French Stakes Victory For Just As Well
The Spring Valley Stud is home to the blue blooded A P Indy son Just As Well, who is from a family which continues to fire on all cylinders and Just As Well’s impressive pedigree page got a further boost following the running of the Listed Prix du Ranelagh at Chantilly Racecourse on Sunday.
That eight furlong contest went the way of the four-year-old colt Stunning Spirit, who broke well to race second into the straight, he was shaken up to seize control with 350 metres remaining and came under a drive thereafter to hold even-money favourite Kourkan for a second stakes score.
“He’s a lovely individual, who always gives best and never runs a bad race,” commented victorious trainer Freddy Head.
“I think he’s on the verge of winning a Group race, but I did not enter him in the [Oct. 27 Gr3] Prix Perth at Saint-Cloud because it came too soon after this. I think we’ll see him again next year when we will aim higher.”
Stunning Spirit, a son of the Irish National Stud stalwart Invincible Spirit, has now won five of 15 outings, with his previous efforts including a win in the Listed Grand Prix Anjou Bretagne and a third place finish in the G3 Prix Quincey. He was also runner up in a trio of Group 3 races last year
The colt is out of the winning Dynaformer mare Stunning View – who is a full-sister to champion and Gr1 Fillies’ Mile winner Rainbow View and half-sister to graded stakes winners Just As Well, Utley, and Rainbow View.
Stunning Spirit’s second dam is the Nureyev sired G1 Del Mar Oaks winner No Matter What, a half-sister to G2 Surburban Handicap winner and sire E Dubai.
This is the same family as Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Raven’s Pass – the sire of 2018 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Royal Marine.
By a truly great sire in A P Indy, Just As Well was a high class racehorse who banked more than $850 000 in stakes. His wins included the Gr3 Arlington Handicap and he finished second in the 2009 Gr1 Arlington Million to champion Gio Ponti.
Retired to KZN, Just As Wells’ best runners include G3 Caradoc Gold Cup hero Just Cruised In for Chesney van Zyl Racing and the Mauritius based pair of Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup winning millionaire Chili Con Carne and Cape Nursery third Zodiac Jack.
-tsanews