Royal-Oak: Plenty of Scope indeed

October 24, 2021, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). - The last Gr1 of the French season, on closing day at ParisLongchamp, is the Prix Royal-Oak (Gr1) and this "French Leger", open to older horses since 1979, went to the British 3-year-old raider Scope (Teofilo), who beat the French favourite Skazino (Kendargent). The latter was giving 3.5kgs under the weight-for-age conditions. And so the last three editions of the race went to foreign 3-year-olds.

Scope is indeed trained at Kimpton, Hampshire, by Ralph Beckett, who must have had somehow planned a run in the Derby since the colt finished 3rd in the Lingfield Derby trial last Spring. Out over 100 days after that, however, he came back in August at York for a 5th place in the Great Voltigeur (Gr2), followed by a 6th in the actual St Leger at Doncaster. Only after that did he win his 2nd race -he had started with a win in a Newbury Novices' in October 2020-  in an Ascot Listed race over 1m6f.

He travelled in 3rd, today, following two leaders and then fought all the way to the post to hold a brave as ever Skazino, three and a half lengths ahead of the gelding Glycon (Le Havre), a newcomer in the staying brigade …

Scope was bred in Ireland by Lawn Stud. His dam Look So (Efisio), winner of 4 races, was also trained by Beckett for J H Richmond-Watson, Scope's owner. She also gave  Regardez (Champs Elysees), a Listed winner and Group-placed, and she's a sister to the Oaks winner Look Here (Hernando).