Royallieu Glory For Frankel’s Anapurna

[Wandering Eyes]

It was almost inevitable that the inaugural running of the Qatar Prix de Royallieu as a group 1 contest over 14 furlongs would fall to John Gosden and it was Frankie Dettori who ensured that result when making virtually all on Anapurna (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the centrepiece of ParisLongchamp’s Saturday card. Forced into an unenviable choice between Meon Valley Stud’s G1 Epsom Oaks heroine and Lah Ti Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) due to the stable’s sheer strength in depth with its fillies and mares, the rider who had already steered 16 top-level winners this term was proven right again. Sent straight to the front after the debacle of her latest seventh in the G1 Prix Vermeille, the 7-2 second favourite was pressed by Lah Ti Dar inside the final half mile and no sooner had she negated that threat than she had the G2 Park Hill one-two Enbihaar (Ire) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) and Delphinia (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to contend with in the final two furlongs. Hanging tough, the homebred kept finding to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths from the latter, who split the stable’s duo as she denied Enbihaar second by a short head. There was a lengthy stewards’ inquiry into interference caused by the winner late on, but the result was left to stand. “She saw the trip out well, is very tough and is clearly a very talented filly,” Dettori said. “This win was my 17th group one success of the season, which is a personal best and I’m very happy.”

“It was the plan to dictate from the front and make it a true test,” assistant trainer Thady Gosden said. “She missed the break in the Prix Vermeille last time, didn’t have the best of trips and so it was a race to forget.” Still lightly-raced, Anapurna was having only her fourth start in the May 31 Oaks and had been off for 3 1/2 months when coming out for the Vermeille, so it was not a surprise to hear the trainer’s son state that there could be more to come. “There are a number of possibilities for her before the end of the season and she might stay in training next year,” he added. “It’s up to the owners if she runs again, but there is the [Oct. 19 G1 QIPCO British Champions] Fillies & Mares at Ascot and possibly the Breeders’ Cup, we’ll see. Enbihaar ran well, but doesn’t have a record on this type of ground so maybe that was slightly against her. Lah Ti Dar enjoyed the ground, but was beaten by better horses on the day.”

Anapurna was going into unknown territory distance-wise here, but all the early indications from Frankel are that he gets staying stock and she is out of a daughter of Montjeu (Ire) in the Listed Hoppings S. winner Dash To the Top (GB). The last known foal out of that mare, who was also runner-up in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks and third in the G1 Fillies’ Mile, she is a half-sister to the G3 Tetrarch S. runner-up Dynasty (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and to Very Dashing (GB) (Dansili {GB}) who was third in the Hoppings. third-placed Very Dashing (GB) (Dansili {GB}).

Dash To the Top is a half to the Listed Warwickshire Oaks winner Dash To the Front (GB) (Diktat {GB}), who in turn produced Speedy Boarding (GB) (Shamardal) who captured the G1 Prix Jean Romanet and the G1 Prix de l’Opera on this weekend three years ago. Also the second dam of this year’s G2 Queen’s Vase winner Dashing Willoughby (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), she is a granddaughter of the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. heroine Milligram (GB) (Mill Reef) out of the 1000 Guineas-winning Meon Valley foundation mare One In a Million (Ire) (Rarity {GB}) which also links her to the G1 Juddmonte International S. heroine One So Wonderful (GB) (Nashwan).

1–ANAPURNA (GB), 122, f, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Dash To The Top (GB) (SW & MG1SP-Eng, $212,678), by Montjeu (Ire)
2nd Dam: Millennium Dash (GB), by Nashwan
3rd Dam: Milligram (GB), by Mill Reef
O-Helena Springfield Ltd; B-Meon Valley Stud (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Lanfranco Dettori. €171,420. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, 6-4-0-0, €533,816. *1/2 to Dynasty (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), GSP-Ire; and Very Dashing (GB) (Dansili {GB}), SP-Eng.

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