Exceed and Excel's Sound and Silence Wins the Prix Eclipse

Looking unlucky when a strong-finishing second to Rimini (Fr) (Elusive City) in the G3 Prix d'Arenberg over five furlongs at Chantilly Sept. 3, Sound and Silence was sent straight to the front by James Doyle and the simple approach paid handsome dividends as he led at every step to dominate this affair. This display showed how far the bay has come since he was fourth under positive tactics in Sandown's Listed National S. over five furlongs May 25, which came before softly-softly tactics were employed to annexe Royal Ascot's Listed Windsor Castle S. June 20. Disappointing when 11th trying this trip for the first time in the G2 July S. at Newmarket July 13, he had come from rear to capture York's Listed Roses S. back at five furlongs Aug. 26 prior to his d'Arenberg effort.

Sound and Silence is a grandson of the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Fillies' Mile heroine Gossamer, whose best performer raced in these silks in the G1 Racing Post Trophy scorer Ibn Khaldun (Dubai Destination) and who is also the second dam of the G2 Park Hill S. winner and G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. runner-up Silk Sari (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}). The G1 Prix de la Foret-winning third dam Brocade was also responsible for the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and GI Breeders' Cup Mile-winning European Horse of the year and sire Barathea (Ire) and the GIII Countess Fager H. scorer Free At Last (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}). She later produced Coretta (Ire) (Caerleon), who won the GII Orchid H., GII Long Island H. and GII La Prevoyante H. twice and was runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and GI Flower Bowl Invitational H. This is also the family of the GI E. P. Taylor S. runner-up Talmada (Cape Cross {Ire}), the G2 Champagne S. scorer Saamidd (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}) and another smart distaffer to race in the Leigh colours in the MSW and GSP Seta (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). Veil of Silence has a yearling filly by Pivotal (GB) and a filly foal by Dubawi (Ire).

Wednesday, Maisons-Laffitte, France
PRIX ECLIPSE-G3, €80,000, MLF, 9-20, 2yo, 6fT, 1:13.81, hy.
1–SOUND AND SILENCE (GB), 123, c, 2, by Exceed and Excel (Aus)
1st Dam: Veil of Silence (Ire), by Elusive Quality
2nd Dam: Gossamer (GB), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Brocade (GB), by Habitat
*1st Group win. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-James Doyle. €40,000. Lifetime Record: MSW-Eng, 7-4-1-0, €162,268. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Coeur de Beaute (Fr), 120, f, 2, Dabirsim (Fr)–Twilight Tear (GB), by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire). (€30,000 Ylg '16 OSASEP). O-Ahmed Mouknass, Alain Jathiere, Ecurie Pandora Racing & Gerard Decocq; B-Haras de Grandcamp EARL (FR); T-Mikel Delcher Sanchez. €16,000.[bullet ad=”frbc-chantilly”]3–French Pegasus (Fr), 123, c, 2, French Fifteen (Fr)–Etrangere, by Fusaichi Pegasus. (€19,000 Ylg '16 OSASEP). O-Jean Justin Fournier; B-Mme G Forien & G Forien (FR); T-Yann Barberot. €12,000.
Margins: 3, 1 3/4, HD. Odds: 0.90, 3.20, 5.90.
Also Ran: Arecibo (Fr), River Cannes (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.