Lawman's Marcel In Racing Post Trophy Shocker

Ignored as the 33-1 outsider of the seven lined up for Saturday's G1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, Paul Hancock's Marcel (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) took a leap forward under Andrea Atzeni to provide that rider with a third consecutive renewal and also trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam with a career trio of successes in this significant Classic precursor. Last early, the imposing dark bay was angled wide for his run as the 10-11 favorite Foundation (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) was locked up in behind approaching the final quarter mile. Surging past Johannes Vermeer (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining, he quickly had that rival's measure and was kept up to his work to comfortably score by 1 1/2 lengths, with Foundation 2 1/2 lengths behind in third having only been granted a clear run just before the furlong pole.

“We weren't filled with confidence, but Peter had always said he was a good horse and it was just a question of how good,” his winning owner said. “In my dreams, I used to think he was a High Chaparral type but in my heart, I thought he would have a bit to find so he's surprised us. Peter is a fantastic trainer who gets the best out of every horse and this is where he deserves to be.”

Saturday, Doncaster, Britain

RACING POST TROPHY-G1, £200,000, DON, 10-24, 2yo, c/f, 8fT, 1:42.19, g/s.

1–#@&MARCEL (IRE), 127, c, 2, by Lawman (Fr)

1st Dam: Mauresmo (Ire), by Marju (Ire)

2nd Dam: Absaar, by Alleged

3rd Dam: My Nord, by Vent du Nord (Fr)

(€50,000 Wlg '13 GOFNOV; 26,000gns Ylg '14 TAOCT). O-Paul

Hancock; B-David Hyland (IRE); T-Peter Chapple-Hyam;

J-Andrea Atzeni. £113,420. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0,

£117,495. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the

eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.

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2–Johannes Vermeer (Ire), 127, c, 2, Galileo (Ire)–Inca Princess

(Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire). (€300,000 Ylg '14

GOFORB). O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier &

Teo Ah Khing; B-Desert Star Phoenix JVC (IRE); T-Aidan

O'Brien. £43,000.

3–Foundation (Ire), 127, c, 2, Zoffany (Ire)–Roystonea (GB), by

Polish Precedent. (€55,000 Wlg '13 GOFNOV; €190,000 Ylg '14

GOFORB). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Wellington);

B-Eyrefield Lodge Stud (IRE); T-John Gosden. £21,520.

Margins: 1HF, 2HF, 1HF. Odds: 33.00, 7.00, 0.91.

Also Ran: Port Douglas (Ire), Deauville (Ire), Tony Curtis (GB), Mengli Khan (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result, the brisnet.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

Fifth on debut on good-to-firm ground over seven furlongs at Ascot July 11, Marcel was next seen winning over that trip at Newcastle at the end of August on a card during which his stable companion Beast Mode (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) was also in the winner's enclosure. After that barnmate had placed fifth behind Foundation in the G2 Royal Lodge S., Peter Chapple-Hyam was intent on bringing this unfinished project straight to this race, which he had garnered with Commander Collins (Ire) and Authorized (Ire) in 1998 and 2006, respectively.

Held up with all rivals in his sights as Ballydoyle's G2 Beresford S. winner Port Douglas (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) took up expected pace-setting duties, Marcel moved up with menace and was the only one able to produce the kind of acceleration required to make a difference from just before the two-furlong marker. As he stayed on strongly with Johannes Vermeer keeping respectable distance on the run to the line, Frankie Dettori was freeing up the favorite, who hardly had a race and can be considered desperately unlucky. “I've always thought he was a nice horse and his work had been very good, but I think Paul [Hancock] thought I was mad coming here,” Chapple-Hyam commented. “Coming here I thought he'd be placed, because he's always worked like a good horse, but he's been weak. Even though I don't have many good horses, you know when a good one comes along.” His trainer was looking ahead to next year's Classics, with Epsom's blue riband not high on the agenda. “He obviously goes on any ground and will be better next year when he's stronger,” he added. “I see him as a French Derby type; I'd be worried about him staying further. If I get my way, he'll be in my favorite race, the Dante, but if he shows enough speed before then he could go for the Guineas.” Atzeni added, “I rode him to run well, but I was traveling so well. He likes the ground, quickened up well and won going away.” Foundation's trainer John Gosden said of the unfortunate beaten market leader, “The horse is delighted. He thinks the boss has brought him all this way for a piece of work. Frankie said they all just died in front of him and he had nowhere to go. The winner came around and had a free one. That's racing. He's a gorgeous horse, he handled the ground and I'll look to run him in a trial in the spring now. We'll probably look at the Greenham and then aim him at some nice races at Deauville.”