Galileo’s Waldgeist Cruises to Foy Triumph

[Wandering Eyes]

   ‘TDN Rising Star’ Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) has sauntered through much of this campaign, registering a hat-trick of pattern race triumphs over the summer, and as the countdown to next month’s G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe continues apace, he punched his ticket to that autumn feature with a masterful display over the same course and distance in Sunday’s G2 Qatar Prix Foy at ParisLongchamp, extending trainer Andre Fabre’s record haul to nine renewals. The chestnut has built his way to the upper echelons, having stamped his authority on a juvenile campaign highlighted by victory in the 2016 G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud, and increased in confidence with scores in the G3 Prix d’Hedouville, G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly and the July 1 G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud last time. Steadied at the break to race fifth of the six runners as Japanese raider Clincher (Jpn) (Deep Sky {Jpn}) set the fractions here, the even-money favourite was nudged along passing the two pole and settled matters in an instant when quickening to the fore with 150 metres remaining to easily account for G1SW stablemates Talismanic (GB) and Cloth of Stars (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) by 2 1/2 lengths and a short neck, respectively.

   Waldgeist is the first foal and leading performer produced by G3 Prix Penelope heroine Waldlerche (GB) (Monsun {Ger}), herself a half-sister to G1 St. Leger victor Masked Marvel (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Listed Dallmayr Coupe Lukull victrix Waldnah (GB) (New Approach {Ire}). Their dam Waldmark (Ger) (Mark of Esteem {GB}) ran second in the G2 Falmouth S. and is a daughter of MGSW German champion and runaway G2 Deutsches St Leger heroine Wurftaube (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}), whose other progeny includes G1 Deutsches Derby-winning sire Waldpark (Ger) (Dubawi {Ire}), Listed Bremer Derby-Trial victor Waldvogel (Ire) (Polish Precedent) and Waldmark’s full-sister Waldbeere (GB), who in turn is the dam of MGSW sire Wiesenpfad (Fr) (Waky Nao {GB}) and stakes-winning G1 Preis der Diana third Waldtraut (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Waldlerche has also produced G2 Prix de Malleret victress Waldlied (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), the winning 2-year-old colt Waldstern (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), a yearling colt by Kingman (GB) and a filly foal by Galileo (Ire).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX FOY-G2, €130,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-16, 4yo/up, c/f, 12fT, 2:28.70, gd.
1–WALDGEIST (GB), 128, c, 4, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Waldlerche (GB) (GSW-Fr & SP-Ger), by Monsun (Ger)
2nd Dam: Waldmark (Ger), by Mark of Esteem (Ire)
3rd Dam: Wurftaube (Ger), by Acatenango (Ger)
O-Gestut Ammerland & Newsells Park Stud; B-Waldlerche Partnership (GB); T-Andre Fabre; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €228,560. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Fr & GSP-Eng, 13-6-3-2, €1,043,227. *1/2 to Waldlied (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), GSW-Fr, $123,344. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Talismanic (GB), 128, h, 5, Medaglia d’Oro–Magic Mission (GB), by Machiavellian. O-Godolphin; B-Darley (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €28,600.
3–Cloth of Stars (Ire), 128, h, 5, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Strawberry Fledge, by Kingmambo. (400,000gns Ylg ’14 TATOCT). O-Godolphin SNC; B-Peter Anastasiou (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €13,650.
Margins: 2HF, SNK, 3/4. Odds: 1.00, 2.30, 9.00.
Also Ran: Way To Paris (GB), Capri (Ire), Clincher (Jpn). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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