There were two Group I races in France overnight in the lead up to Sunday’s Arc meeting, but there was no joy for champion mare Verry Elleegant, who was controversially left out of the Arc.
She took her place in the Group I Prix de Royallieu (2800m), but could finish only seventh with the win going to progressive Sea the Stars mare Sea La Rosa trained by William Haggas and ridden by William Buick.
Sea La Rosa has been in hot form either winning or finishing second in every start this year in Group races.
A €200,000 purchase from 2019 Arqana Deauville Yearling Sale for Mandore Agency, she runs for Sunderland Holdings and is a full sister to Group II winner Deauville Legend from stakes-winning Hernando mare Soho Rose, a sister to Group II winner Hanami. Deauville Legend is owned by Bon Ho and is well fancied for this year's Melbourne Cup.
Sea La Rosa is the 18th Group I winner for Sea the Stars, who stands at Aga Khan Studs.
The Group I Prix du Cadran (4000m) produced another Group I win for blueblood Galileo stayer Kyprios, who has marched through the European staying races this year and turned this one into a procession winning by 20 lengths!
Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, Kyprios is undefeated in 2022 winning all six starts this year, four of them in Group I races.
