Two Group I races at Longchamp overnight produced new Group I winners for American Pharoah and Lope de Vega, both of whom have shuttled to Australia.
The Group I Prix Saint Alary (2000m) for 3YO fillies was won by the Aidan O’Brien trained filly Above the Curve, who was a last start second in the Listed Cheshire Oaks.
The daughter of American Pharoah forged clear for Ryan Moore and was strong to the line winning by more than a length at just her fourth start.
“Above the Curve is a lovely filly who is still learning. A steady pace didn't really suit and she was a bit idle in front, but she was always doing what she had to. She's a huge girl and there's still a lot of potential and improvement to come,” said Ryan Moore.
A homebred for the Coolmore partners, Above the Curve is a full sister to Group III placed Thinking of You and is from blue-blood Galileo mare Fabulous, an unraced sibling to champion racehorse and sire Giant’s Causeway and blue hen You’resothrilling, the dam of Group I winners Gleneagles, Happily, Joan of Arc and Marvellous, who are all sired by Galileo.
Above the Curve is the 28th stakes-winner for American Pharoah and is his fifth Group I winner, the Triple Crown winner listed on the Coolmore Australia roster for this spring at a fee of $49,500.
She is the third stakes-winner for American Pharoah from a daughter of Galileo, the nick producing 12 winners from 14 runners, so nearly 86% winners to runner and 21% SW to runner.
The Group I Prix d’Ispahan (1800m) for older horses was won by the Ed Walker trained mare 5yo mare Dreamloper, who scored a two length win.
A multiple Group winner previously, it was her first victory at the elite level and there may be more wins in store.
“There are lots of options now she's beaten the boys. I know Sealiway probably didn't get his ground while it played to our strengths but she's beaten some very good horses there. There's the G1 Prix Rothschild and the G1 Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville and I wouldn't be afraid to go a mile and a quarter. A mile and a quarter at Goodwood where four furlongs of it is downhill, the G1 Nassau could be the perfect race for her,” said Ed Walker.
Dreamloper is the best of two winners from stakes-winning Teofilo mare Livia’s Dream.
She is the 15th Group I winner for Lope de Vega and is the fourth for Teofilo as a broodmare sire, his daughters producing Coroebus and Cachet to win this year’s Group I Newmarket 2000 Guineas and 1000 Guineas.
