20 October 2019
Photo scoopdyga.com
A year and a day after his magnificent third place in the Qipco Champion Stakes (Gr1) at Ascot behind Cracksman and Crystal Ocean, two of the best thoroughbreds in the World, the 7 year old Czech gelding Subway Dancer (Shamardal) won the Prix du Conseil de Paris (Gr2), Sunday at ParisLongchamp. Always well placed behind the leading Silverwave (Silver Frost), he took over in the home stretch and drove himself out of reach, keeping one of the French favorites, 3yo Aga Khan filly Edisa (Kitten's Joy), a three parts of a length over a very heavy ground in the Bois de Boulogne. The favourite Soudania (Sea The Stars) fought hard up until the last furlong pole but eventually faded and lost the third place to a brave Silverwave.
The race was run for the first time over 11 furlongs, and no longer over 1m4f.
Subway Dancer's career is a roller coaster that is Hollywood stuff, beyond the simple fact that he is trained in the Czech Republic. Born in Ireland but bred in France at Haras de Saint-Pair, he was unsold as yearling for €60,000, and sold in the fall of 2015, at 3, to agent Chris Richner for €3,000. By then, he had visited a few yards but wasn't sending the right vibes there. He eventually started then for Czech trainer Zdeno Koplik in Hyères, by the Meditterranea, in March at 4, with a sixth place... Six months later, however, he made his the Prix André Baboin (Gr3) in Lyon. Second in the Prix Dollar (Gr2) at Chantilly in 2017, he once again was disdained at the Arc sale at € 110,000 on that very evening. Since then, he has taken more than €200,000 in prizemoney and premiums (he was assimilated and his owners therefore get a 35% bonus), not counting the €100,000 he brings home for his last victory!
His dam Sub Rose (Galileo) was bought for € 220,000 at the Italian yearlings sales and she won her two outings, including the Prix de Royaumont (Gr3), at 3 over 1m4f. She gave in 2016 a foal named Silver Seam (Dark Angel) who, after taking two places in the South-West for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, was sold € 29,000 at the summer sales of last July, and has since won the Austrian Derby (L) for Zdeno Koplik...
Sub Rose has also given since a daughter of Muhaarar and another born this year by Al Wukair, both being also bred by Saint-Pair.