By Tom Frary
As it had been at Meydan and Doncaster last weekend, blue was again the colour on ParisLongchamp's season opener on Sunday with Godolphin's Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) flaunting his flagrant superiority in the feature G2 Prix d'Harcourt. With his last two runs–both successful–being as far apart as the G3 Autumn S. at Newmarket in October 2017 and the G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange over this course and 10-furlong distance in September, it was hard to know what to expect from the imposing individual. No sooner had William Buick been carried two furlongs was the writing on the wall and the bay was unerringly comfortable in a wide-margin lead by the time he entered the famous “false straight”. Still out in isolation after the home turn, the 7-10 favourite was eased considerably in a show of utter dominance to narrow what should have been at least a seven-length advantage to just 1 1/2 at the line from one of Godolphin's other runners Soleil Marin (Ire) (Kendargent {Fr}).
Charlie Appleby is aiming big now. “We always had very high hopes for him and if you'd asked me early in the season last year I would have said he was one of ours for the Derby, but he had that setback before the Dante,” he explained to the French press. “His Highness Sheikh Mohammed said to give him plenty of time if I thought he was a proper horse and we did. We were tempted with the Champion Stakes after the Prince d'Orange, but again Sheikh Mohammed said to give him time and he'll repay you next year. He had wintered nicely in Dubai and we brought him back home about two weeks ago. He's a strong galloper, so I told William [Buick] that if there was no pace don't be afraid to go on and let him find his stride. He did that very nicely and we have in the [Apr. 28 G1] Prix Ganay and the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup [at The Curragh May 26], but at this stage I would say it will be the Ganay. It has always been the plan to step him up to a mile and a half one day and that will come in time. He could be a nice horse for the Arc, but there is a lot of water to go under the bridge before then so let's wait and see.”
Ghaiyyath's dam is the Late Gita Weld's homebred G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Nightime (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is also responsible for the high-class GI Man o'War S., G3 Kilternan S. and G3 Blue Wind S. heroine Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and the listed-placed Sleeping Beauty (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who is in turn the dam of the GIII With Anticipation S. runner-up Irish Territory (Ire) (Declaration of War). Her dam, the Listed Platinum S. winner Caumshinaun (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), is connected to the GI Sword Dancer Invitational hero King's Drama (Ire) (King's Theatre {Ire}). Nightime's yearling colt is also by Dubawi.
Charlie Appleby is aiming big now. “We always had very high hopes for him and if you'd asked me early in the season last year I would have said he was one of ours for the Derby, but he had that setback before the Dante,” he explained to the French press. “His Highness Sheikh Mohammed said to give him plenty of time if I thought he was a proper horse and we did. We were tempted with the Champion Stakes after the Prince d'Orange, but again Sheikh Mohammed said to give him time and he'll repay you next year. He had wintered nicely in Dubai and we brought him back home about two weeks ago. He's a strong galloper, so I told William [Buick] that if there was no pace don't be afraid to go on and let him find his stride. He did that very nicely and we have in the [Apr. 28 G1] Prix Ganay and the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup [at The Curragh May 26], but at this stage I would say it will be the Ganay. It has always been the plan to step him up to a mile and a half one day and that will come in time. He could be a nice horse for the Arc, but there is a lot of water to go under the bridge before then so let's wait and see.”
Ghaiyyath's dam is the Late Gita Weld's homebred G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Nightime (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is also responsible for the high-class GI Man o'War S., G3 Kilternan S. and G3 Blue Wind S. heroine Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and the listed-placed Sleeping Beauty (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who is in turn the dam of the GIII With Anticipation S. runner-up Irish Territory (Ire) (Declaration of War). Her dam, the Listed Platinum S. winner Caumshinaun (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), is connected to the GI Sword Dancer Invitational hero King's Drama (Ire) (King's Theatre {Ire}). Nightime's yearling colt is also by Dubawi.
Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX D'HARCOURT-G2, €130,000, ParisLongchamp, 4-7, 4yo/up, 10fT, 2:02.87, gd.
1–GHAIYYATH (IRE), 126, c, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Nightime (Ire) (G1SW-Ire, $299,507), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Caumshinaun (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: Ridge Pool (Ire), by Bluebird
(€1,100,000 Wlg '15 GOFNOV). O-Godolphin; B-Springbank Way Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. €74,100. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 5-4-0-1, €161,570. *1/2 to Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 9.5-11f, GISW-US & MGSW-Ire, $499,594; and Sleeping Beauty (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), SP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Soleil Marin (Ire), 126, g, 5, Kendargent (Fr)–Sousmarine (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). O-Godolphin SNC; B-Ecurie Peregrine SAS (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €28,600.
3–Intellogent (Ire), 132, c, 4, Intello (Ger)–Nuit Polaire (Ire), by Kheleyf. (€320,000 Ylg '16 ARQAUG). O-Fiona Carmichael; B-Ecurie Des Monceaux (IRE): T-Fabrice Chappet. €13,650.
Margins: 1HF, 3HF, 1. Odds: 0.70, 8.60, 4.20.
Also Ran: Lucius Tiberius (Ire), Volfango (Ire), Nocturnal Fox (Ire). Scratched: Subway Dancer (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
PRIX D'HARCOURT-G2, €130,000, ParisLongchamp, 4-7, 4yo/up, 10fT, 2:02.87, gd.
1–GHAIYYATH (IRE), 126, c, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Nightime (Ire) (G1SW-Ire, $299,507), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Caumshinaun (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: Ridge Pool (Ire), by Bluebird
(€1,100,000 Wlg '15 GOFNOV). O-Godolphin; B-Springbank Way Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. €74,100. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 5-4-0-1, €161,570. *1/2 to Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 9.5-11f, GISW-US & MGSW-Ire, $499,594; and Sleeping Beauty (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), SP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Soleil Marin (Ire), 126, g, 5, Kendargent (Fr)–Sousmarine (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). O-Godolphin SNC; B-Ecurie Peregrine SAS (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €28,600.
3–Intellogent (Ire), 132, c, 4, Intello (Ger)–Nuit Polaire (Ire), by Kheleyf. (€320,000 Ylg '16 ARQAUG). O-Fiona Carmichael; B-Ecurie Des Monceaux (IRE): T-Fabrice Chappet. €13,650.
Margins: 1HF, 3HF, 1. Odds: 0.70, 8.60, 4.20.
Also Ran: Lucius Tiberius (Ire), Volfango (Ire), Nocturnal Fox (Ire). Scratched: Subway Dancer (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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