€80,000 La Force (Gr3): Atlast leaps into victory

7 April 2024

La Force 24 Atlast

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Sunday, 7 April 2024, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris) – Six colts competed in the €80,000 Prix La Force (Gr3), with the favorite being Sunway (Galiway), 2nd in the Champagne Stakes (Gr2) at Doncaster last year and also winner of the Critérium International (Gr1). Quickly taking the lead alongside the front-runner De Sica (Demarchelier), he made a strong bid to pull away early in the straight, but Atlast (Farhh) with his unusual head carriage, didn't let it hinder his performance on the heavily softened track. The Wertheimer & Frère homebred indeed leaped forward to confidently claim victory, marking his second career win, six months after clinching a class 2 event in October at Chantilly on the all-weather track.

He held off the challenge from the only horse in the field to have started this season, Mondo Man (Mondialiste), who finished 2nd over a length behind after winning his maiden on the all-weather at Deauville and then placing 3rd in the Prix Maurice Caillault (L).

Entered in the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas, Gr1) and the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, Gr1), Atlast is the 4th foal out of the American mare Pitamore (More than Ready), 2nd in the Prix La Camargo (L) racing for the Wertheimers and also the dam of the gelding Cilantro (Wootton Bassett), sold last year for €16,000 at the HIT sales and still very active in the south of France. Pitamore was exported to the USA and was listed for the Keeneland breeding sales, but was ultimately withdrawn.