What a thrill! Ventura Tormenta wins the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly.
Tue 21 Jul 2020
Our 31st Winner of the year and eighth Group 2 win: VENTURA TORMENTA, trained by Richard Hannon and ridden by Christophe Soumillon: The GROUP 2 Darley Prix Robert Papin, over 6f (1,200m) at Chantilly.
We love it when a plan comes together! It really was a case of 'The A Team' executing a big race strategy perfectly on Sunday in France.
It was a very nervous few days in the run up, when syndicate manager Tim Palin, was looking at options for Ventura Tormenta's next race, after he was allocated an OR of 99 in the new 2 year old ratings. He put in a good run in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at HQ on July 11th, over 7 furlongs and was proving to be a tough contender, taking his racing well. Tim had been eyeing up the Pattern races both here and abroad, where the prize money on offer would be worth the costs to travel and on Thursday took the decision to supplement him into the Prix Robert Papin. It looked like he would be taking on both the Norfolk and Coventry winners, but on balance, it looked a race where an opportunity for him to go back to his 6f winning distance stood out. Plenty of research was put into how the race should be run for our colt and Christophe Soumillon was booked and instructed!
He had a good journey over and arrived at Chantilly on Friday, having a leg stretch on Saturday and settling into his new box. We were able to keep owners up to date with photos and videos send in to us by his lad Paul, who went over with him. Even if we weren't that calm, the horse, as ever was relaxed, as he has always been since we bought him as a yearling at the Goffs Premier Sale - he is a real professional!
As the gates opened in the race, he broke well from stall 1 and led narrowly. Oisin Murphy, on the unbeaten hot favourite The Lir Jet, loomed up on his outside looking dangerous at the 800m mark. Christophe got lower in the saddle and began to ask him to quicken. He was headed entering the final furlong and the two of them fought out the finish, with our colt rallying very gamely to regain the lead towards the finish and on the line, got his win by a short head.
What a thriller to watch and a superb ride by Christophe. Watch the finish and hear what he said in his post race interview here:
Tim says: "We are absolutely delighted with what he has done there. It was a fantastic day and the stuff of dreams cheering home your 2 year old to win a race like that. To win the race again, after Kool Kompany did in 2014 (he was also trained by Richard) is a thrill. His lofty new Timeform rating of 108, makes him the highest rated, ‘syndicated’ 2yo in Europe, with only Master Of The Seas (Godolphin) & Tactical (HM The Queen) rated higher. He deserves a rest now, to stand proud in his stable at Herridge, where no doubt he will be receiving some well earned treats! He deserves a crack at a Group 1 next: We have the Middle Park Stakes as a target and could consider the Prix Morny or supplementing for the Phoenix Stakes (Kool Kompany came 2nd in that race after winning the Papin.) Well done to his owners; it's a small syndicate of 10 and for some it was their first Group race winner, so we're happy to have provided them with that. Thank you to everyone for the messages and comments too."
Watch the full race replay here: http://www.france-galop.com/en/racing/detail/2020/P/a1pkTkJOZWRqRDZzZUkwREs5Z3ZhUT09
See the official photos here: https://www.scoopdyga.com/courses-173766-darley_prix_robert_papin_g2.html
Kevin Blake, who bred him, was overjoyed! You may have seen his interview on ITV Racing and here's his tweet:
Read a Racing Post story about his breeding operation here: https://www.racingpost.com/bloodstock/bloodstock-latest/dream-mare-breeds-group-2-winner-for-itv-racings-kevin-blake/443257
Read The Racing Post report here: https://www.racingpost.com/news/race-reports/robert-papin/442957 and an updated news story here: https://www.racingpost.com/news/latest/prix-morny-on-the-radar-for-middleham-parks-ventura-tormenta/443125
The Thoroughbred Daily News write up can be seen here: https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/acclamations-ventura-tormenta-upsets-the-lir-jet-in-the-robert-papin/
We have added some images in the gallery, we love the one with him home safe and sound in his stable, looking proud with his winners rug!
Thank you to Paul and team Hannon, who had a super weekend, also winning the Super Sprint and to Christophe for a superb ride. https://www.richardhannonracing.co.uk/news,ventura-tormenta-toughs-is-out-to-win-the-prix-robert-papin-group-2_468.htm