3 minute read
Feature Race Review: G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
| Date | Sunday 3 July 2022 |
| Venue | Saint-Cloud (Good to Soft) |
| Race | R5 – G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (2400m) |
| Type | Group One for four-year-olds and above |
| Winner | Alpinista |
| Jockey | Luke Morris |
| Trainer | Sir Mark Prescott |
| Breeding | Frankel x Alwilda |
| Second | Baratti |
| Third | Bubble Gift |
| Alpinista is a winning machine who continued her run of success at Saint-Cloud on Sunday posting a sixth consecutive victory in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (2400m), and a fourth successive triumph at the top level. There was an even break at the stalls from a field of nine where Lone Eagle and High Definition were the two early pacesetters before the latter pushed on at a stronger speed. Luke Morris settled Alpinista towards the rear of the group, in seventh around four lengths off the leader down the far side. It appeared to be a decent tempo throughout the race and runners appeared well grouped at halfway. Baratti and High Definition were the first pair to come under pressure as they took the final left-handed turn where at that moment, Luke Morris was travelling powerfully and wanted to find more room for the daughter of Frankel entering the home straight. The Sir Mark Prescott trained mare was forced six deep with 500m to go and then had to come under a Luke Morris drive to get the five-year-old grey closer to the lead. Hurricane Lane disappointed in the home straight as he never picked up and eventually finished eighth of nine. Meanwhile, Alpinista continued her strong run on the outside and shared the advantage at the 250m marker together with Baratti. Bubble Gift went forward joining the leading pair and these three pulled well clear from the rest of the field. Alpinista maintained her acceleration to hold a solo lead with 150m to go and proved too strong to win by a one and a quarter-lengths from Baratti in second and Bubble Gift in third. Alpinista has now managed eight victories from thirteen career outings alongside two placings. She is unbeaten since April 2021 producing six wins subsequently of which four have been at the top level including three in Germany. The G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2400m) in October is likely to be her longer-term target with potentially a run in the G1 Prix Vermeille (2400m) also at Longchamp in September which could act as a prep run. Can Alpinista, this five-year-old daughter of Frankel, continue her winning streak for even longer? | |