Saint-Georges History : The first French sprint of the season

Sunday, May 16, 2021, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). - 3-year-old filly Ideal Beauty (Invincible Spirit), trained in Chantilly by André Fabre for her breeder, Godolphin, was running over 5 furlongs for the first time in the Prix de Saint-Georges (Gr3), her 4th race this season. She started her career with a win at 2 over 7 furlongs and failed in two Listed races over shorter trips before her Winter spell. She was placed three times this year over 10.5 to 6 furlongs.

Well-placed with her 2 draw, the filly ridden by Mickaël Barzalona came by 2 furlongs out and she finally took over the favourite Berneuil (Lope de Vega), who was running at this level for the first time. The two former winners of the race, Sestilio Jet (French Fifteen) and Batwan (Kendargent), the latter showing signs of distress by the rail behind the leaders, finished third and fourth respectively.

Ideal Beauty was bred by Godolphin. Her dam Discernable (Elusive Quality) won the Prix Six Perfections (L) at 2 at Deauville for Mark Johnston. She was bred by Newsells Park Stud and was bought as a yearling at Newmarket for £ 160,000. Her 3rd dam is the dual Oaks winner Lupe, dam of Louveterie, who also gave Loup Solitaire and Loup Sauvage.

Despite many showers the day before, ParisLongchamp seems to ride fast enough as Ideal Beauty took 56’’74 to win whereas last year, Batwan took 59’10, but the track was then rated 3.9, much softer than today's 3,7.

The best sectionals recorded here were the 4th and 3rd last, which were run in less than 22'' by all the runners. The winner, however, was faster than everybody else in the last two sectionals only... She's had a very good trip.

History

The memory of Vicomte d’Harcourt, who passed away in September 1928, was doubly honoured in 1929 by the Société d’Encouragement, the board of which he had chaired from 1920 to 1926. The Longchamp race card was amended to include both the Prix d’Harcourt and the Prix de Saint-Georges, an evocation of the stud farm that had for a long time served as the cradle of his breeding operation.

Run over 5 furlongs on the straight track at Longchamp, the Prix de Saint-Georges has only left this racecourse six times: between 1943 and 1945 for Maisons-Laffitte; in 1968 for Chantilly, and in 2017 and 2018 to Deauville as Longchamp was being reconstructed. Its distance has never changed. Because of the war, it was not held in 1940.

The Prix de Saint-Georges is the first of only four pattern races run over 5 furlongs in France; it is followed by the Prix du Gros Chêne (Group 2) in June, the Prix du Petit Couvert (Group 3) in September and the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (Group 1) in early October, within the Qatar Arc de Triomphe weekend.

Due to the relative paucity in terms of the breeding of French sprinters, the Prix de Saint-Georges frequently attracts foreign runners. The first to return home victorious was Polyfoto (1965). 15 other overseas visitors have since prevailed: Constans (1972, 1973, 1974), Sharpo (1981), Elbio (1992), Hever Golf Rose (1997), Black Rock Desert (1999), Sampower Star (2000), Best Walking (2003), The Trader (2004), Peace Offering (2007), Mood Music (2009), Inxile (2011), Beyond Desire (2012) and Mecca's Angel (2015)..

The Saint-Georges stud farm

Situated in the Allier region near Moulins, the Saint-Georges stud originally housed the breeding stock of Edouard Fould. When he died in 1881, the stable’s racing and breeding roster were put up for sale, and a large part was purchased by the former owner’s partners, Soubeyran, Harcourt and Castries. When the latter himself died in 1886 and then Soubeyran retired in 1890, the partnership was dissolved and the Saint-Georges stud was run by Harcourt alone until the transfer of his stock to the Marly-la-Ville stud farm in 1910.

Owners

• François Dupré (4 wins): Polic (1957), Texana (1958), Jannic (1960), Fortino (1962) ;
• Ms.Monica Sheriffe (4 wins): Constans (1972, 1973, 1974), Sharpo (1981).
• The Wertheimers (4 wins): Zambelli (1930), Makila (1934) for Pierre, Dananeyev (2001), Only Answer (2008) for Wertheimer&Frère.
• R. C. Strauss (3 wins): Last Tycoon (1986), Pont Aven (1991), Sainte Marine (1998).
• Aga Khan (2 wins): Carissimo (1961), Adraan (1980).
• M. & Mme André Rueff (2 wins): Yours (1966, 1967).
• Desmond Walter Molins (2 wins): Girl Friend (1976, 1977).
• Haras d’Etreham (2 wins): Sicyos (1984), Tenue de Soirée (1987).
• Gérard Samama (2 wins): Catcall (2013, 2014).
• Godolphin (2 wins) : Sampower Star (2000), Ideal Beauty (2021).

Trainers

• François Mathet (5 wins): Polic (1957), Texana (1958), Jannic (1960), Fortino (1962), Adraan (1980).
• Arthur Jeremy Tree (4 wins): Constans (1972, 1973, 1974), Sharpo (1981).
• Robert Collet (4 wins): Last Tycoon (1986), Pont Aven (1991), West Man (1994), Sainte Marine (1998).
• Jean Doumen (3 wins): Thread (1941), Fast Street (1951), Blysmus (1959).
• Alec Head (3 wins): Aria Viva (1953), Palariva (1956), Carissimo (1961).
• Christiane Head-Maarek (3 wins) : Sicyos (1984), Tenue de Soirée (1987), Anabaa (1996).
• Carlos Laffon-Parias (3 wins): Struggler (1995), Dananeyev (2001), Maybe Forever (2002).
• André Fabre (3 wins) : Holst (1989), Only Answer (2008), Ideal Beauty (2021).

Riders

• Yves-Saint-Martin (5 wins): Jannic (1960), Fortino (1962), Montgomery (1971), Adraan (1980), Last Tycoon (1986).
• Fernand Rochetti (4 wins): Makila (1934), Iskandar (1937), Borée (1946), Sarrau (1950).
• Freddy Head (4 wins): Tudor Black (1968), Sicyos (1984), Glifahda (1988), Anabaa (1996).
• Maurice Philipperon (3 wins): Prime Action (1970), King of Macedon (1979), Parioli (1985).
• Lester Piggott (3 wins): Constans (1972, 1974), Flirting Around (1975).
• Cash Asmussen (3 wins): Holst (1989), Pont Aven (1991), Robin des Pins (1993).