‘This colt could give the Europeans more than they bargained for’ was the headline on Geir Stabell’s most recent offering in his ‘Impressive in defeat’ series - and he was proved spot on when that colt, the Christophe Clement-trained Gufo, held off Irish raider Japan to win the mile-and-a-half G1 Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga last Saturday.
Here Stabell makes the case for another colt, a good second in a strong G2 at the York Ebor Festival recently, to step up on that effort.
Except for St Mark’s Basilica, Aidan O'Brien does not hold much of a hand in the 3-year-old male division this year. The picture for the St Leger at Doncaster on September 11 so often heavily influenced by Ballydoyle entries in the past, is also lacking a prominent contender from Ballydoyle.
Yet, while the likes of High Definition, Sir Lucan and Wordsworth have disappointed, one O’Brien trainee is on the upgrade: The late developing The Mediterranean, a game runner-up in the G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at York, a race that could also provide a Breeders’ Cup starter.
A big, scopey son of Galileo, The Mediterranean was making his fifth start of the season as he went off at 16/1 for the Voltigeur. Stable companions High Definition and Sir Lucan were both much shorter in the betting, but it was The Mediterranean, ridden by Wayne Lordan, who produced the most taking performance (see video below).
He was sent straight to the front and set a good pace, opening up a four- to five-length lead on the field. He raced a touch freely early on, though perhaps it would do him more justice to say that he was racing with great zest. He actually jumped the path crossing the course after the first two furlongs. He seemed to enjoy the occasion.
Longshot Scope was his nearest pursuer, followed by the two favourites, High Definition and Kemari. None were pressing him, however, and The Mediterranean strode out well going around the home turn. He held a four-length lead coming into the long straight. Scope, Kemari and Sir Lucan all had a crack at him two furlongs out, when the writing appeared to be on the wall for the frontrunner, but The Mediterranean shrugged them all off and held sway.
The Godolphin colt Yibir, staying on resolutely from the back, went past to beat him by a length and a quarter. Youth Spirit also stayed on late and got up for third, just pipping Sir Lucan. These two were half a length behind The Mediterranean, who fought on really gamely all the way to the line, giving the impression that he would not mind another step up in distance.
This run was a nice improvement on what he had done previously. He ran fourth to Juddmonte International runner-up Alenquer in the G2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and filled the same place behind the clear St Leger favourite Hurricane Lane in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris at ParisLongchamp in July.
Messages from the clock
The sectionals from the Voltigeur, and comparing them to sectionals in the Juddmonte International, won so impressively by Mishriff, are fascinating. The first five furlongs of the International was run in 1.01.95 (Mac Swiney led at this point). The Mediterranean ran the first five furlongs in 1.01.94 in the Voltigeur on the same course.
Mishriff was about to take charge as the International leaders were passing the mile pole, with the clock showing 1.36.18. The Mediterranean took 1.38.91 to cover the first mile of his race. Lordan had slowed things down a bit after the first five furlongs. While Mishriff covered the quarter mile from eight to ten furlongs of his race in 23.37 seconds, The Mediterranean covered the same part of his race in 23.15 seconds.
The penultimate quarter of the Voltigeur was like an isolated burst, but the last quarter took 26.21 seconds. Did this suit The Mediterranean, or was it not quite what he ideally wants? Hard to say, but this colt looks a relentless galloper and, if stamina is his game, perhaps the combination of easier fractions from five to eight furlongs followed by a sudden acceleration was not ideal.
Quite a bit was thrown at him and it was impressive that he stuck on to hold second. While those that raced closest to him early on and then tried to get to him halfway up the straight met the wall, he just kept on going forward.
We must assume that this imposing colt wants a test of stamina, despite the fact that he is a son of Flashy Wings. She was not short of speed, winning the G2 Queen Mary Stakes over five furlongs and G2 Lowther Stakes over six as a juvenile (both at York), and running second in the G1 Coronation Stakes over a mile at Royal Ascot as a 3-year-old.
Flashy Wings has earlier produced Flashy Memories, a Dubawi son who won ten races in England and Saudi Arabia. Like The Mediterranean, he ran just once as a juvenile, winning a 7-furlong maiden at Redcar. He won a mile handicap at Leicester the following year and his eight wins after export to Saudi came from 1800 to 2400 metres.
Winner’s U.S. targets
Thinking the Voltigeur wasn’t a good prep for the Leger, the world’s oldest Classic, may be a mistake. The winner won’t be able to provide the answer. As a gelding, Yibir can’t run at Doncaster. His next start will instead come in the $1 million Jockey Club Derby over 12 furlongs at Belmont Park on September 18 – a race won by UK raider Spanish Mission in 2019.
It does not hold Graded status but is still a ‘Win and You’re in’ contest for the Breeders’ Cup Turf. The Leger winner, on the other hand, does not earn a berth in the BC Turf, which has been captured by Leger winners Milan and Conduit in the past.
This is what his trainer Charlie Appleby, who also saddled Royal Ascot winner Kemari for the Voltigeur, had to say about Yibir before the race: “On home evidence Yibir is the horse. He has been throughout his training career. He is a great work horse.”
The Leger must be the preferred option for The Mediterranean after his fine effort at York. Interestingly, he does not hold an entry for the G1 Irish St. Leger but his name appears on the list of entries for both the G2 Prix Chaudenay at ParisLongchamp (October 2) and G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot (October 16), staying contests over even further than the 14½ furlongs of the St Leger.
Voltigeur precedents
Further progress next time he runs and The Mediterranean is an exciting staying prospect for the future, perhaps even a horse for next year’s big Cup races in England. Many would say he is already.
Losing the Voltigeur does not mean you have no chance of winning the Leger. In fact, history tells us that being placed in that 12-furlong event on the Knavesmire can be just as good a prep as winning it.
Since 2000, four colts have managed the double: Milan (2001), Rule Of Law (2004), Lucarno (2007) and Logician (2019). During the same period five Leger winners came off placed efforts in the Voltigeur: Bollin Eric (third in 2002), Brian Boru (second in 2003), Mastery (second in 2009), Encke (third in 2012) and Kew Gardens (third in 2018).
And Godolphin’s Cross Counter, who was second in 2018, beaten a head by stablemate Old Persian, a length and a half ahead of Kew Gardens, won the Melbourne Cup next time out.