By Tom Frary
Not content with having two unbeaten group 1-winning sons of Shamardal in Pinatubo (Ire) and Earthlight (Ire), Godolphin now have a third as TDN Rising Star Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal) emerged on top in the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on ParisLongchamp's star-studded day. Brought along relatively quietly with wins at this venue Sept. 1 and at Chantilly 13 days later, the 9-5 favourite was nobody's secret approaching this and sat fourth early under Mickael Barzalona as Frankie Dettori dictated on Alson (Ger) (Areion {Ger}). Delivered with hands and heels to swoop on the leader 100 metres from the finish, the homebred asserted to score by 3/4 of a length, with a short neck back to the G2 Futurity S. and G3 Tyros S. winner and G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. runner-up Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in third.
“He's obviously a very good horse and he won well, so he ends his season in great style,” trainer Andre Fabre said. “I'll have to discuss it with Sheikh Mohammed, but personally I would like to aim him at next year's French Classics–the Poulains and the Jockey Club. He is an easy-going horse who never shows much at home, is relaxed and quiet and easy to ride. He's neat and has a beautiful action. He is a bit of a Mill Reef type.”
The runner-up Alson, who had won the G3 Zukunftsrennen at Baden-Baden and who benefitted from some Dettori magic on the lead, was not surprising trainer Jean-Pierre Carvalho who said, “I'm delighted with that performance. We changed our original plan, because we knew that nobody wanted to make the running and he is a horse who has a tendency to be keen. I told Frankie to take responsibility and not to be afraid to go on. He stayed well, especially on that ground and we couldn't be more pleased. Next year he will have a Classic campaign, either in France or Germany.”
Aidan O'Brien said of Armory, “He's a lovely horse who is progressing all the time and we thought the step up to a mile would suit and it seemed to. He ran a good race, a solid race today as they went very steady and then quickened and maybe he got stuck for a stride or two in that ground. He's a good mover and if you had the choice then it would be for better ground than soft. I'd say he'll get more than a mile next year.”
Capping a stellar few weeks for his sire even by his standards, Victor Ludorum is the second black-type scorer for the G3 Prix Cleopatre runner-up Antiquities (GB) (Kaldounevees {Fr}) alsongside the Listed Naas Oaks Trial winner and G1 Irish Oaks third Mary Tudor (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}). The second dam is the Listed Prix Rose de Mai winner Historian (Ire) (Pennekamp), a half-sister to Godolphin's high-class G1 Dubai World Cup and GI Stephen Foster H. hero and leading sire Street Cry (Ire). Their dam, the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Helen Street (GB) (Troy {GB}), also produced the listed-placed Helsinki (GB) (Machiavellian) who is the dam of Shamardal himself meaning that Helen Street features 3×3 in Victor Ludorum's pedigree.
Shamardal is a half to the G2 Beresford S. winner Geoffrey Chaucer (Montjeu {Ire}), while the family also includes this operation's Territories (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Third in this in 2014 before being promoted to second after Gleneagles (Ire) was demoted, he went on to contest the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and was second to that Ballydoyle rival before winning the G1 Prix Jean Prat and finishing runner-up in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois. Antiquities' yearling colt is by New Approach (Ire), while her filly foal is by Territories' sire Invincible Spirit.
Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX JEAN-LUC LAGARDERE – GRAND CRITERIUM (SPONSORISE PAR MANATEQ)-G1, €400,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-6, 2yo, c/f, 8fT, 1:44.15, vsf.
1–VICTOR LUDORUM (GB), 126, c, 2, by Shamardal
1st Dam: Antiquities(GB) (GSP-Fr, $116,642), by Kaldounevees (Fr)
2nd Dam: Historian (Ire), by Pennekamp
3rd Dam: Helen Street (GB), by Troy (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Godolphin; T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona. €228,560. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €259,060. *1/2 to Mary Tudor (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}), SW & G1SP-Ire, $116,385. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Alson (Ger), 126, c, 2, Areion (Ger)–Assisi (Ger), by Galileo (Ire). O/B-Gestut Schlenderhan (GER); T-Jean-Pierre Carvalho. €91,440.
3–Armory (Ire), 126, c, 2, Galileo (Ire)–After (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €45,720.
Margins: 3/4, SNK, SNK. Odds: 1.80, 8.70, 2.20.
Also Ran: Ecrivain (Fr), Helter Skelter (Fr), Chachnak (Fr), Kenway (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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