3 October 2020
Photo scoopdyga.com
Saturday, October 3, 2020, ParisLongchamp. - The 2020 edition of the Qatar Prix du Cadran (Gr1), the 176th of the name, was the scene of an epic finish as the runaway Alkuin (Maxios) gave up the victory to a tough mare, Princess Zoe (Jukebox Jury), whose triumph, a first at this level, was well celebrated by her Irish owners, Patrick Kehoe and Mrs Crampton. They acquired the mare, who had previously been raced in her native Germany, last Spring. Sent to Anthony Mullins, brother of the well-known trainer Willie Mullins, the grey has then won five consecutive races, including this first career Group. Last June, she was only rated 64lbs… She now outstays Call the Wind (Frankel), who could not keep up with her in the home stretch and had to settle for third place on this heavy turf. Therefore, she alone had to catch a bold Arkuin and grab the first prize of €102,852 for her connections.
Princess Zoe is out of Palace Princess (Tiger Hill), winner of two races and also the dam of Palace Prince (Areion), winner of Group 3 in Germany.
What they said
- Tony Mullins (trainer of Princess Zoe, 1st)
"I thought I was going to have a heart attack in the closing stages! When I saw Princess Zoe hit the lead, I felt a feeling I had never felt before. It's unbelievable! I was confident that she could finish well and come and win. It's a very big win for me, it's my first Group 1 on the flat. She's a mare who's improved so much as she gets older. That's all she did. Therefore, we may well come back to run the Arc next year. Indeed, it is as good over long distances as it is over 2,400 meters. We were very confident before the race and she met our expectations.”
- Joseph Sheridan (jockey of Princess Zoe, 1st)
"It's a dream come true. I didn't think I'd win a Group anytime soon, let alone a Group 1. I thank all those who gave me the chance to ride this race. I owe them so much.”
- Frédéric Rossi (trainer of Alkuin, 2nd)
"I'm disappointed to be beaten by so little. When he was 200 yards from the post, I thought he was going to win. I think if he had gone at the entrance to the straight, the mare would not have seen him again. But his jockey told me he was going pretty fast and pretty easy at the time. Never mind, we'll win the Cadran next year! What a horse! We got him back at the beginning of the year, it's great. My assistant at Chantilly did a great job, and so did the other members of my team. Alkuin loves ParisLongchamp and heavy ground. If he recovers well, the Royal Oak Prize (Group 1) is not an impossibility.”
- Freddy Head (entraîneur de Call The Wind, 3e)
"He didn't have enough stamina. It was a complicated race with this ground. This horse won good ground, including in Riyadh. You need special skills in these conditions!”