'A Group 1 win would transform her value' - Sir Mark Prescott hoping mare can bag her syndicate another blockbuster payday

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The last time Sir Mark Prescott ventured into Europe with a five-year-old mare he ended up winning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with Alpinista, so there is plenty to live up to when he goes Group 1 hunting in Germany on Sunday.

Like Alpinista before her, Tiffany already boasts some strong form on the continent, but the only thing missing from her impressive résumé is a win at the highest level.

Owned by the Elite Racing Club, she has been off games since failing by a neck to win the Group 1 Preis von Bayern at Munich last November, but has fully recuperated from a back injury and heads to Cologne on Sunday for the Preis von Europa.

"She's placed in Group 1 company twice and she'll go to the sales in December, so that Group 1 victory would absolutely transform her value," Prescott tells The Front Runner.

Tiffany: runs in the Preis von Europa at Cologne on SundayCredit: www.marcruehl.com

"We were lucky enough to sell Marsha for Elite in 2017 and, while this mare is not quite as sexy, she's the most beautiful mare who has got the performance but hasn't won a Group 1 yet."

Marsha went through the ring at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale for six million guineas having won the Abbaye and Nunthorpe, highlighting succinctly the distinction between Group 1-placed and Group 1-winner when it comes to the sales.

Tiffany did hold an entry in Friday's Princess Royal Stakes at Newmarket but there is no time to waste at Group 3 level at this stage of the season.

"She's won a Group 3 and she's won a Group 2, so while it would be lovely to run on your doorstep, that's not really the point of having her in training as a five-year-old," says Prescott, who sent Tiffany up Warren Hill on Sunday for visitors at the Henry Cecil Open Weekend to enjoy. 

"She had a hairline crack of a vertebrae in the spring and that kept her off but she's fine now. When they're five, you never know if they'll run as well. Sometimes they go better than ever like Albanova and sometimes not as good, but the general feeling was that she should go to Germany.

"After that it will likely be the Fillies & Mares on British Champions Day and/or the Group 1 in Munich in November which she was second in last year."

With no Rebel's Romance to contend with on Sunday, Cologne's seven-runner contest over 1m4f looks a golden opportunity for Tiffany to conquer at Group 1 level, with Sibayan perhaps the one to fear most.

Sibayan: takes on Tiffany in GermanyCredit: Scott Burton (racingpost.com/photos)

The Front Runner couldn't help notice that Tiffany also holds an entry in the Arc on Sunday week, although lightning seems unlikely to strike twice for Prescott in Paris this year. 

"I wouldn't think she could do both Sunday and the Arc. Put it this way, she'd need to win by a long way in Germany to start having those discussions."

One filly from Prescott's Heath House Stables who does have Group 1 aspirations in France this year is Consent, who was a narrow runner-up in the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster's St Leger meeting and is bound for Longchamp on October 4.

"She'll go for the Group 1 Prix Royallieu in France," says Prescott. "She's been unlucky twice really. At Deauville in August she didn't get a great run and then, having got to the front last time, Mr Haggas's horse [Santorini Star] stayed on so well and fought back."

Santorini Star wins the Park Hill from ConsentCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

With fillies and mares on his mind, Prescott is looking forward to seeing Moon Target back in action in Friday's Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket after disappointing at the Leger meeting, while Alpinista's two-year-old sister, Alpinara, is closing in on her racecourse debut.

"I'd have perhaps liked to have waited a little longer to run Moon Target again but on the other hand I don't think she'd be suited by very soft ground," says the trainer, who has plumped for the Rockfel over the Fillies' Mile on October 10.

"She's been fine since Doncaster and there's no logical reason not to run again."

Alpinara made the headlines at this sort of time last year when selling to Amo Racing boss Kia Joorabchian for 2.5 million guineas at the yearling sales and patience could be key to her fortunes.

Alpinara: 2.5m guineas purchase is nearing her racecourse debutCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"She'll probably have one run at two like her grandmother Albanova," says Prescott. "She's very similar to Albanova and not very similar to Alpinista. She's better looking and bigger but needs more time.

"By the time Albanova got to five she was very good but it took her a bit of time to get there. Alpinara will run in the next three or four weeks all being well. She'll run in a nice maiden somewhere."

Read these next:

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Racing clubs still raging against the dying of the light as they continue to provide the sport's PR 

'I had never met the man before yesterday' - Sir Mark Prescott 'thrilled' to be asked to train Alpinista's 2.5m gns sister for Kia Joorabchian 

The Front Runner is our unmissable email newsletter available exclusively to Racing Post+ subscribers. Chris Cook provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday. Not a Racing Post+ subscriber? Join today and also receive our Ultimate Daily emails plus our full range of fantastic website and newspaper content.