By Tom Frary
Sunday's G1 The Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches was delayed and switched to ParisLongchamp's Grande Piste, or outer track, from the troubled Moyenne Piste after the controversy of the colts's Classic and thankfully there was no further drama as Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani's unbeaten Teppal (Fr) (Camacho {GB}) provided her owner and race sponsor with a second renewal of the Classic. The first of those came courtesy of Flotilla (Fr) (Mizzen Mast) five years ago and while she was already proven at this level, David Simcock's unexposed filly had never contested a black-type race prior to this test. Always handy under Olivier Peslier, the 12-1 shot had to angle out for her finishing effort in the straight and after hitting the front a furlong from home battled courageously to ward off a blanket of rivals in a finale typical of these Classics. At the line, there was a short neck back to Coeur de Beaute (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) in second, with Wind Chimes (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) coming from wide and far back to be a head behind in third.
“It is really nice to have horses capable of running in Classics and even better to win one,” her trainer said. “She got a lovely run round, she had a good draw and a good position. She saw it out well which was a big worry coming here over a mile, but she got it well. This is my first Classic success, but I knew she had the quality. It is a nice way to reward the owners–they deserve it.”
Yeomanstown Stud's Camacho has worked his way up from gentle beginnings, much as his half-brother Showcasing (GB) has and the sprinter turned largely sire-of-sprinters now has a Classic winner to reward years of upgrading his mares. Teppal's debut over seven furlongs on the turf at Lingfield was full of promise and when she followed up by four lengths under a penalty over the same trip on Kempton's Polytrack in September she looked to hold group-race potential. That was the opinion of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani also and after he paid the sum required to bring her into his fold she was charged with emulating his star filly Flotilla in a race he now sponsors. Interestingly, the latter was the only filly in the past three decades to win this on her seasonal debut but unlike Teppal she had plenty of juvenile experience to call on having been successful at the Breeders' Cup. What Teppal did have was the benefit of being handled by one of Britain's best trainers and stables who knew she had the talent to mix it with these and her odds of 12-1 reflected that despite being one of only two alongside Could It Be Love (War Front) with no runs outside of maiden or novice company.
With the race moved to the outer track, the draw became even more vital as the turn comes up quick and soon after the start Teppal also had the advantage of being provided with an ideal lead from that Ballydoyle representative. Ryan Moore opted to send the half-sister to Uncle Mo to the front from her wide draw as he had with US Navy Flag (War Front) an hour earlier and the race was set up perfectly for Simcock's raider. As the 37-10 favourite Musis Amica (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) languished several lengths behind in last, Teppal had the ideal trip under shelter against the rail but when Could It Be Love began to tire she faced a wall and had to switch around her, Red Line (Fr) (Sageburg {Ire}) and Sea Prose (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) two out. That was when the stamina question was probed, but she responded gamely to take command a furlong later and hold Coeur de Beaute who had been forced to drop in and hope from her wide stall.
Simcock's Havana Gold pair Raid (Ire) and Worship (Ire) had both run respectable races in the 2000 and 1000 Guineas at Newmarket the week before and he admitted to having quiet confidence in Teppal's chances as a result.
“We were hopeful she would run a decent race, as we had run two in the Guineas last weekend and this one was much more forward than them,” he explained. “There were just a few factors in the hands of the gods, but luckily they had very little rain and she got a good draw and a very good ride from Olivier Peslier. The one thing she is is classy. If you look at her style and make-up, we were quite confident we could come without a trial, she's very clean winded, and it worked out very well. The obvious race is the [G1] Coronation [S. at Royal Ascot June 22] and we'll think about that. I just hope the ground isn't soft.”
Coeur de Beaute's trainer Mauricio Delcher Sanchez was unsure of future plans for the runner-up, of whom a 50% share had recently been acquired by Teruya Yoshida. “That was a great performance and we have to be happy, but also a little bit disappointed,” he said. “With the race being transferred to the grand piste, the 14 draw was not good. You can't go forward there and have to take back, so those lengths you lose at the start make it very difficult and that was a very good effort. Now she has been bought by her new owner, we'll have to discuss plans.”
Pedigree Notes…
Teppal is a half-sister to the precocious and classy Another Party (Fr) (Pomellato {Ger}), who unlike her was an industrious juvenile who ran 10 times mainly over sprint trips at two and finished runner-up in the G3 Prix du Bois and G3 Prix d'Arenberg before filling that same spot in the G3 Prix du Pin over seven furlongs at three. The dam Jummana (Fr) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), who was fourth in the Listed Radley S. over seven as a juvenile, is a full-sister to Party (Ire) who won that Newbury race. While stamina was a concern beforehand, Teppal descends from the G3 Prix de Royaumont winner Bellarida (Fr) (Bellypha {Ire}), who is the dam of the G3 Prix de Flore winner In Clover (GB) (Inchinor {GB}) who in turn produced the G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine We Are (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and her full-sister, last year's G3 Prix des Reservoirs scorer and 'TDN Rising Star' With You (GB). Also featuring are the G1 Hong Kong Vase-winning champion stayer in Hong Kong Dominant (Ire) (Cacique {Ire}) and the G3 Chartwell Fillies' S. scorer and G1 Matron S. runner-up Lily's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Another success story of pinhooking for Con Marnane's Bansha House Stables, the winner has a close relative to follow in a yearling colt by Showcasing (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Sunday, Longchamp, France
THE EMIRATES POULE D'ESSAI DES POULICHES-G1, €500,000, LCP, 5-13, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:37.97, gd.
1–TEPPAL (FR), 126, f, 3, by Camacho (GB)
1st Dam: Jummana (Fr), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
2nd Dam: Forty Belles, by Forty Niner
3rd Dam: Bellarida (Fr), by Bellypha (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN.
(€60,000 Ylg '16 ARAU2; €105,000 2yo '17 ARQMAY). O-H H
Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani; B-Gestut Zur Kuste AG
(FR); T-David Simcock; J-Olivier Peslier. €285,700. Lifetime
Record: 3-3-0-0, €293,521. *1/2 to Another Party (Fr)
(Pomellato {Ger}), MGSP-Fr, $248,740. Werk Nick Rating: B.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. [bullet ad=”blandford-bloodstock-purchased-by-2″]2–Coeur de Beaute (Fr), 126, f, 3, Dabirsim (Fr)
1st Dam: Twilight Tear (GB), by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire)
2nd Dam: Clara Bow (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Brigid, by Irish River
(€30,000 Ylg '16 OSLATE). O-Ahmed Mouknass & Teruya
Yoshida; B-Haras de Grandcamp (FR); T-Mauricio Delcher
Sanchez. €114,300. [bullet ad=”mab-purchased-by”]3–Wind Chimes (GB), 126, f, 3, Mastercraftsman (Ire)
1st Dam: Militante (Ire), by Johannesburg
2nd Dam: Maggie Jordan, by Fusaichi Pegasus
3rd Dam: Pharapache, by Lyphard
(€130,000 Ylg '16 ARAUG). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier &
Michael Tabor; B-Ecurie des Monceaux (GB); T-Andre Fabre.
€57,150.
Margins: SNK, HD, HD. Odds: 12.00, 15.00, 8.90.
Also Ran: Capla Temptress (Ire), Barkaa (Fr), Musis Amica (Ire), Ellthea (Ire), Could It Be Love, Red Line (Fr), Sea Prose (Fr), Zonza (Fr), Moisson Precoce (GB), Mission Impassible (Ire), Polydream (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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