Saint-Georges: Ideal Beauty on her best trip

Sunday, May 16, 2021, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). - 3-year-old filly Ideal Beauty (Invincible Spirit), trained in Chantilly by André Fabre for her breeder, Godolphin, was running over 5 furlongs for the first time in the Prix de Saint-Georges (Gr3), her 4th race this season. She started her career with a win at 2 over 7 furlongs and failed in two Listed races over shorter trips before her Winter spell. She was placed three times this year over 10.5 to 6 furlongs.

Well-placed with her 2 draw, the filly ridden by Mickaël Barzalona came by 2 furlongs out and she finally took over the favourite Berneuil (Lope de Vega), who was running at this level for the first time. The two former winners of the race, Sestilio Jet (French Fifteen) and Batwan (Kendargent), the latter showing signs of distress by the rail behind the leaders, finished third and fourth respectively.

Ideal Beauty was bred by Godolphin. Her dam Discernable (Elusive Quality) won the Prix Six Perfections (L) at 2 at Deauville for Mark Johnston. She was bred by Newsells Park Stud and was bought as a yearling at Newmarket for £ 160,000. Her 3rd dam is the dual Oaks winner Lupe, dam of Louveterie, who also gave Loup Solitaire and Loup Sauvage.

Despite many showers the day before, ParisLongchamp seems to ride fast enough as Ideal Beauty took 56’’74 to win whereas last year, Batwan took 59’10, but the track was then rated 3.9, much softer than today's 3,7.

The best sectionals recorded here were the 4th and 3rd last, which were run in less than 22'' by all the runners. The winner, however, was faster than everybody else in the last two sectionals only... She's had a very good trip.