RECOLETOS SEES OFF THE BRITS
RECOLETOS paid Alpha Centauri a huge compliment after snatching victory in yesterday’s Group One Prix du Moulin at Longchamp.
Alpha Centauri had pulverised Recoletos in last month’s Jacques le Marois at Deauville when making it four Group One victories for the season.
Recoletos brushed aside a host of smart rivals including the winners of both the Group One Sussex Stakes, Lightning Spear, and the St James’s Palace Stakes, Without Parole.
Given a patient ride by vereran jock, Olivier
Peslier, the four-yearold had to knuckle down to catch Wind Chimes in the dying strides with Expert Eye, the mount of Ryan Moore, finishing late to take third place.
Lightning Spear (Oisin Murphy) and Without Parole (Frankie Dettori) finished fifth and sixth respectively.
It was a third victory in the mile event for Peslier who started out with the winning trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias who remarked: “I had the best horse and the best jockey in the race – Olivier has been with me for all my best triumphs. “When he came there I thought he would win more easily but the filly (Wind Chimes) really fought hard at the end.
“That was a good Group One race and he did it well. Conditions were not a problem as all his best races have come on good ground.” Recoletos will now head to Ascot for Champions Day where he could have another crack at Alpha Centauri in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Not surprisingly Alpaha Centauri heads the betting at
4-1 with Recoletos the
11-2 second favourite. Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to Juddmonte Farms, who own Expert Eye, said: “He has run a very solid race.
“He didn’t quite get the opening when he most wanted it but he’s run really well and he is still improving.
“We’ll have to look at the Breeders’ Cup and probably the QEII, depending on how he goes after this.”
Jessica Harrington, the trainer of Alpha Centauri, has yet to confirm if Ascot is on the agenda for her star filly but she has given her the green light for Saturday’s Coolmoore Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.
Limato showed his superior class when taking the Ryedale House Garrowby Stakes at York under Harry Bentley.
He is expected to head to Ascot next for next month’s Bengough Stakes before returning to the track for the Sprint on
Champions Day.