St Mark's Basilica Coolmore Saint-Alary: Above the Curve and the field

May 29, 2022, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). – Favourite of the 62nd running of the €250,000 St Mark’s Basilica Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) off her 2nd place in the Cheshire Oaks (L) at Chester, the tall Irish filly Above the Curve (American Pharoah) dominated by a length, at ease, the Prix Cléopâtre (Gr 3) winner Place du Carrousel (Lope de Vega), who passed the post with another length to spare over Queen Trezy (Almanzor), who recovered well after hitting a flat spot earlier in the straight.

Blue Wings (Wings of Eagles) led the race flanked by the eventual winner, who came by from the outside draw soon after the start with Ryan Moore up. The British raider Prosperous Voyage had been declared a non-runner. Above the Curve took her time to reach momentum in the end but she handily took over once in balance and none of her rivals was in a position to throw a proper challenge in the end. Coming from last, Place du Carrousel did well but came too late to make a real difference.

Trained by Joseph O’Brien, Above the Curve is regally bred by Orpendale for Coolmore. She was, however, listed at Keeneland as a yearling but was eventually withdrawn. Her dam is the unraced Fabulous (Galileo), a sister to the great Giant’s Causeway (Storm Cat) and to You’resothrilling (Storm Cat), the dam of the classic sire Gleneagles (Galieo)…