3 minute read
Group One Review: Prix Vermeille & Prix Dragon.
| Date | Sunday 12th September |
| Venue | Longchamp |
| Race | G1 Prix Vermeille (2400m) |
| Type | Three-year-old fillies |
| Winner | Teona |
| Jockey/Driver | Olivier Peslier |
| Trainer | Roger Varian |
| Breeding | Sea The Stars x Ambivalent |
| Second | Snowfall |
| Third | La Joconde |
Teona caused a shock when beating short-priced favourite Snowfall in the G1 Prix Vermeille (2400m). The success meant a 16th individual top-level winner for Sea The Stars following on from Baeed's victory in the G1 Prix du Moulin (1600m) last week.
Snowfall, who was the clear favourite for the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m) prior to yesterday's contest, struggled to get past even her vastly inferior stablemate and expected pacemaker La Joconde for second. Meanwhile Teona struck for UK trainer Roger Varian and Olivier Peslier. As expected, La Joconde made the early running under Hollie Doyle with Teona for company. Snowfall was settled further back and failed to pick up in the home straight. The often keen going Teona settled better under the hands of Olivier Peslier and the filly, who had always been held in high-regard by the stable, picked up smartly.
Despite some bumping Teona was able to surge clear for a length and a half win. Le Joconde finished half a length further back in third.
Out of G1 Pretty Polly Stakes (2100m) winner Ambivalent, Teona is a half-sister to French Group 2 winner Al Hilalee. Sea The Stars stands at Gilltown Stud for a fee of €150,000.
| Date | Sunday 12th September |
| Venue | Longchamp |
| Race | G1 Prix Dragon (2000m) |
| Type | Arab Race |
| Winner | Ebraz |
| Jockey/Driver | Maxime Guyon |
| Trainer | Julian Smart |
| Breeding | Amer X Massamarie |
| Second | Artemis |
| Third | Nalink |
The high-class Ebraz backed up his excellent second in the G1 International Stakes (1600m) at Goodwood (UK) in July with victory in the G1 Prix Dragon (2000m) at Longchamp.
The eight-year-old son of Amer did not have things all his own way however as early scrimmaging left him further back than ideal. Stablemate Maxr ensured there was a good gallop allowing jockey Maxime Guyon to be patient on the favourite Ebraz. The pair found their path blocked at the 400m stage and had to wait for room. At one stage victory looked unlikely but Ebraz showed his class quickening up nicely to lead close home.
It was a brilliant result for sire Amer who produced not only the winner Ebraz but the third Nalink.
