By Tom Frary
Just as ParisLongchamp became enveloped in gloom, one of its beloved sons Andre Fabre produced some illumination with the reinvigorated First Look in the G2 Qatar Prix Dollar. Providing his sire Lope De Vega with a quickfire double after the exploits of Consent minutes earlier, Wathnan Racing's 2024 Prix du Jockey Club runner-up built on recent momentum to deny the Prix Niel runner-up Bay City Roller (New Bay) by 1 1/4 lengths under Mickael Barzalona.
In the recent past, this 10-furlong contest has been used as a stepping stone to Ascot's Champion Stakes, with Cirrus des Aigles, Skalleti, Dubai Honour and Horizon Dore all featuring prominently there having won this. First Look, who has been transformed by a gelding operation and was building on his latest win in the G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron, is not entered at Ascot but would not be out of place on the evidence of this performance.
Wathnan 's racing manager Ali Al Kubaisi confirmed that as a target. “Gelding has really transformed him–he was an excellent horse when he was an entire, but is much more composed now,” he said of the 4-1 winner, whose stablemate Bright Picture (Intello) was a further 1 3/4 lengths behind in third. “Mr Fabre would like to race in the Champion Stakes, so we'll see about that.”
Gutsy performance!
First Look proves too tough in the Group Two Qatar Prix Dollar! 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/eQU1uDtOPY
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 4, 2025
Pedigree Notes
First Look's Listed-winning dam Bilissie (Dansili) is a half-sister to Sunday's leading Arc contender Aventure (Sea The Stars) who was second in that monument in 2024 and captured last month's Prix Vermeille. That means that two of her half-siblings have won the Vermeille, with Left Hand (Dubawi) having achieved that feat in 2016. Bilissie is also a full-sister to the Prix Jean Romanet-placed Romanciere, with the second dam being Balladeuse (Singspiel) who took the Prix de Royallieu when it was a Group 2.
Also related to the Group 1 winners Plumania (Anabaa), Double Major (Daiwa Major), Groom Dancer and Indian Rose, her unraced two-year-old colt by Zarak named Sacrifice was a €360,000 purchase by Amanda Skiffington at the Arqana Deauville August. She also has a yearling filly by New Bay and a filly foal by Sea The Moon.
Saturday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX DOLLAR-G2, €183,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-4, 3yo/up, 9 1/4fT, 2:05.61, vsf.
1–FIRST LOOK (IRE), 128, g, 4, by Lope De Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Bilissie (GB) (SW-Fr), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Balladeuse (Fr), by Singspiel (Ire)
3rd Dam: Featherquest (GB), by Rainbow Quest
(€340,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Haras de la Perelle; T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona. €104,310. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr, 13-4-4-2, €584,361. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Bay City Roller (Ire), 123, c, 3, New Bay (GB)–Bloomfield (Ire), by Teofilo (Ire). (€320,000 Ylg '23 GOFOR). O-Victorious Racing Ltd; B-John Connaughton; T-George Scott. €40,260.
3–Bright Picture (Fr), 128, g, 4, Intello (Ger)–Lucy The Painter (Ire), by Excellent Art (GB). O-Wertheimer & Frere; B-John Plowden Carrington; T-Andre Fabre. €19,215.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1 3/4, 1. Odds: 4.20, 2.40, 3.70.
Also Ran: Rashabar (Ire), King Of Cities (Ire), Uthred (Fr), Swagman (Ger), Jenilat Bright (Fr). Scratched: Damysus (GB).
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
