5 May 2024
Photo scoopyga.com
Sunday, May 5, 2024, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). - Only five runners took to the start for the €80,000 Prix d'Hédouville (Gr3) after Rex of Thunder, from the Czech Republic, was withdrawn just behind the starting gates. With none of the runners eager to test their rivals early on, the race progressed at a leisurely pace up the climb of the Grande Piste: the first 7 furlongs were completed by the front-runner, Goliath (Adlerflug), in a moderate kilometer rate of 1’18’’8. For context, the following morning at Grosbois, a 3-year-old trotting filly, Lopa de Wallis, would qualify over 10 furlongs at the same rate.
Joking aside, the race heated up going downhill, especially from the thousand-meter mark, as they cross the straight 5-furlong course. Goliath gradually increased the pace to peak 2 out, clocking under 11 seconds over that section before cruising home in 11’’33, effortlessly. His competitors launched their chase at the start of the straight, with Shakti (Zarak) initially leading the challengers, before being decisively overtaken by Galashiels (Australia).
Thus, the top two finished in reverse order compared to their last mutual outing in the Prix Lord Seymour (L) three weeks prior on the same course... only in a time nine seconds slower this time.
Goliath made up 5 lengths since his seasonal debut over the Godolphin trainee who had raced over the off-season.
This was his sixth career start and second of the season. At 3, he won his first three races, all over 1m1/2, ending with a Listed victory at Clairefontaine. He then finished third in the Prix du Prince d’Orange (Gr3), five lengths behind another gelding, Horizon Doré, whom he couldn't match in the final drive after tracking from behind. Yet, he had posted the second-fastest split from 2 to one out that day, advancing from seventh to fourth, after a much more selective early race here over 1m2f.
Goliath was bred by his owner, Georg von Ullmann, and is the first foal out of Gouache (Shamardal), a Listed winner over 9 furlongs at 4 in Germany. She was sold in foal to Blackbeard last year at Arqana for 200,000 € to Agrolexica International Trading BV, a Dutch trading company. After Goliath, the mare has produced two fillies, a 3-year-old in training with Markus Klug, and a full sister to Goliath born in 2022.
His dam, Guantana (Dynaformer), also a Listed-winner, gave several other good winners and is a sister to Guignol (Cape Cross), a double Group 1 winner and promising sire. This is also the family of Guadalupe (Monsun).