High Heeled's valiant second in the NYSE Euronext Prix de Royallieu was the best British performance on an afternoon of near-misses at Longchamp.Last year's Oaks third, who was moved to John Gosden when bought by George Strawbridge after her Classic season and started off with an excellent run back at Epsom in the Coronation Cup, gave connections optimism for the rest of the autumn by going within a neck of Group Two glory.
Olivier Peslier was bold enough to make an early move in the straight, but found himself desperate for the line and Gerald Mosse swooped just in time aboard Maria Royal.
James Wigan, Strawbridge's racing manager, said: "That was a great run. She was always going well, and was conceding weight to the winner. It's likely she will go to the paddocks next year, but she does still have options at Woodbine and in Italy and France later this season."
Trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre is now considering the Prix Royal-Oak back at the course on October 24 for the winner, in which case she could meet Francois Doumen's Celtic Celeb, the accomplished victor in the Qatar Prix Chaudenay.
He poured on the pressure and came a length and a half clear, while the sole British raider Caucus made little impression.
The Hughie Morrison-trained colt started off setting the sedate pace but Stephane Pasquier, replacing Jamie Spencer, suffered a few traffic problems later on and he weakened to finish second-last.
British horses Distant Memories and Poet were both prominent and filled the third and fourth spots respectively in the Qatar Prix Dollar.
Posts
