10/18/09
Last updated: 10/17/09 9:16 PM
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Champs Elysees has entered Sovereign Award reckoning
(Michael Burns Photography) |
Throughout his career, CHAMPS ELYSEES (GB) (Danehill) has lived in the shadow
of his full siblings Dansili (GB), Banks Hill (GB) and Intercontinental (GB),
but with a driving victory in his swan song in Saturday’s $1,927,556
Canadian
International (Can-G1), the Juddmonte Farms homebred could become the fourth
champion produced by Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi). Sent off as the 5-2 favorite, the
Bobby Frankel charge collared Group 1-winning sophomore Jukebox Jury (Ire) (Montjeu
[Ire]) by a half-length to finish on a high note, and stated his case for a
Sovereign Award as Canada’s champion turf horse.
“It makes it all the sweeter (that his last start is a win),” said Garrett
O’Rourke, manager of Juddmonte Farms. “And to go out on such a huge win like
this, is obviously a huge boost to his stallion career as well. He deserves it.
He has been a tremendous servant. He is very game; he is very talented.”
Marsh Side (Gone West), the defending Canadian International champion, strode
straight to an uncontested early lead and established fractions of :26, :51 1/5,
1:15 3/5 and 1:39 3/5. English shipper Jukebox Jury broke slowly but recovered
to stalk in second, while Champs Elysees settled near the back of the pack for
Garrett Gomez. On the far turn, Jukebox Jury made his move and closed the gap to
a half-length through 1 1/4 miles in 2:04. Buccellati (GB) (Soviet Star),
another English shipper, likewise advanced into contention, and the leading trio
prepared to battle it out in the stretch.
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Jukebox Jury overtook Marsh Side and began to edge clear of Buccellati, who
was hanging on his left lead. The game three-year-old kept on strongly, but
Champs Elysees was now rallying into the frame. Delivering an irresistible
surge, Champs Elysees wore down his younger opponent, to whom he was conceding
seven pounds, and completed 1 1/2 miles in 2:28 1/5 on the firm turf. The
popular winner returned $7.20, $4 and $3.
“As soon as we headed for the backside, they all started quickening a little
bit,” Gomez said. “Champs Elysees quickened for a minute, and I thought, ‘Let
them go.’ I’ll just sit in here and wait on him, give him some confidence and
see what happens.
“I just try to ride him with all the confidence in the world. He is probably
one of the most talented horses I have seen. But he finds ways to get himself
beaten. He seems to never end up in the winner’s circle on the big days. I am
glad to see him get a big one.”
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Champs Elysees is out of the blue hen Hasili
(Michael Burns Photography) |
Jukebox Jury, the nearly 7-2 third choice, yielded $5.40 and $3.20 for
finishing two lengths clear in second. Buccellati salvaged third by a head from
the staying-on Marsh Side and gave back $5.10 at 9-1. The exotics were worth
$38.60 (exactor), $245.30 (triactor) and $872 (1-7-6-5 superfecta). Just as Well
(A.P. Indy) never made an impression from off the pace and checked in 6 3/4
lengths behind Marsh Side in fifth. Spice Route (GB) (King’s Best) and Allied
Powers (Ire) (Invincible Spirit) brought up the rear, and Quijano (Ger) (Acatenango)
was eased.
Champs Elysees was setting the record straight after suffering interference
in the Northern Dancer S. (Can-G1) last time out. Shut off just as he was
gathering momentum, he crossed the wire in fourth behind Marsh Side, Just as
Well and Quijano. Marsh Side, judged guilty of causing the trouble, was
disqualified and placed fourth, and Champs Elysees was accordingly elevated to
third. On Saturday, Champs Elysees gained a measure of satisfaction.
The six-year-old Champs Elysees, who was third in last year’s Canadian
International, retires to stud with a mark of 29-6-9-7 and $2,931,818 in
earnings. Originally trained in France by Andre Fabre, the bay placed second in
the Prix Daphnis (Fr-G3) and Prix du Prince d’Orange (Fr-G3) as a sophomore. At
four, he earned his first stakes score in the Prix d’Hedouville (Fr-G3) and
placed in the Gran Premio del Jockey Club (Ity-G1), Grand Prix de Deauville
(Fr-G2) and Prix Maurice de Nieuil (Fr-G2). Champs Elysees was transferred to
Frankel that fall, and his American debut was a troubled second in the Hollywood
Turf Cup (G1).
Champs Elysees’s North American resume also includes victories in the 2008
Hollywood Turf Cup, Northern Dancer and San Marcos S. (G2), and placings in the
past two runnings of the Santa Anita H. (G1), as well as the 2008 Jim Murray
Memorial H. (G2) and this year’s Sky Classic S. (Can-G2) and Nijinsky S.
(Can-G2).
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Bred in Great Britain, Champs Elysees is the final in a series of
outstanding winners sired by Danehill and produced by the French stakes-winning
Hasili. In addition to the aforementioned Dansili, French and English highweight
in 2000; Banks Hill, American champion turf mare in 2001 and a champion in
Europe in 2001 and 2002; and Intercontinental, American champion turf mare in
2005, another accomplished sibling is Cacique (Ire), winner of the Man o’ War S.
(G1) and Manhattan H. (G1) in 2006. Their half-sister, Heat Haze (GB) (Green
Desert), was a multiple Grade 1 winner in 2003.
Hasili is also the dam of the juvenile filly Deluxe (Storm Cat), who won at
Chantilly in her career debut on September 22, and an unnamed yearling filly by
Empire Maker. This is the family of Leroidesanimaux (Brz) (Candy Stripes), the
champion turf horse of 2005; English co-highweights Promising Lead (GB) (Danehill)
and Three Valleys (Diesis [GB]); and multiple Group 3 queen Visit (GB) (Oasis
Dream [GB]), who was a close second in the October 10 Yellow Ribbon S. (G1) at
Oak Tree.
Champs Elysees will now join his brothers Dansili and Cacique at Banstead
Manor Stud in Suffolk, England.
