Lilac blossoms in French 1000
24 May 2011 - 09:24:25
Golden Lilac maintained her unbeaten record with a most impressive victory in the French 1000 Guineas at Longchamp for Andre Fabre and Olivier Peslier.
The daughter of Galileo was quickly away and her supporters must have been concerned as the filly was pulling for her head in the early stages.
Peslier soon got her back on an even keel however, and she showed an electric turn of foot to pick up pacemaker Glorious Sight in the final furlong and win as she liked.
Glorious Sight managed to hold on to second, with Aidan O'Brien's Wild Wind staying on to finish third, but the British raiders failed to get in a blow.
Paul Cole's Rimth, the Ed Dunlop-trained Sharnberry, Maqaasid from the John Gosden stable and Godolphin inmate Zoowraa did not trouble the judge. The major disappointment for the home team was Helleborine.
Crispin de Moubray, racing manager for winning owner Gestut Ammerland, said: "It was lucky after Lope De Vega won (last year's French 2000 Guineas).
"It was a good result for the stud, which isn't the biggest, and all the team.
"We'll have to see what happens, but there is no reason why she can't go on to the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) and then the Arc."
