With just a sixth placing in the nine-furlong G1 Prix d'Ispahan at Chantilly May 24 so far to show for the decision to remain in training at four, last year's G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner New Bay made the most of his clean slate to successfully kickstart his rise back to prominence in this low-key affair. On this day last year, the world seemed his oyster as he returned from his post-Jockey Club sojourn to win the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano before adding the G2 Prix Niel to his tally on his first try at a mile and a half at Longchamp in September. Only third in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe back there in October, he received the first dent to his reputation but remained a high-class prospect for the big middle-distance prizes his career was prolonged for. When he trailed in, as all other opponents of A Shin Hikari (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) did, in sixth in the d'Ispahan, Andre Fabre went back to the drawing board and proved yet again what decades of experience mean in the training game as he produced the chestnut spot-on for what was effectively his seasonal bow here. Cruising behind the British handicapper Arthenus in a share of second early, he was committed at the top of the straight by Vincent Cheminaud and once clear only needed hands and heels to register what had to be a comfortable success in this company. “He was not quite himself after the d'Ispahan and had some minor issues which have been sorted out, plus it was very heavy ground there and so Andre took his time to get him back to his best,” Khalid Abdullah's Racing Manager Teddy Grimthorpe explained. “We were not in a hurry and are delighted with that. His target is the [G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly Oct. 2 on the] first Sunday in October and he may run once in between. Whether that is in the [G1] Irish Champion [S. at Leopardstown Sept. 10] or the [G2] Prix Foy [at Chantilly Sept. 11] remains to be seen.”
New Bay's useful dam is a half to the G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil winner and G1 Prix Royal-Oak runner-up Bellamy Cay (GB) (Kris {GB}) whose dam Trellis Bay is a half to the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Wemyss Bight (GB) (Dancing Brave). She in turn produced the four-times group and grade 1-winning sire Beat Hollow (GB) and the GIII Tanforan H. scorer Yaralino (GB) (Caerleon) and is also a half to Coraline (GB) (Sadler's Wells), dam of the triumvirate of top-class Juddmonte stayers and sires Reefscape (GB), Coastal Path (GB) and Martaline (GB) as well as the dam of New Bay's 3-year-old dual-listed winning stablemate and bright prospect Doha Dream (Fr) (Shamardal). Another of Bahamian's daughters, Hope (Ire) (Dancing Brave {Ire}), achieved fame as the dam of the brilliant Oasis Dream (GB) and the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Zenda (GB) (Zamindar), now the dam of the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, G1 Prix Jacques le Marois, G1 St James's Palace S. and G1 Sussex S. hero Kingman (GB).
Monday, Deauville, France
PRIX GONTAUT-BIRON HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB-G3, €80,000, DVL, 8-15, 4yo/up, 10fT, 2:12.67, gd.
1–NEW BAY (GB), 121, c, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Cinnamon Bay (GB) (SW-Fr), by Zamindar
2nd Dam: Trellis Bay (GB), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Bahamian (Ire), by Mill Reef
O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Andre Fabre; J-Vincent Cheminaud. €40,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 9-5-2-1, €1,919,230. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Arthenus (GB), 121, g, 4, Dutch Art (GB)–Lady Hen (GB), by Efisio (GB). O-A Coombs & J W Rowley; B-Brook Stud Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-James Fanshawe. €16,000.
3–Garlingari (Fr), 130, g, 5, Linngari (Ire)–Garlinote (Fr), by Poliglote (GB). O/T-Corine Barande-Barbe; B-Corine Barande-Barbe & Mme J-J Massy (FR). €12,000.
Margins: 1HF, 1 1/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.30, 10.60, 3.60.
Also Ran: Brisanto (GB), Royal Dolois (Fr). 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.
