Prix ​​de Croissy (Class 1): Epic Poet, the first story in a long series…

Races / 04.05.2022

ParisLongchamp, Wednesday

Wednesday at Longchamp, the meeting attraction was called Epic Poet (Lope deVega). On October 17, in the Prix de Belleville (Inédits), the representative of White Birch Farm had succeeded in dictating his law after having practiced a long race of waiting, imposing himself only on his class… Then experiencing a setback in his work, Epic Poet had therefore not been seen since his first victorious steps. For his second outing, his trainer, Jean-Claude Rouget, wanted to see him again on the same course as he started out. Pointed in last position, as during his first steps, his jockey, Cristian Demuro, waited for the last 500m to shift him. Taking a few strides to find his action, Epic Poet did not then need to force his talent to triumph as a colt certainly capable of shining at Group level. According to the tracking, Epic Poet passes from the 400m to the 200m in 10”61 and shows a time of 11”26 of the 200m at the finish. Still perfectible, it still won by three lengths. Shortcut, safni (Invincible Spirit) is making progress to take second place. Three quarters of a length further, Yeehaw (Frankel) ranks third.

Objective: the Guillaume d’Ornano Prize. Met after the race, Jean-Claude Rouget confided about his boarder: “We always have some questions with the foals who have experienced health problems. In any case, I am satisfied with this return. Unfortunately, he lacks a race to go to the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1). I’m not going to cut corners. With him, I therefore think I’m aiming for the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano (Gr2) and the great races in the fall… I think he’s indifferent to the terrain. We must exploit this real potential. He has a lot going for him: especially his physical and his mental. »

A “living” Lagardère family. Bred by George Kent, Epic Poet is a son of Lope de Vega (Shamardal), stallion of Ballylinch Stud, and Sagaciously (Lawman). He went on sale twice: foal, at Tattersalls, he was bought 180,000 Gns by Oneliner Stables at Norelands Stud. Presented as a yearling in the ring of book 1, he was bought for 450,000 Gns by White Birch Farm and Demi O’Byrne… Who bought Epic Poet’s own yearling sister during book 1 of Tattersalls 2021, for 310,000 Gns!

Sagaciously had started with a victory in September of his 2 years. She was then a good handicap mare in Great Britain, snagging her tiny black type in August as a 4yo in the Upavon Fillies’ Stakes (L, 2,000m). This is a very “living” Lagardère family. The second mother is Famous Saga (Peintre Célèbre), winner of two races: in Ireland in September when she was 3 years old, then in the United States, at 4 years old. She is the ancestor of Perfect Power (Ardad), hero this year of the Darley Prix Morny, the Middle Park Stakes (Grs1) and the Norfolk Stakes (Gr2). The third mother is Ouilly Saga (Linamix), mother of good Sagaroi (King’s Best) and Sagger (Literato), both Listed winners. She is also the second mother of sagamyra (Sea the Moon), one of the revelations of 2021, winner of the Prix du Pin (Gr3), second in the Prix Rothschild (Gr1) and recent fifth in the Qatar Prix de la Forêt (Gr1). If we go back even further in the line, we find the names of several Gr1 horses: Sagamix (Linamix), Sagacity (Highest Honor), to Sageburg (Johannesburg)… But also, more recently, Japan (Galileo), Mogul (Galileo) or even secret gesture (Galileo).

THE TIMERS

PART TIMES

From start to 1,000m: 52”45

From 1,000m to 600m: 26”04

From 600m to 400m: 11”89

From 400m to 200m: 11”06

From 200m to the finish: 11”17

Total time: 1’52”61