With an already soft edition of the prestigious G1 Longines Grosser Preis von Baden weakened further by the late scratching of the leading domestic hope Ito (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) due to a high temperature, the opportunity looked gilt-edged for Jean-Francois Gribomont's Prince Gibraltar (Fr) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) and he duly delivered under a perfectly-timed ride from Fabrice Veron. Last seen finishing third in the G2 York S. over 10 furlongs July 25, the chestnut was held up in last early and was brought stand's side as the field fanned out at the top of the stretch. Surging to the front with just over a half furlong left, the 6-4 favorite was given three smacks with the whip to make sure and hit the line with 1 3/4 lengths to spare over the filly Nightflower (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}). One of France's premier middle-distance Classic hopes last spring, he was on a roll entering the G1 Prix du Jockey Club after taking the 2013 G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and G2 Prix Greffulhe also at that venue last May. Denied a straightforward journey through the Chantilly Classic the following month, he still managed to grab third spot after a desperate trip before finishing a short-neck second to Gallante (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) in Longchamp's G1 Grand Prix de Paris in July. By the time he had been third in the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano over 10 furlongs at Deauville in August, questions were being asked about his character and Jean-Claude Rouget saw fit to reach for the blinkers as he tackled the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October. Far from disgraced when less than five-lengths seventh in the Longchamp feature, Prince Gibraltar returned from the winter to flop once more when the headgear was off and trailed in sixth in that track's G1 Prix Ganay over 10 1/2 furlongs May 3. Seeming to hang fire when second to Manatee (GB) (Monsun {Ger}) in the May 31 G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly, he was back on a left-handed track for the first time since the Greffulhe when running in the York S. and that appeared to suit despite him looking in need of further than a mile and a quarter racing on the fastest ground he had yet encountered. Given perfect conditions and a lack of high-class opponents here, he was able to replicate his Saint-Cloud days and roll back the clock enjoying a day in the sun at Baden-Baden. “I won my first listed race, my first group race and now my first group 1 race here in Iffezheim,” Veron commented. “The fast pace and the soft going were simply ideal for my horse.”
Sunday, Baden-Baden, Germany
LONGINES – GROSSER PREIS VON BADEN-G1, €250,000, BDB, 9-6, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:31.48, gd.
1–PRINCE GIBRALTAR (FR), 132, c, 4, by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire)
1st Dam: Princess Sofia (UAE), by Pennekamp
2nd Dam: Russian Royal, by Nureyev
3rd Dam: Princess Karenda, by Gummo
O/B-Jean-Francois Gribomont (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Fabrice Veron. €150,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr & GSP-Eng, 12-4-2-4, €775,555. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Nightflower (Ire), 120, f, 3, Dylan Thomas (Ire)–Night of Magic (Ire), by Peintre Celebre. O-Stall Nizza; B-Jurgen Imm (IRE); T-Peter Schiergen. €60,000.
3–Sirius (Ger), 132, c, 4, Dashing Blade (GB)–Saratina (Ire), by Monsun (Ger). (€15,000 Ylg '12 BBAGA). O-Stall Molenhof; B-Gestut Etzean (GER); T-Andreas Lowe. €25,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.50, 2.90, 6.40.
Also Ran: Palace Prince (Ger), Goldstream (Ity), Spend the Cash (Ire), Weltmacht (GB). Scratched: Ito (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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