Wizz Kidd flashing home in Sunday's Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)Wizz Kid comes fast and late to land Abbaye
Report: France, Sunday
Longchamp: Qatar Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (Group 1) 5f, 2yo+
WIZZ KID, the sole French challenger in Sunday's Abbaye, bucked the recent domination of successful British raiders in the race when she came fast and late to deny July Cup winner Mayson in the opening Group 1 on Arc day at Longchamp.
RELATED LINKS
British-trained sprinters had won nine of the last ten Abbayes and they looked set for more joy when Mayson and Hamish McGonagall quickened clear and began to fight out the finish.
The Richard Fahey-trained Mayson, not seen since his July Cup triumph, managed to get the better of that tussle, but could not stop Pricewise pick Wizz Kid flashing home under Gerald Mosse.
Ballesteros - representing Brian Meehan and Eddie Ahern - finished one place behind Hamish McGonagall in fourth
It was a first top-level success for Robert Collet's filly, who runs in the colours of Maeve Mahony and was fifth in the Abbaye last year.
She won a Group 2 at Chantilly in June before finishing tenth in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot and sixth in Haydock's Sprint Cup.
Robert Collet: trains Wizz Kid
PICTURE: Martin LynchCollet said: "She deserves that because she's been a little unlucky in the past and she's run some great races in England and at Chantilly at the beginning of the year."
Like Wizz Kid, Mayson is entered in the Qipco British Champion Sprint Stakes at Ascot on October 20 and he could head there to bid for compensation.
Fahey said: "Paul [Hanagan] felt it almost cost him the race as the horse in stall two [Hamish McGonagall] leaned on him at the start and then he was playing catch-up.
"He might go to Ascot. We'll see how he is when he comes back, but I'd be happy to go there on any ground. I don't know why people think he needs it soft."
Tim Easterby, who trains Hamish McGonagall, said: "He ran a mighty race. He's just a superstar and he's got a massive heart as well. He'll have a break now but we'll be coming back again next year. That Wizz Kid is a bullet."
Juvenile Cay Verde was a non-runner having been sold at Arqana on Saturday night.
Comments