NEWS
Yeats scores breakthrough win in France in St. Leger
Posted: Sunday, October 26, 2008 4:20 PM
YEATS
Racing Post photo
by Myra Lewyn
Trainer Aidan O’Brien added another race to his long strand of Group 1 victories this season when reigning European champion stayer Yeats thwarted resolute mare Allegretto in her attempt to win the Prix Royal-Oak (Fr-G1) (French St. Leger) at Longchamp for a second straight year on Sunday.
Jockey Johnny Murtagh was winless with seven mounts, including five for O’Brien, at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Saturday at the Oak Tree meet Santa Anita Park, but halted that skein of losses after flying to Paris. Murtagh guided Yeats to a 1 1/2-length triumph on a racecourse the seven-year-old Sadler’s Wells horse supposedly did not like.
Winless in three prior starts in France, Yeats finished fifth as the favorite to Bannaby in the Qatar Prix du Cadran (Fr-G1) on October 4 at Longchamp in his previous start, ending a three-race win streak that included a record-equaling third consecutive victory in the Gold Cup (Eng-G1) on June 19 at Royal Ascot. He also finished third in the 2007 edition of the Prix du Cadran.
In his return to Longchamp on Sunday, Yeats tracked just behind stablemate Mikhail Fokine, who set a solid tempo in the 3,100-meter (15.41-furlong) race while the rest of the field settled well off the pace.
Yeats rapidly accelerated on Murtagh’s cue and gained command before entering the straight. The bay horse charged to the finish line and had plenty of power in reserve to repel Allegretto, who closed with a rush under Ryan Moore but could not overtake the winner.
Godolphin’s Jockey Club Cup (Eng-G3) winner Veracity finished third and Bannaby finished fourth. Lucien Barriere Grand Prix de Deauville (Fr-G2) winner Getaway, the favorite, finished eighth.
Yeats covered the distance in 3:19.30 on turf rated as good to soft, providing O’Brien his 22nd Group 1 win of 2008, three shy of trainer Bobby Frankel’s world record of 25 wins at the highest level set in 2003. O’Brien is one win short of equaling the old world record he set in 2001 for Grade or Group 1 victories.
Murtagh told Racing Post that both times Yeats ran in the Prix du Cadran there was a slow pace and a sprint to the finish.
“Yeats needs to cruise at a high tempo, and he was able to today, plus the ground was better for him. Today we had a good pacemaker, who gave me a lead until the straight.
“I think it is the intention to keep him in training next year so we can win a fourth Gold Cup at Ascot. The French [with Sagaro, trained by Francois Boutin] were only able to do it three times.”
Yeats, who is campaigned by Susan Magnier and Diane Nagle, has won 14 of 22 career starts. Bred by Barronstown Stud and Orpendale in Ireland, he is out of the Top Ville mare Lyndonville.
Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
