2 June 2019
Photo scoopdyga.com
She led all the way and even ran free early on in the Prix de Sandringham (Gr2), a 3-year-old fillies mile, yet Obligate (Frankel) dug deep to hold off Pure Zen (Zoffany) to the end. She had already beaten her in the Prix des Lilas on the same course and distance. British raider Glance (Dansili) finished well in 3rd, over a length behind.
Obligate set a new race record after clocking a time of 1’34’’59.
Trained by Pascal Bary for owner/breeder Khaled Abdullah's Juddmonte Farm, Obligate is now undefeated in three races.
Obligate's dam, Responsible (Oasis Dream), was unraced but as a daughter of Hasili (Kahyasi), she's a sister to champions Dansili (Danehill), Banks Hill (Danehill), Cacique (Danehill), Champs Elysées (Danehill), Deluxe (Storm Cat), etc. No comments on that bloodline! Obligate is her first foal, as it seems but also she never ran, Responsible has become a TV screen star since an ITV Racing team filmed the birth of the following Frankel colt born in 2017 (enjoy the video here). She was due to meet Siyouni in 2018.
The race
How they raced
1st - Obligate: Smartly into her stride and soon at the head of affairs, she should plenty of early dash as the field got strung out. Her rider Pierre-Charles Boudot wound up the pace gradually from the 400m marker. She coped with the sustained threat Pure Zen to win by a small margin but with a bit in hand.
2nd - Pure Zen: Well away, she chased the leader in second. She was alive to the danger of Obligate who upped the tempo at the beginning of the straight. She made ground hand over fist and finished fast but too late to overhaul the winner.
3rd - Glance Having raced in fourth, and a little bit taken off her feet at the beginning of the straight, she rallied courageously by running-on for third.
4th- Hidden Message: Bided her time in sixth. Having struggled to find her feet when the tempo increased, she was noted running-on in the final 100 metres to take fourth.
5th – Matematica: Having raced in fifth, she attempted to get on terms in mid-stretch but could make no impression.
6th - Olympe: After racing in the rear, she tried in vain to make headway on the inside before her effort petered out.
7th - Rocques: Racing in a hood, she raced in third, and after attempting to keep tabs on Obligate and Pure Zen at the beginning of the straight, weakened out of contention.
Quotes
Pascal Bary, trainer of Obligate (1st)
"She’s a filly with a live action and gives of herself generously. Pierre-Charles Boudot made a good job of harnessing the filly’s resources up front. She isn’t a filly that you contradict and we have adapted to her style accordingly. At Chantilly, horses can often get very wound up but I wasn’t worried: she’s very good. She showed her courage as well as class. Today she had a proper race, a hard race, and we will mull matters over before deciding where to go next."
Pierre-Charles Boudot, rider of Obligate (1st)
"She’s a filly with a lot of scope. That’s her forte and you mustn’t contradict her but it’s proving more difficult, from race to race, to employ such front running tactics as we did here. We set a fast pace on a very hot day. This can prove taxing on the body. She proved to be very courageous when it came to withstanding the constant threat of Pure Zen to the bitter end."
Gianluca Bietolini, trainer of Pure Zen (2nd)
"I’m simply over the moon with her effort. Last time she hooked up with the winner, she proved no match for her. However, on this occasion, she was almost beat her. The stiff tempo suited her to a tee as she can get a bit wound up. Today, she accelerated twice during the race and proved very courageous. She also proved that she handles all types of ground. Since joining the yard around two months ago, she has become a more athletic filly. She has done well. I’ve no idea where she will be going next. Although, it would be nice to think that she won’t be hooking up with Obligate again on her next race."
Julian-Howard Richmond Watson, owner of Glance (3rd)
"We’re delighted by how she performed here. She has improved for her seasonal debut run. She is the type to improve with time and with her racing, which is something of a family trait. She finished well and it’s not to be excluded that she could tackle longer trips in future."
Roll of Honour
Year Winner Time Jockey Trainer Owner Second Third
2019 Obligate 01'34''59 P.-C. Boudot P. Bary Khalid Abdullah Pure Zen Glance
2018 Mission Impassible 01'37"72 C. Demuro J.-C. Rouget Mohamed Fahad A. H. Al-Attiyah Crown Walk Efaadah
2017 La Sardane 01'39"79 F. Blondel B. de Montzey Team Valor International Gold Luck Senga
2016 Volta 01'39"00 P.-C. Boudot F.-H. Graffard Ecurie Salabi Besotte Aim To Please
2015 Impassable 01'37"58 M. Guyon C. Laffon-Parias Wertheimer & Frere La Berma Night Of Light
2014 Fintry 01'35"16 M. Guyon A. Fabre Darley Snc La Hoguette Kenzadargent