Three G1 races were held overnight in Europe and the winners are worth a look given we saw a first G1 winner for Pinatubo, a mare that is one of four G1 winners for a blue hen and an Aga Khan homebred gelding on the up.
The Group I Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (1600m) at Longchamp was won by the Francis Henri Graffard trained three year-old gelding Erdenali, who accounted for Group I winners Ten Bob Tony and Gstaad.
Erdenali only started racing in March of this year and did so as a gelding winning his first three starts including a Listed win before finishing third last start in a G3 race.
He upped the ante here in a big way to win by a length and a quarter to become the fifth Group I winner for Scat Daddy stallion Caravaggio, who shuttled to Coolmore in Australia for one season.
Erdenali is the first winner for Erdana, a half-sister to Group II winner Erevan from Group I winner Ervedya.
The Group I Prix Vermeille (2400m) for fillies and mares was won by the George Strawbridge homebred Kingman mare Friendly Soul trained by John and Thady Gosden.
A Group I winner at three, Friendly Soul did not race last year and has taken a while this year to work back to top form but has now won six of 10 starts.
She is one of nine winners from 12 foals to race from Group III winning mare In Clover, who has done an amazing job at stud with seven of those winners being SW’s and four of them are G1 winners!
The Group I Grosser Preis von Baden (2400m) was won by the Roger Varian trained Pinatubo four year-old entire Saddad, who scored by half a length.
Previously a Group III winner and competitive at G1 level in the UK and Ireland, Saddadd has won five of 10 starts.
A homebred for Godolphin raced by Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, Saddad is the first Group I winner for Pinatubo and is a half-brother to Group III winner Almaqam from stakes-winning Cape Cross mare Talmada.
Pinatubo is back at Darley NSW this spring at a fee of $27,500.
