PRIDE GOES BEFORE ALL
11th December 2006
The Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained Pride, a close second to Vengeance of Rain in the Gr.1 Hong Kong Cup last year, went one better this time, holding off the fast finishing Japanese raider Admire Moon by a short head, with the 2005 winner a length and three-quarters back in third. It was the final race for the French-bred six-year-old, who was crowning an exceptional season by completing a hat-trick of Gr.1 victories. She was ridden by Christophe Lemaire, who, after the race, credited the daughter of Peintre Celebre’s success to her “special fighting spirit.”This year’s Gr.1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and Gr.1 Champion Stakes heroine Pride finished her illustrious career in style, making steady progress from the rear to lead 200 metres from home before holding the late charge of Admire Moon. Bred and own by N P Bloodstock Ltd’s Pride is one of ten Graded/Group winners from the 240 European foals aged three and over by Coolmore’s brilliant Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Prix du Jockey-Club hero Peintre Celebre, who also feature Gestut Zoppenbroich’s Gr.1 Deutsches Derby and Gr.1 Rheinland-Pokal ace Dai Jin, the Gr.1 Hong Kong Vase heroine Vallee Enchantee, Crestwood Farm’s Gr.1 Santa Anita Derby and Gr.1 Shoemaker Mile marvel Castledale and the Gr.1 Gran Criterium sensation Pearl Of Love. Peintre Celebre’s 259 Antipodean progeny of the same age number six Group winners, notably the Gr.1 WATC West Australian Derby ace Mr Sandgroper, the Gr.1 AJC George Main Stakes hero Mr Celebrity, the Gr.1 SA Classic king Jam Alley. Peintre Celebre’s fee for 2007 is €25,000.
EBN Monday 11th, December 2006.