Henry de Bromhead, a trainer who’s clinched nearly every Grade One over jumps, is on the hunt for his maiden Group One triumph on the flat at Longchamp this Saturday. He’s setting his sights on the prestigious €300,000 Qatar Prix de Royallieu with his contender, Term Of Endearment, a five-year-old mare who’s had a striking rise to prominence. The race commences at 4pm, Irish time.
Term Of Endearment, having previously seen success under Rachael Blackmore at the Group Three level in York, and having won the Group Two Lillie Langtry at Goodwood most recently, is geared up for the 14-furlong mares challenge. Replacement jockey Alexis Pouchin, an emerging sensation in French racing, will be in control this time.
Pouchin previously rode to victory in a Listed race at Longchamp for De Bromhead just last month, adding to a string of commendable victories for the trainer during this summer. This includes Magical Zoe’s win at York’s Ebor.
Henry de Bromhead hopes to chalk up his first Group One win with Term Of Endearment. Term Of Endearment will be up against 15 other contenders, including three from Ballydoyle and Joseph O’Brien’s entrant, Thunder Roll.
Reflecting on the upcoming race, de Bromhead said, “Following her remarkable summer performance, this race seemed a natural progression. We are yet to achieve a Group One win so if we could pull it off, it would certainly rank amongst our greatest victories, but we first need to make it happen.”
In another group one event at Longchamp on Saturday, the Prix Du Cadran, Kyprios is expected to be the outright favourite to maintain his impeccable 2024 campaign. Having conquered the said contest in grand style two years prior and resilience following a grave illness last season, the anticipations around him are high.
However, the race is not without its share of challenges, with Trueshan, the 2021 Cadran champion and France’s leading stayer Double Major, making the contest far from predictable. Despite this, anything less than a victory for Kyprios will be considered a significant upset.
Whilst Paris is drawing most of the international attention this weekend, Irish horse racing enthusiasts are also setting their sights on the United States. Dermot Weld’s Tarawa is participating in the elite Grade One $750,000 First Lady Stakes taking place in Keeneland this Saturday evening. Chris Hayes, the jockey of record on the Aga Khan’s filly, will command the rein during the mile-long race set for 9.44pm Irish time. Hayes will be in the saddle again on Mountain Bear for Aidan O’Brien during the Coolmore Turf Mile kicking off at 10.48. Among their competitors are Harry Charlton’s horse, Kikkuli – Frankel’s half-brother, with renowned jockey Frankie Dettori in the driver’s seat. Additionally, within the borders of Ireland, a bustling weekend is anticipated starting with racing at the Curragh on Saturday. This is accompanied by four graded events shared across Gowran and Tipperary, indicating a surge in the cross-country racing season’s rhythm.