Weekend Review / Timeform / 06 October 2009 / Leave a comment

Timeform look back on an exhilirating weekend in France as well as some valuable UK races...

A great weekend's action, with fascinating racing taking place in Britain, though it was the two-day meeting at Longchamp, and in particular Sea The Stars' bid for equine immortality in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, which drew the lion's share of the attention.

In winning his sixth Group 1 of the campaign, Sea The Stars didn't need to improve on his previous form, though the turn of foot he showed to assert was staggering all the same. With the likes of Fame And Glory, Stacelita and Conduit not quite at their best, Youmzain stayed on best to follow the majestic winner home, in the process finishing runner-up in the race for the third successive year, a unique feat in its own right.

There were a further five Group 1 contests on the undercard at Longchamp, starting with the Qatar Prix de l'Abbaye. The sole British-trained winner at the meeting was the Stan Moore-trained Total Gallery, who, in becoming the first three-year-old to win the race in 12 years, led home a 1-2-3 for the raiding team in beating Fleeting Spirit and War Artist. The runner-up didn't get the best of starts but finished off well, and she may now be given her chance against America's best in the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita next month.

On Saturday there was an extremely valuable card held on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket. The Tattersalls Timeform Million is the richest race for two-year-olds staged in Britain, and it was the Ralph Beckett-trained Oasis Dancer who plundered the prize.

Whilst connections of the winner may be inclined to disagree, the race was an unsatisfactory one in many ways with the field splitting into two. The larger group against the stands rail were at a marked disadvantage, and three of the first four home were at [51.0] or bigger. The winner came sweeping through a tight gap on the rail to get in front and hold off the rallying Kona Coast, who was bidding to provide John Gosden with the prize for the second year running. The best of those on the stands side was Alfred Nobel who finished four lengths ahead of the remainder and seemed unlucky not to win.

The Group 1 Sun Chariot stakes provided the most prestigious race on Saturday as 1,000 Guineas heroine Ghanaati failed to reproduce her best, coming off second best to French raider Sahpresa. Rod Collet's lightly-raced four-year-old claimed her year-younger rival inside the final furlong and was comfortably on top at the line. It looked as though the long season had taken its toll on Ghanaati before the race as she failed to sparkle in her coat and it's likely the winner took advantage of both this, and the other horses' failure to give their running.

The first leg of the Autumn double saw Supaseus narrowly edge out Tartan Gigha in what was a typically competitive renewal of the Cambridgeshire. As with the Timeform Million earlier on the card, those drawn high came to the fore, with eleven of the first twelve berthed in stall fourteen or higher. Supaseus fractured a pelvis upon returning from Dubai and has taken time to come to hand. He showed some improvement and, whilst it's hard to think he wasn't at some advantage in racing against the far rail, he should still be up to making an impact in listed and minor pattern company.

Tartan Gigha ran well to finish second but did show a questionable attitude when push came to shove, and Nanton showed his versatility to run a blinder and may well have the Cesarewitch on the agenda now, though his stamina for that extreme test will be a significant concern.

The North's most valuable two-year-old race, the Redcar trophy, was won in decisive fashion by Lucky Like who showed a good cruising speed, and won with something to spare by four lengths from Kaptain Kirkup. The second travelled equally as well as the winner for a long way but simply didn't have the turn of foot to offer a challenge. There doesn't seem to be any fluke about the result and the Eoghan O'Neill colt looks set to do well as a sprinter next season.

Tags: Arc De Triomphe, Horseracing betting odds, Horseracing betting tips, Longchamp, Sea The Stars, The Breeders' Cup