Wooded denies Glass Slippers in bid for Abbaye repeat
Ryan ace has to settle for gallant second place.
Glass Slippers was narrowly denied a second successive win in the Prix de l’Abbaye as Wooded landed the prize on just his second run over five furlongs. Kevin Ryan’s filly was aiming to become the first since Lochsong to win the Abbaye twice – but a draw in stall 10 made Tom Eaves’ task all the more difficult. Glass Slippers broke well, though, and Eaves was able to get a prominent position on the outside and looked to have every chance. But Wooded made full advantage of stall two and Pierre-Charles Boudot got a dream run throughout on the rail. Entering the final furlong Frankie Dettori appeared to be going as well as anything on John Quinn’s Liberty Beach, but the very testing ground just took its toll close home. Just as Wooded appeared to have seen off her main contender, Glass Slippers came with one last lunge, determined to hold on to her crown, but she had to admit a brave defeat. The win capped a great weekend for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, who won the Prix Daniel Wildenstein with The Revenant on Saturday and went close in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe itself with In Swoop. He told Sky Sports Racing: “He’s a horse I’ve always loved. We missed Ascot because of the lockdown and Covid. It was difficult to organise it. I was upset because I knew he was going to run very well in the Commonwealth Cup. “Then I struggled with the trip. There were no races for him over six furlongs over the summer. We decided we needed to race him and toughen him up for next year because we have a nice sprinter on our hands. “The only question was the ground. He is much better on fast ground. He worked on Monday. Pierre-Charles said he wasn’t the same horse on soft ground. Again we decided to run because I want to toughen him up for next year. “It’s a brilliant victory – he went on soft today because he’s a very good horse.”Follow us on Twitter racing365dotcom and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
Generation game enough to grab Chartwell triumph
Botti: ‘I thought it was a good performance, as a few things didn’t go her way.’
-
Wizard weaves his magic for Fellowes and Marquand at Ascot
‘It’s exciting for Charlie to have a horse like this in his stable’.
-
Lofty ambitions for Shartash after shining again at Haydock
Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot now on the agenda.
-
Pickanumber routs Swinton rivals with ‘remarkable performance’
Olly Murphy’s progressive charge hacks up by 15 lengths at Haydock
-
Ambiente Friendly puts down Derby marker in Lingfield success
Much to like about James Fanshawe-trained winner.
-
You Got To Me makes all for gutsy Oaks Trial success
Ralph Beckett’s charge looked set to be reeled in but rallied again at Lingfield.
-
Make Haste handed Royal Ascot target after Naas romp
‘She is a quick filly and I was very impressed…we like to think she is a Queen Mary filly.’
-
Billy Loughnane relishing Classic chance in Paris
Teenager going for French 1000 Guineas gold aboard Chic Columbine.
-
Dancing mixing it with the stars on Sunday
Roger Teal’s colt up against Henry Longfellow in French 2000 Guineas.
-
One Look primed for Classic trial at Leopardstown
Paddy Twomey: ‘She’s in top form and we’re looking forward to Sunday.’