Reigning champion turf horse Conduit (Ire) (Dalakhani) came agonizingly close
in his seasonal reappearance in Thursday’s £65,000 Brigadier Gerard S. (Eng-G3)
at Sandown, just being nabbed at the wire by Teruya Yoshida’s CIMA DE TRIOMPHE
(Galileo [Ire]). Trained by Luca Cumani and ridden by Christophe Lemaire, the
four-year-old gray capitalized on the advantage of a prep run, as well as a
seven-pound break in the weights, to foil the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) hero in
the final stride.
Conduit was shortening up to about 1 1/4 miles for the first time in nearly a
year, since his devastating victory in a heritage handicap on Epsom Derby Day.
In light of this, and his top weight of 133 pounds, the Sir Michael Stoute
charge was sent off as the 11-4 second choice, with favoritism descending upon
the 15-8 chance Pipedreamer (Selkirk). Cima de Triomphe garnered support
throughout the evening and started as the 4-1 third choice.
In the opening stages, Staying On (Invincible Spirit) set the pace, tracked
by Campanologist (Kingmambo), Allied Powers (Invincible Spirit) and Conduit.
With about a quarter-mile to go down the demanding Sandown stretch,
Campanologist ranged up to challenge Staying On, but the principal contenders
were only just warming up.
Pipedreamer unleashed an eye-catching run down the outside, briefly looking
as if he had the victory in the bag. The favorite could not sustain his
momentum, however, and a rallying Conduit struck the front about a furlong from
home. A patient Lemaire produced Cima de Triomphe at the last moment, and
although the formerly Italian-based colt was gaining ground rapidly, it appeared
as though he might have come too late. Conduit stuck to his task resolutely, but
Cima de Triomphe joined him on the line.
After a few tense moments awaiting the verdict of the photographer, Cima de
Triomphe was declared the victor by a nose. The final time was a fast 2:06.60 on
the good ground.
“I must say I didn’t think he had won,” Cumani told PA Sport. “We were in
receipt of seven pounds, so probably the best horse didn’t win tonight, but my
horse will improve a little bit further still.”
Stoute was happy with Conduit’s performance.
“The others have all had races and he has given them seven pounds, so you can
only be pleased with him,” Stoute said. “He has really battled back. He is
entered in all the races, so we will just see how he takes the race and think
about it.”
Another length back came the deep-closing Stotsfold (Barathea [Ire]), with
Drumfire (Danehill Dancer) grabbing fourth from Pipedreamer. Staying On checked
in sixth, followed by Steele Tango (Okawango), Campanologist, Indian Days
(Daylami [Ire]), Perks (Selkirk), Allied Powers and defending champion Smokey
Oakey (Tendulkar), who never landed a blow from the rear. Blue Monday (GB)
(Darshaan) was withdrawn.
Cima de Triomphe improved his career mark to 12-5-0-2 with earnings of
approximately $730,981. Successful in the 2008 Derby Italiano (Ity-G1) for
conditioner Bruno Grizzetti, he also landed the 2007 Premio Emanuele Filiberto.
He did not fare as well in his subsequent Group 1 tilts, finishing seventh in
the Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-G1), ninth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1)
and 11th in the Premio Roma (Ity-G1). Cima de Triomphe was transferred to Cumani
over the winter and was making just his second start for his new team in the
Brigadier Gerard. In his debut for the yard, he was a non-threatening sixth in
the April 26 Prix Ganay (Fr-G1) at Longchamp.
Bred in Ireland by Sofim Srl, Cima de Triomphe is out of Sopran Londa (Ire)
(Danehill), queen of the 1998 Premio Regina Elena (Italian One Thousand Guineas)
(Ity-G2). He is a half-brother to the Italian stakes-placed Sopran Lori (Irish
River [Fr]), and his female line traces to Irish champion juvenile filly *Dodoma
II (Dastur), a half-sister to the great sire *Nasrullah (Nearco).