€80,000 La Coupe (Gr3): Calif prevails for new connections

Sunday, June 9, 2024, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). - The favourites for the €80,000 La Coupe (Gr3), Zarir (Frankel), who recently finished second in the Prix Ganay (Gr1), and Al Hakeem (Siyouni), who is making his return after 427 days following a fourth-place finish in the Prix d’Harcourt (Gr2), were unable to compete with outsider Calif (Areion), who defeated them by 2.5 lengths over the 1m2f trip.

Quickly well-placed behind leaders Mansour (Tai Chi) and Birr Castle (Cloth of Stars), Victorious Racing's representative took off early into the straight and was never truly threatened.

Zarir, finishing second, was too far back to mount a victorious comeback despite a f2nd last firlong run in 10.7 seconds, the best section of the race. Calif covered the last furlongs in 11.6 seconds, 6 to 20 hundredths slower than Al Hakeem, an impressive third on his return, and Zarir, but had already pu up a significant lead.

Bred in Germany by Gestüt Brummerhof, Calif joined the Lerners' yard after the last Dubai meeting. This was his first race for this stable. Seventh in the Dubai Turf (Gr1) behind Facteur Cheval over 9f before returning to Europe, he also finished third in a Gr2 race at the Saudi Cup meeting. Purchased for €400,000 at the Arqana sales last September, he is out of a German 2,000 Guineas (Gr2) runner-up and also won the Œttingen Rennen (Gr2) before being sold to Oliver St Lawrence and transferred to a Bahraini trainer for the winter.