French Grand Prix Recap
Jockey B Wu asked Supapogs8’s Champion colt Rizla Green for his best move entering the final turn of the 12 furlong Grade-1, and that is exactly what he got, a perfectly-timed powerful bold move, that inhaled the leaders and propelled Rizla Green to a “stunning” 3 length win over an exceptionally talented field of 3 year olds.
At the break Udhen’s colt Overindulgence quickly assumed the lead with a “brisk” opening quarter of 22:78, followed by Gudenus’s filly Taluima, Lgbost9y’s Impactic and Iant’s Frozen Spirit. By the 4 furlong call it was apparent that Overindulgence would be able to control the lead, as his 46:12 pace had opened a 2 ½ length lead over Taluima, both Impactic and Frozen Spirit were starting to struggle to keep up. Rizla Green was covered up nicely in 8th position, saving ground, patiently biding his time. As the field entered the final turn, Overindulgence was really rolling and opened up a 4 ¾ length advantage over the now starting to fade Taluima, Rizla Green was now quickly picking off the stragglers and by the head of the stretch only Taluima and Overindulgence were between him and the Finish Line, as Propertyof’s Adventures was now starting to unleash a “furious” stretch rally, passing horses rapidly, trying desperately to catch the two leaders. Midway thru the stretch, it became apparent that it was a race for 2nd as Rizla Green had too much left and his 4 length lead was too much to overcome, with one last desperate lunge Adventures caught the struggling, but valiant Overindulgence by the length of his neck to secure the place in a photo.
Race Comments: (in order of finish)
RIZLA GREEN: powerful stretch move, showed why he’s Rated # 1 Long Turf
ADVENTURES: good inside trip, tried hard, still full of run at the wire.
OVERINDULGENCE: controlled the pace, all out at wire, game effort
CLOAK AND DAGGERS: from last to 4th, best of the rest, well earned minor slice of purse
HARADAPRADO: passed all the tired runners, saved ground but no match for top-3
DYNAMIQUE: even trip, passed tired stretch runners, didn’t have best game today.
TALUIMA: tried to contest early, hot pace, she tried hard but wilted.
GLOBE TREKKER: raced off pace, small move entering stretch, hung late
LORENZO: raced mid pack, moved to 5th entering lane, empty by mid stretch.
IMPACTIC: chased early speed, nothing left for stretch run.
HENRYTHE TRICKSTER: wide early, chased early leaders, pace casualty, dry stretch run.
OMNIPRESENCE: mid pack early, no response when asked entering stretch
MEDI TREBRE: forwardly placed early, no move when asked, faded never prominent,
FROZEN SPIRIT: chased early leaders, finished by the stretch, faded badly.