By Tom Frary
The build-up to Sunday's G1 Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp was dominated by Godolphin's up-and-coming force Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), but in the event it was an already-proven domestic star who took centre stage as TDN Rising Star Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) brushed him aside with rare gusto. Shortened up to the trip over which he had so nearly won the G1 Prix du Jockey-Club two years previously, Gestut Ammerland and Newsells Park Stud's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud hero settled perfectly in third with Pierre-Charles Boudot always happy. Looking the obvious winner turning for home with the 1-2 favourite Ghaiyyath failing to get away from them, the 17-5 shot swooped on him and Study of Man (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) with a furlong remaining and from there it was dial-the-distance. Lengthening impressively like a horse who has finally matured into the real deal he promised so early, the chestnut cut an impressive figure as he romped to the line with head thrust forward for an emphatic 4 1/2-length success. Last year's Jockey-Club hero Study of Man was next best behind the foremost older middle-distance horse in France, just edging Ghaiyyath by a short head. “The horse had done very well during the winter and maybe he's even stronger than last year–he is at least fully mature now as a five-year-old,” trainer Andre Fabre said. “I have him in the [G1] Coronation Cup [at Epsom May 31], but I could also target the [June 30 G1] Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and then the [G1] King George [and Queen Elizabeth S.] at Ascot July 27], so we'll take time to decide.”
In the last 30 years of this time-honoured test, only six horses had dipped under 2:10 when it was staged at this track and Waldgeist is now the seventh. Four of those were Subotica (Fr), Dylan Thomas (Ire), Duke of Marmalade (Ire) and Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and it is common knowledge what they went on to achieve. Waldgeist had won a strong renewal of the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud as a juvenile but despite going close in the Chantilly Classic the following June it was not until last summer that he really began to come into his own. Even then, his autumn showings suggested he was still a notch under the elite standard but this dynamic display will have connections of the leading fillies Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) thinking again.
Study of Man had more to prove than the winner and despite being outclassed the Niarchos Family's homebred put up an encouraging effort which satisfied the team. “We are definitely very pleased–he moved very nicely and had a good action,” the owner-breeders' racing manager Alan Cooper commented. “He held on well for second at the end and there are various options to consider. We will very seriously consider the [G1] Prix d'Ispahan [back at this track May 26].” Ghaiyyath's trainer Charlie Appleby was not too downhearted with the third, who travelled with the same enthusiasm in front as he had done in the G2 Prix d'Harcourt here last time Apr. 7 but did not find as much in the closing stages. “Today was a test against obviously stronger opposition than last time and he has run a very decent race,” he said.
Appleby elaborated further, adding, “Personally, I feel the colt is ready to step up to a mile and a half now. I thinking that staying is going to be Ghaiyyath's forte and the sooner we get him up to a mile and a half the better. I am not saying we are going to see a better horse, but it is going to put him back in his comfort zone. He had a very soft lead the time before and put a nice bit of distance between himself and the rest of the pack at one stage and therefore they had to work hard to get to him and that probably finished their races off. Today, the opposition has sat close to him and not allowed him a soft lead and we were there to be picked up, which happened in the end.”
On a day in which his relatives Winterfuchs (Ger) (Campanologist) and Urwald (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}) were successful in the G3 Dr Busch Memorial over an extended mile and the seven-furlong Listed Prix du Pont Neuf respectively, Waldgeist was proving that this family is not just stamina, stamina, stamina. What defines it is class, with a G1 St Leger hero in Masked Marvel (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) and a G1 Deutsches Derby hero in Waldpark (Ger) (Dubawi {Ire}) alongside a six-times group-winning sire Wiesenpfad (Fr) (Waky Nao {GB}). The dam, the G3 Prix Penelope scorer Waldlerche (GB) (Monsun {Ger}) who earned TDN Rising Star status herself, is also responsible for last year's G2 Prix de Malleret winner Waldlied (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) and the 3-year-old John Gosden-trained colt Waldstern (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), another TDN Rising Star. She also has a 2-year-old colt by Kingman (GB) named Waldkonig (GB) and an as-yet unnamed yearling full-sister to Waldgeist.
Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX GANAY-G1, €300,000, ParisLongchamp, 4-28, 4yo/up, 10 1/2fT, 2:09.07, g/s.
1–WALDGEIST (GB), 128, h, 5, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Waldlerche (GB) (GSW-Fr & SP-Ger), by Monsun (Ger)
2nd Dam: Waldmark (Ger), by Mark of Esteem (Ire)
3rd Dam: Wurftaube (Ger), by Acatenango (Ger)
O-Gestut Ammerland & Newsells Park Stud; B-Waldlerche Partnership (GB); T-Andre Fabre; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €171,420. Lifetime Record: GSP-Eng, 17-7-3-1, €1,674,895. *1/2 to Waldlied (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), GSW-Fr, $123,344. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Study of Man (Ire), 128, c, 4, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Second Happiness, by Storm Cat. O/B-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd (IRE); T-Pascal Bary. €68,580.
3–Ghaiyyath (Ire), 128, c, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Nightime (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (€1,100,000 Wlg '15 GOFNOV). O-Godolphin; B-Springbank Way Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. €34,290.
Margins: 4HF, SHD, 1 3/4. Odds: 3.40, 6.90, 0.50.
Also Ran: Soleil Marin (Ire), Intellogent (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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