Monday 17 September 2012
Second in last year’s Gr 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, SHARETA is firmly on course for a second tilt at Europe’s richest race. The four-year-old daughter of SINNDAR (winner of the 2000 Arc) ran out a comfortable winner of the Gr 1 Prix Vermeille at Longchamp on Sunday to secure her place among the leading contenders for the race in October. Never far from the front of the pack, SHARETA moved into the lead around two furlongs from home and was never troubled by her rivals in the final stages.
Now a dual Gr 1 scorer after her victory in the Yorkshire Oaks over the same mile and a half distance at York in August, the filly will attempt to go one better than in 2011 when runner-up to Danedream. Trainer Alain de Royer Dupré, whose record seven successes in the Vermeille include that of the champion Zarkava in 2008, explained, « She loves the fast ground and needs a good pace to show her worth. »
In the Gr 2 Prix Niel, Bayrir put up a pleasing performance to finish second on his first outing at Longchamp and first time racing over a mile and a half. The progressive colt had won the Gr 1 Secretariat Stakes over ten furlongs on his previous outing and also picked up the Gr 2 Prix Eugene Adam in July. This son of Medicean proved that the distance is well within his reach and he could be supplemented into the Arc. Jockey Christophe Lemaire commented, « I am very satisfied with the horse. Today was a test and he has passed that test. »
Sarkiyla’s entry in the Gr 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp was also something of a test as the three-year-old confronted her elders and male counterparts in the mile event. The daughter of Oasis Dream responded well to the situation, running on well in the straight to secure third place. The winner of the Gr 3 Prix Lieurey at Deauville in August, she could now be aimed at the Gr 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein on Arc weekend.
