Top 40 Prospects Group 1 winner Friendly Soul (9/1)

Bluestocking produced a career best when confirming the form with old rival Aventure in the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday. The four year old, who featured in last year's Top 40 (0 from 6), was gaining her third Group 1 victory of 2024 scoring by a length and a quarter. Drawn low in stall 3, Rossa Ryan's mount was handy throughout before taking over with quarter of a mile to run. Staying on strongly, the daughter of Camelot crown a memorable season for her connections. Ralph Beckett and his team have enjoyed are a tremendous campaign with over 100 domestic winner and the Juddmonte owned filly provides the icing on the cake. Los Angeles ran well in fourth and is a fine prospect for next term, while Sosie was well positioned throughout and there were no excuses in fourth. The disappointment of the race was Al Riffa who raced towards the rear throughout and never threatened, while Japanese raider Shin Emperor may have found the ground too slow. 

Later on the card at the Parisian track, Friendly Soul (9/1) provided the Top 40 with another Group 1 success in the Prix de L'Opera. Racing on the softest ground she has encountered, Kieran Shoemark's partner was prominent from the outset and hit the front early in the homestraight. The Kingman filly beat some high-class opponents scoring by three parts of a length from stablemate Running Lion. It was her jockey's first Group 1 winner since being appointed stable jockey to John and Thady Gosden and much deserved. Owned and bred by George Strawbridge, her only disappointing effort came in the Musidora Stakes at York in May. She has progressed with each start since and is following in the hoofprints of her illustrious family members - she becomes the fourth Group 1 winner out of the dam.

The meeting kicked off with the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac and one can't help thinking the highly regarded Zarigana should have maintained her unbeaten record. The Aga Khan filly had impressed in her two previous wins and was ridden with supreme confidence - arguably too much - by newly appointed retained jockey Mickael Barzalona. The Siyouni filly allowed the front running Exactly plenty of rope before quickening up on the outside. Having mastered the Ballydoyle runner, she was beaten on the nod by stable companion Vertical Blue. The runner-up remains a top-class prospect for next year but she should have been a Group 1 winner going into winter quarters.

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