€80,000 Perth (Gr3): Alcantor blooms late

Saint-Cloud, France – October 27, 2024 – A classic hopeful at the beginning of the season, Alcantor (New Bay) returned triumphantly to the winner’s circle in Sunday’s €80,000 Prix Perth (Gr3) at Saint-Cloud.

Making his first start since finishing third in the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein (Gr2) four months ago, Alcantor quickly took command and drew off impressively in the final straightaway to win by four lengths. Sirona (Soldier Hollow), who had tracked the winner throughout, held on for second, a neck in front of the fast-finishing Johan (Zoffany).

Alcantor had not won this season. He finished sixth in his seasonal debut over a mile at Newmarket, then was an unlucky third in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains and sixth in the Prix du Jockey Club. However, he had been among the winter favourites for the classics after winning the Prix Thomas Bryon (Gr3) over this same course and finishing third in the Critérium International (Gr1).

Bred by SCEA du Grand Chêne, Alcantor was purchased as a foal for €180,000 by Haras de Meautry at the Deauville breeding stock sales. His yearling sister by Waldgeist was purchased for €190,000 by Suprina, perhaps for Édouard de Rothschild, at the Arqana October Sale. Their 5-year-old gelding brother by Territories, Lorenzo de Medici, will go through the ring at the November Sale.

Both are out of Bianca de Medici (Medicean), a two-time winner who has already produced Boscaccio (Mount Nelson), a Group 2 winner in Germany. Further back, this is the family of Trêve.