Friendly Soul Fights for Prix de l'Opera Victory

Kieran Shoemark's wait for a first group 1 winner as stable jockey to John and Thady Gosden came to an end as he delivered Friendly Soul (GB) for a hard-fought victory in the Prix de l'Opera (G1) Oct. 6. High-profile defeats on Inspiral and Emily Upjohn had led to criticism of Frankie Dettori's successor this term, but the rider said there was no pressure from inside the Clarehaven ranks as he delivered a cool performance to gain the landmark. Shoemark hit the front two furlongs out on the daughter of Kingman (GB), who stayed on resolutely as stablemate Running Lion (GB) chased her home to take the second spot. "It's a great way to top off the season," Shoemark said. "I was really in search of that group 1 victory this year and I'm delighted I've managed to have got it, especially for John and Thady as well as George Strawbridge. "I've been very fortunate to have John and Thady on my side the whole time, and the owners. In-house it's been nothing but support and that's been extremely important. We've possibly lacked a little bit of depth this year, but we've got exciting 2-year-olds for next year." The old and new Gosden stable jockeys could clash in Southern California next month with the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) still an option for Friendly Soul at Del Mar Nov. 2. With her victory Sunday, Friendly Soul now holds an automatic, fees-paid berth to the $2 million race thanks to the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. "There's every possibility, and (owner-breeder) George (Strawbridge) lives in America," Gosden said when asked about a Breeders' Cup bid. "It's one-mile three furlongs and Kieran felt that a mile and a quarter was very much the top end of her range. That was in Deauville, but around three bends at Del Mar it's a bit like a bull ring so anything is possible." Makarova Goes Out a Winner in Prix de l'Abbaye Makarova (GB) saved her best performance for last as she enjoyed the perfect swansong to her career when storming to success in the Prix de l'Abbaye (G1) under Tom Marquand. The Ed Walker-trained 5-year-old finished sixth in the race last year, but finally got her group 1 breakthrough when reeling in Nunthorpe (G1) and Flying Five (G1) stakes hero Bradsell (GB). Believing (IRE) again hit the frame at the highest level in third. A group 3 winner at Sandown in July, Makarova ended a two-year wait for another group 1 success for Walker, whose last triumph at the highest level came at Longchamp in the 2022 Prix du Moulin (G1) with Dreamloper (IRE). "She's kind of the forgotten mare," Walker said. "She's always been underestimated and has always been a big price. "She's been the underdog, but she's very consistent and never does a lot wrong, especially in conditions like this. We were more confident in our camp than the odds suggested. We feared Bradsell on fast ground, but always wanted to take him on when the rain came." Despite earning an automatic fees-paid berth to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) thanks to the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, Walker said another run was off the cards for Makarova, who will now head to the breeding sheds. "That's the last run of her career, I'm pretty confident of it, as she owes us nothing," he said, paying paid tribute to her owner-breeders Jeffrey and Phoebe Hobby, who own Brightwalton Stud near Newbury in Berkshire. Despite Bradsell's first defeat of the season, trainer Archie Watson was thrilled with his performance, and he already has his eyes set on more big-race glory at the Breeders' Cup. "He's run a huge race and did nothing wrong," Watson said. "Hollie (Doyle) felt that, while he went on the ground, he was just a little bit vulnerable late to a closer. I couldn't be happier with him, he's run a massive race. "I've always thought that the turning five furlongs over there in the U.S. would really suit. We'll get him home and see if we're happy with him. That'll be the plan as long as everyone's happy." Camille Pissarro Lives up to Expectations in Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere The Longchamp love-in between Aidan O'Brien and Christophe Soumillon continued into a second day as the pair combined to win the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) with Camille Pissarro (IRE). A well-related colt who cost about US$1,585,060 at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale last year, Camille Pissarro had such a big reputation that he started favorite for the Marble Hill (G3), Coventry (G2) and Gimcrack (G2) stakes. A close second in the sales race at the Leger meeting was a better effort, but he was available at 20-1 Sunday morning before some late support. "I think being produced very late was probably the key. Let him go to sleep," O'Brien said. "Christophe's given a masterclass, obviously. "He loved him. He said he's done everything 100% and he'll get a mile no problem next year." O'Brien described Camille Pissarro as "a Guineas horse," a Classic race in which the trainer already has the strong favorite, The Lion In Winter. The victory earned the son of Wootton Bassett (GB) a paid berth to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) thanks to the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, but it is unlikely to see Camille Pissarro again this season. The trainer pointed out this was his seventh outing of a campaign that began in April. "In fairness to him, he kept standing up to it." The Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere was also a stop on the 2024-25 European and Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby, offering the top five finishers points on a scale of 10-5-3-2-1. Vertical Blue Upsets Stablemate in Prix Marcel Boussac Trainer Francis Graffard admitted he hadn't been able to cheer at the end of a pulsating Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) as his red-hot favorite Zarigana and the improving Vertical Blue (IRE) dueled to the line. Mickael Barzalona looked to go at least a neck up on the previously unbeaten Zarigana but Vertical Blue defied the odds of 33-1 under Alexis Pouchin to win out by a nose, sparking tearful scenes of joy in the winner's enclosure from father-and-son owners Francis and Benjamin Teboul. Graffard made no secret beforehand that he felt Vertical Blue—who was beaten in a listed race at Lyon on her previous start—had continued to progress on the back of four previous runs, though the feeling that Zarigana was already on the way to becoming the natural heiress to her grandmother Zarkava meant he had barely been asked about his second runner. "There was nothing in it at the line and Mickael thought he had got up, but Alexis said his filly kept finding more and he was confident she would keep on all the way to the line," said Graffard. "There's a lot of emotion because I felt a lot of pressure with the Aga Khan's filly, with so much expectation surrounding her. I still think she is exceptional, but Vertical Blue has experience and is improving all the time. The ground was fine for her and there was nothing in it at the line." Owner Benjamin Teboul struggled in vain to contain tears as he explained what Vertical Blue's success meant to him and his family. "It's exceptional, (to beat) Zarigana and the others, when we had no pretensions to win this race," said Teboul. "Alexis has ridden a dream race and Francis Graffard has produced exceptional work to have her at the top today. Graffard confirmed Zarigana was finished for the season and, while a discussion will be had over the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) for Vertical Blue, as she earned an automatic, fees-paid berth thanks to the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. Justify's Ramatuelle Wins Prix de la Foret, Breeders' Cup Mile Next The Christopher Head-trained Ramatuelle came to the Prix de la Foret (G1) as a Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) aspirant. She left not only victorious but perhaps as the one to beat. That is perhaps a bold statement given the Two Thousand Guineas (G1) and Sussex Stakes (G1) winner Notable Speech (GB) still heads the ante-post market, but this was an emphatic display of speed on soft ground from a filly who, with the autumn in mind, has been rested through those summer battles. The trainer's father Freddy Head won the Breeders' Cup Mile three times with Goldikova but only once in three attempts did she win the Foret. The family knows how to go from Paris to the Breeders' Cup winner's circle better than anyone, but even they were blown away as the daughter of Justify proved the 107-day break had done her the world of good by romping home three lengths clear of Kinross (GB). "I will remember that forever," said Ramatuelle's delighted and impressed trainer. "I love this filly, she's been courageous all season and she's just coming back today—it's mad. "It was time she deserved a crown because she's such a queen. Aurelien (Lemaitre) is such a good jockey and he gave her a great ride."