, HD, 3/4. Odds: 6.30, 6.10, 1.40.
Also Ran: Kensai (Fr), Saglawy (Fr), Be My Sheriff (Ger), Phoceen (Fr), Prinz Hlodowig (Fr), King of Spades (Fr), Chapa (Fr), High Alpha (Fr). Scratched: Afandem (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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