De Bromhead Aiming Higher on Flat with Longchamp Return

[Wandering Eyes]

There may still be Punchestown to come of the major jumps festivals this year but on Sunday the focus of Henry de Bromhead will be firmly on the Flat and a possible first Group 1 triumph.

Higher Leaves (Ire), one of six horses confirmed for the G1 Prix Ganay at the latest stage, returns to Longchamp where she won the Listed Prix de Liancourt last September before following up in the G3 Prix Fille de l'Air in Toulouse. 

The four-year-old daughter of Golden Horn (GB) was just one of a number of smart Flat performers for de Bromhead last year. He landed the prestigious Ebor Handicap with Magical Zoe (Ire) (Shantou) as well as back-to-back wins in England for Term Of Endearment (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) in York's G3 Bronte Cup and the G2 Lillie Langtry Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. The latter, who was de Bromhead's first runner in a Group 1 in the Prix de Royallieu on Arc weekend last October, has subsequently been bought by Yuesheng Zhang of Yulong Investments and joined William Haggas's stable over the winter.

“The Flat has been really good to us and we enjoy it,” says the trainer. “We had a super year last year and we've always dabbled in it, though more from the point of view of trading. But we were lucky enough to retain a few nice ones, like Magical Zoe, who came more from the National Hunt side, and Term Of Endearment and a few others. It's something we hope to do more of.”

That last statement should strike a certain amount of fear into the hearts of Flat trainers, for de Bromhead has already won most of the major prizes that National Hunt racing has to offer. In a memorable 2021 he completed the jumping grand slam of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Grand National with Minella Indo (Ire), Honeysuckle (GB), Put The Kettle On (Ire) and Minella Times (Ire). The first Group 1 of the European season would be a welcome addition to that portfolio, though Higher Leaves still has two options open to her on Sunday.

De Bromhead says, “She's in both races – the Ganay and the [G3 Prix] Allez France and we'll decide which one she'll go to nearer the time.

“She's really filling out out her frame and she's working well so we are hopeful that she has come on again from last year. Golden Horn is a brilliant sire and he can get good middle-distance horses on the Flat and Champion Hurdlers – though I don't think we'll be hurdling our lady.”

Indeed, the last time Higher Leaves was seen at Longchamp she was sporting the colours of John Halley, who owned her in partnership with Ciara Hogan, but in her last two starts, which have included finishing third in the G3 Pride Stakes at Newmarket, she has run for leading Flat breeder James Wigan. The filly was bred by Derek Iceton and is a second black-type winner for the Declaration Of War mare Dettoria (GB) after Selenaia (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), who landed Santa Anita's GIII Honeymoon Stakes in 2023.

 

Henry de Bromhead | Racingfotos

 

Higher Leaves spearheads a Flat team of around 30 at de Bromhead's Co Waterford stable. 

“We have 10 or 12 older horses and then some two-year-olds coming in as well,” he says. “There are plenty of nice ones.”

Rubies From Burma (American Pharoah) and Thalara (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) have already accrued some black type this year, each finishing third in Listed contests at Kempton and Leopardstown respectively.  There are more to come.

De Bromhead adds, “Town And Country (Ire) (Earthlight {Ire}) won her maiden well last year and is probably going for the Polonia Stakes at Cork [May 6]. Hollys Graces (Ire) won her maiden first time out, she looks nice, an Australia (GB) filly, and she'll go for a black-type race in the next couple of weeks.”

If she stands her ground for the Ganay, Higher Leaves could face up to five opponents, including fellow Irish raider Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), the in-form Map Of Stars (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who has already won two group races this year, and the Wertheimers' G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

 

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