Pride And Glory For French Ace

Pride shed her Group One bridesmaid tag in the best possible way with a domineering display under Christophe Lemaire in what had looked a vintage renewal of the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes at Newmarket.

The admirable mare has been renowned for her consistent efforts in top company in recent years, highlighted by her second in this race 12 months ago, although it is only this season the six-year-old has really blossomed.

Alain de Royer-Dupre's charge broke through at the top level in June with a shock win over Hurricane Run in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, and confirmed she was getting better with age when a fast-finishing second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe earlier this month.

She finally gained her just rewards with a three-length call in the feature on Champions Day, the 10-furlong showpiece panning out perfectly for the hold-up performer, who was still travelling kindly two furlongs out when 9-4 favourite Hurricane Run was joined by Rob Roy at the head of affairs.

Lemaire then tracked over to the stands rail and his mount, who was returned at 7-2, skipped clear and had the race in the bag passing the furlong pole.

Rob Roy put several disappointing efforts behind when taking second, while Hurricane Run boxed on well for third and was just a further head behind.

The most notable failure, however, was Vodafone Derby winner Sir Percy, who found little under pressure on his first run since Epsom in June and faded to finish seventh of the eight runners.

'We have known for a long time that Pride is a marvellous filly, but she has had problems as she can pull and has to come from behind. Today she was in the perfect place,' said Royer-Dupre.

'I was not disappointed with her in the Arc because the ground was firm. There was rain all over Paris but there was none in Longchamp.

'She ran very well last year, but was very nervous before her race. This year she was much more relaxed and is more relaxed in general and she has improved for it.

'She may go back to Hong Kong for the Hong Kong Cup later in the year and that will be it after that.'

Her owner Sven Hanson added: 'To win a Group One here is the ultimate prize. This is a very special day.

'Pride is a very good horse with give in the ground and it was perfect for her today.

'After going close in so many races it is great that she has won two Group One races this season.

'The prize money may be better in France, but it is more fun in England.

'She will perhaps have one more run before going to stud. She may go to Hong Kong again after finishing second there last year but we may review that after today.'

Rob Roy ran out of his skin but failed to provide Stoute with a third win in the race. His partner Coral Pritchard-Gordon said: 'I am thrilled and this performance shows he is a perfectly genuine horse.'

Hurricane Run's trainer Andre Fabre said: 'Obviously with only eight runners the lack of pace was a major concern for me, but I'm not putting that forward as an excuse and don't want to take anything away from the winner.

'We shall look at the Japan Cup and the Breeders' Cup Turf, but we need some pace for this horse and the American jockeys tend to go slowly on their horses which would not be ideal either.'

Sir Percy's effort was a mystery to trainer Marcus Tregoning, who said: 'It was an off-day and he seemed fine afterwards.

'Sometimes the Derby can take its toll and the main thing is he came back in one piece.

'The plan has always been for him to stay in training next year. We know this season has been a bit stop-start and we didn't get him back to his best.

'He has run on ground as soft as that before. It was a long time off but, even so, I would have liked to have seen a better performance.'

His rider Martin Dwyer said: 'He was beaten at the three-furlong pole.'

(C) PA Sport