By Tom Frary
Representing the English 2000 Guineas and Derby form, Eminent was allowed his head by Ryan Moore in this hot contest and rewarded that decision to outclass the domestic team including the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Brametot (Ire) (Rajsaman {Fr}). Quickly into a clear advantage tracked by fellow British raider Salouen (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) with the French colts all sitting and waiting initially, the bay was still full of energy turning for home as his rivals all came under pressure from their jockeys. Despite the game effort of last year's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere runner-up Salouen, it was Eminent who was at last able to demonstrate his class and he hit the line strong with daylight between him and his compatriot as Avilius fared best of the home-trained representatives in third. If Almanzor was disappointing in the Gontaut-Biron, then fellow Rouget trainee Brametot was much more so here, finishing almost 10 lengths back in fifth. Again slowly away as he had been earlier this season, it ultimately did not matter as he was never able to land a blow. “That's vindicated all our thoughts about him and he showed how good he is,” winning trainer Martyn Meade said. “There was no lead here and so we had no other tactic than to make it and it worked out on this particular occasion.”
Bursting onto the scene when becoming Frankel's first big-race winner of 2017 in the Apr. 20 G3 Craven S. at Newmarket, Eminent was sixth but beaten just over three lengths in the G1 2000 Guineas back there May 6 before meeting some trouble when under two-lengths fourth in the June 3 G1 Epsom Derby. Only fifth in the G1 Eclipse S. when resenting restraint at Sandown July 8, he was able to draw on his inherent zest for running that his sire was famed for as he lit up a sun-bathed Deauville. For Meade, the win was recompense for some knockbacks for his pride and joy. “He has come through some difficult times and has struggled a little bit,” he added. “He had a tough time in the Guineas and that wasn't his trip, then in the Derby he was bumped three times and would certainly have been second or third and again he did not get a clear run in the Eclipse. Today he bowled along and said this is me and what I can do. Beating a dual Classic winner in France is exciting and that's what made this race so good.”
Now that Eminent is back in the headlines, the attention was turned towards the major autumn prizes but Meade is in no hurry to commit him to those. “He could possibly end up at Ascot [for the Oct. 21 G1 Champion S.] and there is also the big one back in France [Oct. 1 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly], but the one thing to think about is that this horse will make a fantastic four-year-old so I will try not to overdo him and go too often this year,” he explained. “He has a few options, so I'll have to think carefully but I do think he loves that distance. We'll see how is at home, but at least we've seen now what this horse is capable of.”
On an unusually quiet day for the Jean-Claude Rouget stable, Al Shaqab spokesman Rupert Pritchard-Gordon was quick to excuse Brametot's below-par effort. “He broke even slower than usual and it was a truly-run race so it was impossible to get into the race,” he said. “We will have to regroup and see how he is, but we can't make plans at this stage. Let's not forget he had two tough races in the Classics and although he needed a break, it might be that he is still not at the top of his game.”
Eminent's dam You'll Be Mine was third in the 2009 G1 Fillies' Mile, but failed to make an impact afterwards. Her dam was Quarter Moon, who captured the G1 Moyglare Stud S. over seven furlongs at two and stayed a mile and a half on testing ground when runner-up in the G1 Epsom Oaks before filling the same spot in the G1 Irish Oaks. Her full-sister Yesterday (Ire) was also versatile regarding trip, winning the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and also being the bridesmaid at Epsom, while another full-sibling who was placed in the English and Irish Oaks All My Loving (Ire) went on to produce four black-type performers. They are headed by Diamondsandrubies (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who took the G1 Pretty Polly S., and the ill-fated G2 Hardwicke S. and G2 King Edward VII S. scorer Thomas Chippendale (Ire) (Dansili {GB}). This remarkable family goes back to Alruccaba (Ire) (Crystal Palace {Fr}) and boasts the grey sisters Alborada (GB) and Albanova (GB) by Alzao, the G1 Prix Royal-Oak heroine Allegretto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the G2 Nassau S. and G2 Sun Chariot S. winner Last Second (Ire) (Alzao). Her best produce was the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and GI Shadwell Turf Mile S.-winning Aussie Rules, while other descendants to fly the flag in 2017 are the G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and TDN Rising Star Amedeo Modigliani (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). You'll Be Mine came back after two barren years to produce a colt foal by Fastnet Rock (Aus).
Tuesday, Deauville, France
PRIX GUILLAUME D'ORNANO HARAS DU LOGIS SAINT-GERMAIN-G2, €400,000, DVL, 8-15, 3yo, 10fT, 2:02.26, gd.
1–EMINENT (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Frankel (GB)">Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: You'll Be Mine (G1SP-Eng), by Kingmambo
2nd Dam: Quarter Moon (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Jude (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
(150,000gns Ylg '15 TATOCT). O-Sir Peter Vela; B-Premier Bloodstock (IRE); T-Martyn Meade; J-Ryan Moore. €228,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 6-3-0-0, €400,113. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Salouen (Ire), 128, c, 3, Canford Cliffs (Ire)–Gali Gal (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (€85,000 Ylg '15 GOFSPT). O-Hiran Balasuriya; B-Silvercon Edgerodge Ltd (IRE); T-Sylvester Kirk. €88,000.
3–Avilius (GB), 128, c, 3, Pivotal (GB)–Alessandria (GB), by Sunday Silence. O-Godolphin SNC; B-Darley (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €42,000.
Margins: 3, 1 3/4, 2HF. Odds: 3.40, 25.50, 15.20.
Also Ran: Last Kingdom, Brametot (Ire), Mask of Time (Ire), Recoletos (Fr), Soleil Marin (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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