Alpinista (GB)

Carried out in driving rain and accompanying gloom, Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe went to Kirsten Rausing's Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) who with her ever-whitening coat and mud-dappled white silks navigated what resembled a ploughed field like a trail of luminescence at ParisLongchamp. Taking the eye throughout as she made easy work of the swiftly-deteriorating conditions under Luke Morris, who had been in action on the all-weather at Wolverhampton the night before, the 10-3 favourite waited with all the learned patience of such a beautifully-nurtured 5-year-old for...

   After the early retreat of Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and mixed signals from the Classic generation in general this summer, Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe will provide more answers if not perhaps the categoric truth about how the generations compare on Sunday. In a fascinating renewal replete with conundrums, the best of the remaining 3-year-olds in action Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) and Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) pit their wits against the matured might of Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente...

Kirsten Rausing's homebred 5-year-old mare Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}), unbeaten through five tests last term, disposed of esteemed rivals in last month's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on seasonal return and maintained her winning streak with a decisive success as the 7-4 favourite in a stellar edition of Thursday's G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks on the Knavesmire, a "Win And You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf in November. Successful in the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin, G1 Preis von Europa and G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern...

Brought to the G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks as a still raw 3-year-old in 2020, Kirsten Rausing's Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) returns to the Knavesmire on Thursday an entirely different proposition to the one who chased the shadow of Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) as she pursues her own lofty goal. Successful in the same trio of Group 1 races in Germany that her second dam Albanova (GB) (Alzao) racked up in 2004, the grey had already achieved something truly notable even before her rampant return in the July 3 G1 Grand...

The Andre Fabre-trained 'TDN Rising Star' Raclette (GB) (Frankel {GB}) who represents Juddmonte, has been added to the Aug. 18 G1 Yorkshire Oaks field, bringing the total number of entries at this stage to 12. A homebred, the daughter of Grade I winner Emollient (Empire Maker) won the G2 Prix de Malleret on Bastille Day last out. John and Thady Gosden's Oaks runner-up Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is the latest defection. Raclette will face the accomplished Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is riding a six-race winning streak--the...

Kirsten Rausing's Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was making her comeback in Sunday's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, but there was no sign of rustiness as she overwhelmed a deep field for a fourth consecutive top-level victory. Now unbeaten in her last six starts including the G2 Lancashire Oaks, G1 Grosser Preis Von Berlin, G1 Preis Von Europa and G1 Grosser Preis Von Bayern, the Sir Mark Prescott-trained grey was held up early travelling notably strongly for Luke Morris in rear of mid-division. Unleashed wide at the top of the straight,...

It can't always be said that the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud is the strongest of the Group 1 races in Europe, but Sunday's line-up stands up to inspection with Godolphin's Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) looking to build on his respectable if uninspiring return effort in the G2 Hardwicke S. While excuses can be made on account of the prevalent fast ground at Royal Ascot and the fact that he would have needed his seasonal bow, there is always a concern when such a luminary fails to spark during such...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Insights features debuting Tabarin (Ire) (Frankel ({GB}) and 'Rising Star' Eldar Eldarov (Dubawi {Ire}). 2.25 Saint-Cloud, Debuntates, €27,000, 3yo, c/g, 12fT TABARIN (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) debuts for the Niarchos Family and Francis-Henri Graffard and is a son of the G3 Prix Vanteaux winner and G1 Prix Saint-Alary runner-up...

Three-time Group 1 winner Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will step out in the June 3 G1 Cazoo Coronation Cup at Epsom for her first start of the year, according to trainer Sir Mark Prescott. Raced by breeder Kirsten Rausing, the 5-year-old delivered five victories in five starts in 2021, including three straight German Group 1s: August's Grosser Preis von Berlin, September's Preis von Europa and the Grosser Preis von Bayern on Nov. 7. Prescott said, "She is fine and we intend to run her in the Coronation Cup. We have...

Kirsten Rausing's 4-year-old filly Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) had yet to taste defeat in four prior outings this term and lined up for Sunday's G1 Allianz Grosser Preis von Bayern at Munich coming back off wins in Hoppegarten's Aug. 8 G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin and Cologne's Sept. 26 G1 Preis von Europa last time. The homebred grey's second dam Albanova (GB) (Alzao), who was also conditioned by Sir Mark Prescott, had rattled off a trio of German Group 1 triumphs in a nine-week spree during 2004 and she emulated...

The Kirsten Rausing-Sir Mark Prescott axis enjoyed a nine-week spree in 2004 when Albanova (GB) (Alzao) registered a trio of German Group 1 successes and her homebred granddaughter Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will bid to emulate that quick-fire feat for the same connections in Sunday's G1 Allianz Grosser Preis von Bayern at Munich. Making her mark one year ahead of her illustrious grandmother's schedule, the 4-year-old grey easily accounted for subsequent G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in Hoppegarten's Aug. 8 G1 Grosser Preis...

Multiple Group 1 winner Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will remain in training next year and her trainer Sir Mark Prescott has decided to aim the grey at the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The Kirsten Rausing-owned filly defeated subsequent Arc hero Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in Hoppegarten's G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin in August. She then doubled up at that level in the G1 Preis von Europa at Cologne on Sept. 26. All being well, the filly could also take in November's G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern...