Westover Powers To Record-Breaking Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud Triumph

[Wandering Eyes]

Juddmonte's G1 Irish Derby hero Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Mirabilis, by Lear Fan) failed to contend with subsequent G1 Coral-Eclipse runner-up Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in last month's G1 Coronation Cup, but regained the winning thread in emphatic style with a record-breaking performance in Saturday's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

Westover raced in a handy third behind Ralph Beckett-trained chaperone Malabu Drive (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who was usurped for the lead by last term's G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern victor Tunnes (Ger) (Guiliani {Ire}), and eased into second when his stablemate faded quickly with a half-mile remaining. Shaken up to seize control from Tunnes in early straight, the 1-2 favourite refused to yield when strongly pressed by Zagrey (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) inside the final quarter-mile and was driven out to double his elite-level tally by two lengths from that rival. The winning time of 2:25.46 lowered Alpinista's race record, set last year, by nearly 3/4-of-a-second.

Pedigree Notes
Westover, one of his sire's 31 Group 1 winners, is one of two black-type scorers and the leading performer out of GIII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. victrix Mirabilis (Lear Fan), who also ran third in the G1 Prix de la Foret. The April-foaled bay is a full-brother to G3 Darley S. victor Monarchs Glen (GB). Mirabilis, a daughter of GII Buena Vista H. and G3 Prix du Bois winner Media Nox (GB) (Lycius), is a half-sister to G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Prix du Moulin heroine Nebraska Tornado (Storm Cat) and G2 Prix Eugene Adam victor Burning Sun (Danzig). Media Nox, in turn, is kin to MGSW G2 Prix de Malleret victrix Bonash (GB) (Rainbow Quest), whose descendants include G3 Earl of Sefton S. scorer and four-time Group 1-placed sire Phoenix Tower (Chester House) and G1 South Africa Classic hero Anfields Rocket (SAf) (Coup De Grace).

Saturday, Saint-Cloud, France
GRAND PRIX DE SAINT-CLOUD-G1, €400,000, Saint-Cloud, 7-8, 4yo/up, 12fT, 2:25.46 (NSR), g/s.
1–WESTOVER (GB), 128, c, 4, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Mirabilis (GSW-US, SW & G1SP-Fr, $275,664), by Lear Fan
2nd Dam: Media Nox (GB), by Lycius
3rd Dam: Sky Love, by Nijinsky II
O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Rob Hornby. €228,560. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ire, GSW & MG1SP-Eng, G1SP-UAE, 11-4-4-1, €2,3570,770. *Full to Monarchs Glen (GB), GSW-Eng, SW & GSP-US, $472,081. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Zagrey (Fr), 128, c, 4, Zarak (Fr)–Grey Anatomy (GB), by Slickly (Fr). (€32,000 RNA Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Ecurie Altima & Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Ecurie Euroling (FR); T-Yann Barberot. €91,440.
3–Junko (GB), 128, g, 4, Intello (Ger)–Lady Zuzu, by Dynaformer. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €45,720.
Margins: 2, 3, 9. Odds: 0.50, 3.20, 5.70.
Also Ran: Tunnes (Ger), Malabu Drive (GB). Video, sponsored by TVG.

Westover takes the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1)!

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— IFHA's Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (@worldsbesthorse) July 8, 2023

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