Noailles : To Cheshire Academy the very last word
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Sunday, April 11, 2021, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). - The favourite Pretty Tiger (Sea the Moon) was helped by a pacemaker, Fourvière (Camacho), which helped to sustain a good pace for this running of the €80,000 Prix Noailles (Gr3), run after a one-year hiatus due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Tokyo Gold (Kendargent) and Pretty Tiger followed that lead down the hill and 2 furlongs out, nothing seemed to stand in the way of the latter as no one could keep up with him anymore. At that stage, Cheshire Academy (Flintshire) was still far back and was only making his move. Winner of his two races to date, last Winter at pau over the all-weather, the White Birch-owned colt ground inch by inch to make up the many lengths still separating him from the favourite. He finally failed by a nose only, the two first home leaving the 3rd-placed Gregolimo (Galiway) at 2.5 lengths.
The stewards blew their horn before the horses had turned around, the winner having briefly veered to his left, interfering with the runner-up. It was decided that he won only thanks to that movement and the race was awarded to Cheshire Academy.
The winner was sold for €77,000 at the Deauville yearlings sales to Oceanic Bloodstock -and so was the 2nd-placed! He was consigned by the Haras des Capucines for his breeder, SF Bloodstock. His dam Danza Cavallo (Sunday Break), a winner of the Prix Madame Jean Couturié (L) at Vichy for trainer Joël Boisnard, who'd found her at Deauville, was later sold for € 300,000 € at Deauville in December 2019, in foalt to Almanzor for the second year. Bought by David Redvers, she was exported to Britain.