€130,000 Qatar Prix Niel (Gr2): Sosie goes his own way

Sunday, September 15, 2024, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). - The return of the last Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1) winner, Look de Vega (Lope de Vega), unbeaten in three starts, was eagerly awaited. The representative of the Qatari stable Al Shaqab started as the favourite for the €130,000 Qatar Prix Niel (Gr2), facing four opponents, more than a hundred days after his triumph at Chantilly.

Among these opponents were, in particular, Sosie (Sea the Stars) and Delius (Frankel), respectively 1st and 3rd over the 1m4f of the Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1), precisely on this course. Quickly in the lead, Look de Vega did not refuse the fight. Still, after trying to respond to the attack of his two bets rivals, he let go, letting Sosie take 1.5 lengths from Delius, almost as in the Grand Prix (two good lengths separated them that day, with the Irish raider Illinois in between). Look de Vega faded in 3rd at two lengths.

The Arc equation is, therefore, to be reformulated, at least for the 3-year-olds.

Sosie is the sixth foal out of Sosia (Shamardal), Listed-placed, who also produced Anasia (Intello), Gr3-placed and Listed winner, and Copie (Iffraaj), also Listed winner but over shorter distances. Their brother Sosino (New Approach), second in the 2023 Prix Daphnis (Gr3), was sold to Blandford and Ontrack Thoroughbreds for €50,000 at the Arqana Arc Sale ten days after Sosie's first victory... The Camelot 2-year-old , Uther, is in training with Christophe Ferland.

This is a German family acquired by the Wertheimer brothers via the second dam, Sahel (Monsun), bought back by Le Mézeray for €320,000 as a yearling in Deauville and sister of the German classic winners Schiaparelli, Samum and Salve Regina!

What connections said:

Pierre-Yves Bureau, the racing manager of the Écurie Wertheimer et frère, the owners of Sosie (1st)

« We knew that Sosie stays the trip and that and he loves Longchamp. It's really great. It's been a great season and we need to keep it going. Logically, Sosie will be heading to  the Group 1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Physically-speaking, he's reaching maturity. The colt showed a good turn of foot. He has a very calm temperament which is certainly an asset when it comes to the big occasions. »

Hermine Bastide, the French representative of the owners of Delius (2nd)

« Delius ran really well. The whole team is delighted. The colt finished where we expected him to. He was 80 per cent wound up for this, and we were aiming for a place on the podium. His jockey Ioritz Mendizabal wasn’t unduly hard on his mount, and we were there to formulate future plans based on how he performed in this race. We're going to mull matters over with his owners, as he the option of heading to Australia for the Melbourne Cup. However,  we have several possible horses bound for down under…»

Yann Lerner – co-trainer (with his father Carlos) of Look de Vega (3rf) – Maisons-Laffitte (Yvelines)

« We wanted Look de Vega to get off to a good start. We know that these races can be tactical affairs. We wanted to ensure that he got the race he needed because we know he's well above his optimal weight compared to the Qatar Prix du Jockey-Club. Despite the fact that he's been cranked up on the training grounds, he was a long way off his best form. He needed to get a race under his belt [the Qatar Prix Niel] so as to help him to be in mint condition in three weeks' time. His rider affirmed that he battled well upsides Sosie until asking for a breather in the final 200 metres. We know that the colt has a lot of scope for improvement. We need to ensure that he’s top form come the big day. In three weeks' time, he'll be cherry ripe for [his next assignment] ! »