Alpha Centauri crowned best miler in Europe
Photo scoopdyga.com
Already the winner of three Group 1 races over the mile in Ireland, where Jessica Harrington trains her, and in Great Britain, 3-year-old filly Alpha Centauri (Mastercraftsman) raised her score to four at this level on Sunday in the €1m Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois (Gr1).
It was a 9th win in the race for the Niarchos family and a first attempt for Alpha Centauri against the males and the aged horses. After having followed With You (Dansili), who led by the stand's side, Alpha Centauri took over 2 furlongs out and dominated the field by two and a half lengths, pursued by Recoletos (Whipper), second over three lengths in front of a tough With You.
The Niarchos, sponsor the race via his Normandy stud since 1986, is now only a victory away from equallling the record held by Marcel Boussac since 1953 ...
Seven of the eleven runners in the race had already won a Group 1, and the top three on the podium are in the lot, with the fourth-placed Noor Al Hawa (Makfi) progressing since his victory in the Grand Prix de Vichy (Gr3).
We will be back at the top level in Deauville on Wednesday, August 15 with the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano Haras of the Logis Saint-Germain (Gr2), where we will see again the French Derby winner Study of Man (Deep Impact), also bred by the Niarchos. Another leading horse, winner in the autumn of the Breeders'Cup Turf (Gr1) at Del Mar, Talismanic (Medaglia d'Oro) will make his return in the Prix Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jockey Club (Gr2), also over 2,000 meters.