By Tom Frary
So often out of luck with his hold-up style, Tony Bloom's Librisa Breeze (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}) came right where it mattered on Saturday as he swooped to conquer in the G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot. While mostly everyone was watching the likes of Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Caravaggio (Scat Daddy), trainer Dean Ivory and all those who kept the faith after a few unfortunate runs had their eyes trained on their beloved grey as he sliced his way between rivals from rear. Rushing by Tasleet (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) with 150 yards to race, the 10-1 shot who was last seen finishing second in the G2 Hungerford S. over seven furlongs at Newbury Aug. 19 asserted to score by 1 1/4 lengths, with 3/4 of a length back to Caravaggio as he worked his way past the fading 5-4 favourite Harry Angel. Robert Winston, whose last win at this level had come in 2004, was making no bones about the impact that the winner had made on his life. “My career was finished but for this horse,” he explained. “I gave my notice to Dean last season, but this horse kept me going. I'm riding for a great man and great staff with great owners and Dean's got some very nice horses now. This horse is so genuine and very fast, even though he's bred to stay further. He's such a trier and although I've been criticised a couple of times with people saying I should have won, that's the way you have to ride him. It doesn't matter now after this.”
Librisa Breeze has been popular at this track, at which his record stood at two-from-five prior to this test, finishing second in the Royal meeting's Royal Hunt Cup last June before taking the seven-furlong International S. and Challenge Cup in July and early October. Sixth in this as he signed off his 2016 campaign, he returned to be a strong-closing fourth after meeting trouble in running in the June 24 G1 Diamond Jubilee S. in which The Tin Man (GB) (Equiano {Fr}), Tasleet and Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) were ahead. His ninth placing in the Aug. 1 G2 Lennox S. over seven furlongs at Goodwood told nothing of the tale of his race, as he was repeatedly stopped and again failed to get a clear passage as he filled the runner-up spot behind Massaat (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the Hungerford.
This race was immediately characterised by the decision by Adam Kirby to restrain Harry Angel and wait behind the front pair, but the G1 July Cup and G1 Haydock Sprint Cup clearly resented that tactic and by the time he was committed with two furlongs remaining much of his customary power had already been spent. That opened the contest up and for a brief period it looked as if Ryan Moore had Caravaggio perfectly poised for his usual strong finishing effort on the outside, but he could only flounder in the ground when fully stretched. It was Tasleet who emerged with the most significant challenge to the favourite approaching the furlong pole, but Librisa Breeze who had travelled strongly while balled up off the pace by Robert Winston quickly loomed between Harry Angel and Caravaggio to join the fight. As Harry Angel began to cave in, it was the grey who proved strongest and saw off the Shadwell runner with all the zest of one who has been frustrated for so long.
Dean Ivory was basking in the career-defining moment. “The ground and everything went right for us,” he said. “He has been off a long time, seven weeks, and he has been so unlucky this year–we have got the luck when it mattered. That was the hardest field in the last 10 years and to come out and do it like that, I'm thrilled. We have had a bit of a rocky road. You persevere and hope for a bit of luck and it has come good today. He is a horse that has never had a clean run. This year is his year and I've seen him grow into a proper horse. At one time I thought he had gone back a bit, but he got the gap this time. He is versatile and you can't say he isn't a six-furlong horse. You train him where the races are as really, he is a seven-furlong horse or miler.”
William Haggas said of Tasleet, who again proved his liking for testing ground, “He's run another great race and I'd say he just got outstayed this time. I very much hope he'll be back for next year, but that's to be discussed. If he is, he'll follow the same route as this year.” Clive Cox said of Harry Angel, “It wasn't his day, but I still think he showed his usual zip and class when he went to the front here on much more testing ground than at Haydock. Great credit to the runners that finished in front of him, he was just coming to the end of his run. I don't think anyone has lost any confidence. We know on a different day, on better ground, he will be back. I will be looking forward to next year. I would say the first thing is to give him a nice winter break, as it has been well earned.”
The freakish Librisa Breeze becomes the first group 1 winner for his Eclipse-winning sire and the first black-type winner for his dam Bruxcalina (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}), who finished third in the Listed Prix de Liancourt over 10 1/2 furlongs which gives a clue as to her inherent stamina. She is a half-sister to the G3 Prix la Force winner and G1 Prix du Jockey Club third Baraan (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and the Listed Prix Michel Houyvet runner-up Brampour (Ire) (Daylami {Ire}) who went on to be a smart hurdler. The third dam Chic Corine (Nureyev) was responsible for the GI Diana S. heroine Somali Lemonade (Lemon Drop Kid), while the fourth dam Chic Shirine (Mr. Prospector) landed the GI Ashland S. and includes the GI Wood Memorial and GI Haskell Invitational hero Verrazano (More Than Ready) and the GI Del Mar Oaks heroine Harmonize (Scat Daddy) among her descendants. Bruxcalina also has an as-yet unnamed 2-year-old full-sister to the winner and a yearling colt by Lawman (Fr).
Saturday, Ascot, Britain
QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS SPRINT S.-G1, £600,000, ASC, 10-21, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:16.78, sf.
1–LIBRISA BREEZE (GB), 128, g, 5, by Mount Nelson (GB)
1st Dam: Bruxcalina (Fr) (SP-Fr), by Linamix (Fr)
2nd Dam: Brusca, by Grindstone
3rd Dam: Chic Corine, by Nureyev
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN.
(60,000gns Ylg '13 TAOCT; 90,000gns 3yo '15 TA15). O-Tony Bloom; B-Newsells Park Stud (GB); T-Dean Ivory; J-Robert Winston. £340,260. Lifetime Record: 16-6-3-0, $889,065. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tasleet (GB), 128, c, 4, Showcasing (GB)–Bird Key (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB). (£52,000 Ylg '14 DNPRM). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-William Haggas. £129,000.
3–Caravaggio, 127, c, 3, Scat Daddy–Mekko Hokte, by Holy Bull. O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Windmill Manor Farms Inc & Petaluma Bloodstock (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. £64,560.[bullet ad=”paramount-keenov-2017-hip-283″][bullet ad=”irt-shell”][bullet ad=”us-bred-ky-bred”]Margins: 1 1/4, 3/4, NK. Odds: 10.00, 10.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: Harry Angel (Ire), The Tin Man (GB), Brando (GB), Washington DC (Ire), Donjuan Triumphant (Ire), Quiet Reflection (GB), Danzeno (GB), Alphabet (GB), Intelligence Cross. Scratched: Tupi (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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