Australian connections enjoyed a marquee day at Longchamp on Sunday with Matthew Sandblom sharing in the ownership of Group 1-winning Justify filly Ramatuelle and OTI’s Sevenna’s Knight running a mighty race to finish fifth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Sandblom, who owns both Hollymount Stud and Kingstar Farm in Australia as well as being a shareholder in Newgate, has considerable interests in France as well and was part of a partnership which paid €100,000 (AU$161,000) for Ramatuelle at the 2022 Arqana August yearling sale.
The Christopher Head-trained filly had been previously placed in the three Group 1 races, the Prix Morny as a two-year-old, the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
On Sunday, she broke through at the top level in authoritative fashion in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp, winning by three lengths under jockey Aurelien Lemaitre. Ramatuelle will now likely be set for the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Earlier, Sevenna’s Knight defied the bookies’ expectations of him to finish fifth at $41 in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, giving OTI a huge thrill with its first-ever runner in the famous race.
Squeezed back to the rear of the field, the Andre Fabre-trained Sevenna’s Knight closed impressively to be beaten under seven lengths by winner Bluestocking.
Bluestocking, trained by Ralph Beckett and owned and bred by Juddmonte, was ridden by Rossa Ryan, who had a spell in Australia a few years back riding primarily for Lindsay Park.
Both Bluestocking and Sevenna’s Knight are by Coolmore’s Camelot, as is third-placed runner Los Angeles. In a two-stallion domination of the first five, the second and fourth horses home, Aventure and Sosie, are by Sea The Stars.
On a day where there were six Group 1s on the Longchamp card, the other significant result from an Australian perspective was the victory of the Aidan O’Brien-trained Wootton Bassett colt Camille Pissarro in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.
That race was won by Wootton Bassett himself in 2010 and Camille Pissarro becomes the sire’s first Group 1 winner from his first crop conceived at Coolmore, who purchased him in August 2020. He had previously stood at Haras d'Etreham in Normandy.
Wootton Bassett is set to have his first Australian runners this racing season.
Australian investors made a splash at The Arc Sale on the eve of the Arc race meeting.
Yulong general manager Vin Cox signed for Group 1-placed Zarir for €1.3 million (AU$2.1 million), with the Frankel four-year-old destined for Australia. Out of a half-sister to Arc winner Zarkava, he was signed for by Cox under the name Paulins Racing.
OTI was also doing business on Arc eve, paying €260,000 (AU$418,000) in partnership with Annabel Neasham for Churchill colt Chartwell.
