Sunday 5 September 2021
The Aga Khan Studs were omnipresent at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, with SEA THE STARS’ superstar son BAAEED maintainting his unbeaten record in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin, Siyouni’s ACER ALLEY scoring in the Group 3 Prix La Rochette, and Stakes successes for the famous green and red silks thanks to SAIYDABAD and VARKESHA.
BAAEED entered the Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp with a lofty reputation following four wins by a total of twenty lengths during the months of June and July. The powerful three-year-old confirmed and enhanced his status with a dominant performance in the mile contest, which he won smoothly by over a length.
Jim Crowley, stable jockey for owner-breeders Shadwell, was delighted with the performance and feels that there is plenty more to come from BAAEED. “It was just the fifth run of his life, and I thought he did very well. He’s still learning. He stays the mile very well and he’s not too ground-dependant. He’s got a fantastic mind, very laid-back and I am sure he can stay further although as he’s winning Group 1s over a mile I’m not sure he needs to step up.”
Representing winning trainer William Haggas, Maureen Haggas indicated that the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot is likely to be BAAEED’s next target. He is the second Group 1 winner by SEA THE STARS bred by Shadwell, after Oaks and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes heroine Taghrooda, and he is the 15th individual Group 1 winner by the Gilltown Stud sire.
Siyouni had made a good start to the day at ParisLongchamp, through his daughter ACER ALLEY who swept to the front in the final stages of the Group 3 Prix la Rochette. Trained by Francis Graffard, the filly belied her inexperience and a two month absence: “It was a tough ask up against the colts on just her third start but I’ve always loved this filly. The logical next step now will be the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac and from the way she finished I don’t think the extra furlong will be a concern.” Owned and bred by Merry Fox Stud, ACER ALLEY is a half-sister to Group 1 scorer Digital Age, out of a half-sister to Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Cursory Glance.
H.H. the Aga Khan’s colours scored a double on the afternoon, headed by SAIYDABAD who returned to winning ways with a cosy success in the Group 3 Prix du Prince d’Orange. Fourth in the Prix du Jockey Club from a wide outside draw, SAIYDABAD will now be kept to the ten furlong distance and trainer Jean-Claude Rouget intends to supplement the son of Blame and Group 3 winner Sarkiyla (Oasis Dream) into the Group 2 Prix Dollar on Arc weekend.
The progressive VARKESHA continued her rise through the ranks when scoring her third consecutive success in the Listed Prix de la Cochère over a mile. This four-year-old daughter of Pivotal, from the family of Prix de Diane victrix Valyra, only raced once at three and is now rewarding the patience of trainer Alain de Royer Dupré.
Updated on 7 September 2021.
