By Tom Frary
Totally off the radar a month ago, Godolphin's Brundtland (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is now the winner of the Arc's premier trial for 3-year-olds after outbattling Hunting Horn (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in Sunday's G2 Qatar Prix Niel at ParisLongchamp. Brought back from a lengthy absence by Charlie Appleby to double his tally in the Listed Grand Prix de Clairefontaine over 12 furlongs Aug. 23, the 3-1 second favourite set off in front under James Doyle with Hunting Horn in close attendance. Passed by that rival with 300 metres remaining, the bay regained the advantage a furlong later and had a short head to spare at the line, with Neufbosc (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) 1 1/2 furlongs back in third. “He's a hard horse to get a handle on, as he's not exactly an exciting work horse but gets the job done on the track,” his trainer said. “Staying is going to be the colt's forte and I will discuss with Sheikh Mohammed about the plans from here on.”
The Niel is usually a key pointer to the Arc, but connections were not leaning that way afterwards. “He is another exciting Dubawi colt and hopefully he will go on improving,” Appleby added. “We had him in the St Leger, but we had a team for that race and this colt probably did not have enough experience for that. He's going to be very exciting for next year.” Jockey James Doyle added, “The colt still needs to grow up mentally. I've ridden Poet's Word and Sea of Class and, at this point in time, I think that the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe would be a bridge too far for him.”
Brundtland, whose debut came over 10 furlongs at Newmarket in October, is the first foal out of the G3 Desmond S. winner Future Generation (Ire) (Hurricane Run {Ire}), herself a half to the G3 Fairy Bridge S. third Rasmeyaa (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) and multiple listed-placed Dancing Breeze (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}). The listed-winning third dam Persian Secret (Fr) (Persian Heights {GB}) is a half-sister to the late sire Verglas (Ire) (Highest Honor {Fr}) and the high-class sprinter Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), which links her to this operation's recent G3 Gordon S. winner and G2 Great Voltigeur S. runner-up Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) and the likes of Halfway to Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) et al. Future Generation's foal is a daughter of Dark Angel (Ire).
Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX NIEL-G2, €130,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-16, 3yo, c/f, 12fT, 2:31.55, gd.
1–BRUNDTLAND (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Future Generation (Ire) (GSW-Ire & SW-US, $256,380), by Hurricane Run (Ire)
2nd Dam: Posterity (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: Persian Secret (Fr), by Persian Heights (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN. O-Godolphin; B-J F Hanly (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-James Doyle. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €109,155. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Hunting Horn (Ire), 128, c, 3, Camelot (GB)">Camelot (GB)–Mora Bai (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Lynch-Bages & Rhinestone Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €28,600.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]3–Neufbosc (Fr), 128, c, 3, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Nonsuch Way (Ire), by Verglas (Ire). O-Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Franklin Finance SA (FR); T-Pia Brandt. €13,650.
Margins: SHD, 1HF, SHD. Odds: 3.20, 9.00, 1.80.
Also Ran: Royal Youmzain (Fr), Naturally High (Fr), Louis D'Or (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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