€450,000 Moulin de Longchamp (Gr1): Tribalist pulls away from group

ParisLongchamp Racecourse, Sunday, September 8th, 2024 – As the seven contenders for the €450,000 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Gr1) set off over the mile course, all eyes were on a potential duel between two British raiders: the 4-year-old Charyn (Dark Angel), fresh from his impressive victory in the "Marois," and the 3-year-old Notable Speech (Dubawi), winner of the 2,000 Guineas (Gr1) and the Sussex Stakes (Gr1).

However, in the unpredictable world of horse racing, a third runner, the unheralded 20/1 shot Tribalist (Farhh), crossed the finish line first. The French representative for Godolphin employed front-running tactics, seizing the lead from the outset and setting a steady pace with Caramelito (Zarak), the Irish raider Henry Longfellow (Dubawi), and then Charyn in pursuit.

As they entered the straight, Tribalist had established a clear advantage and showed no signs of tiring. Charyn, launching his pursuit, took time to find his rhythm, and although he finished with a flourish, he had conceded too much ground (1.5 seconds at the half-mile marker) on the soft going and without his near fore iron to catch the frontrunner. Tribalist maintained a comfortable length lead at the finish. Henry Longfellow finished third, closing strongly to finish three lengths behind the winner, less than a length ahead of the valiant Caramelito.

This victory marked Tribalist's return to form after a semi-comeback over six furlongs in early July, two months after his second consecutive success in the Prix du Muguet (Gr2) on soft ground. Two months had passed since that sprint outing.

Bred by Car Colston Hall Stud, Tribalist was sold for £130,000 at Tattersalls to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock. His dam, Fair Daughter (Nathaniel), was unraced. Tribalist is her first runner. Her younger sister, Mer Lunaire (Sea the Stars), born in 2020, was sold as a maiden for €35,000 to Atlas Bloodstock last December.

The second dam, Wiener Wald (Woodman), directly produced five black-type performers, including the Racing Post Trophy (Gr1) winner Crowded House (Rainbow Quest).

This family also includes the Prix Maurice de Gheest (Gr1) winner Brando (Pivotal), Ticker Tape (Royal Applause), winner of the American Oaks Invitational and the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (Gr1), and Reckless Abandon (Exchange Rate), unbeaten in five starts as a 2-year-old, including the Prix Morny and the Middle Park Stakes (Gr1).