LARC Maurice de Gheest Report: Space Blues' blitz stuns top field
Photo scoopdyga.com
Sunday, August 9, 2020, Deauville. - The intermediate distance of the LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest (Gr1), 1,300 metres or 6.5 furlongs, and its position in the season, during a short break in the long sprints' calendar across the Channel, in addition of course to the fact that it brings together the 3-year-olds and their elders, often gather an exceptional field and great winners.
Even if the 4-year-old Space Blues (Dubawi) won his first Group 1 on this occasion, the Godolphin homebred, trained across the Channel by Charlie Appleby, will certainly be remembered as one of the very best horses of the season in Europe.
After travelling in the rear along the stands' rail - he was drawn 1 in the starting stalls - he crossed the leaders in the last furlong and won hy almost a length, but easily, beating the brave sprinter Hello Youmzain (Kodiac), Lope Y Fernandez (Lope de Vega) and the ex-unbeaten Earthlight (Shamardal), who finish together after fighting each other in the last 2 furlongs.
Space Blues finished in the top three of his seven races in 2019 with the exception of his comeback, and in particular in the Jersey Stakes (Gr3, 2nd), the Prix Jean Prat (Gr1, 2nd) and the Prix Maurice de Gheest (Gr1, 3rd). Out from August to March after that, he failed at Meydan for his return but won for his European comeback on June 7 at Haydock over 7 furlongs, then in the Prix de la Porte Maillot (Gr3), and more easily still most recently at Goodwood in the Lennox Stakes (Gr2), again over 7 furlongs.
His dam Miss Lucifer (Noverre) was bred in France by Gainsborough Stud. A Group 2 winner over 7 furlongs at Newmarket, she also foaled Shuruq (Elusive Quality), a Group winner in Turkey and Dubai, the dam of Antoinette (Hard Spun), three times Group-placed in the United States this season, most recently third in the CCA Oaks (Gr1), a New York classic contested at Saratoga on July 18th.