Albigna, Victor Ludorum Earn BC Berths at Longchamp

ParisLongchamp was filled with talent on the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) undercard Oct. 6, and three group 1 stakes for juveniles took place—all of which were Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" Challenge Series races.

First up, Albigna marked herself as a top-class flat horse in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac-Criterium des Pouliches (G1), and the manner in which she won suggests she boasts many of the excellent qualities possessed by trainer Jessica Harrington's former stars Cheltenham, Punchestown, and Fairyhouse.

The victory, her third in four starts, earned the daughter of Zoffany a berth to the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T).

At the top of the home straight, Albigna appeared to be flat to the boards in the mud under Shane Foley, while at the furlong pole she remained three lengths behind clear leader Marieta.

By then, however, she was in full overdrive and well on her way to what was ultimately a decisive and gritty 2 1/2-length success.

The performance came only eight days after Harrington and Foley combined to win another juvenile fillies' group 1, the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (G1), with the pacey Millisle.

Prior to that, the duo struck in pattern company with two other 2-year-old fillies, the Jon Kelly-owned Cayenne Pepper and Alpine Star, who, like Albigna, is a representative of the Niarchos family, now owners or joint-owners of a record five Marcel Boussac winners.

Albigna flopped on her previous outing in the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1), and although there was a perfectly fair excuse for that sixth-place effort, Harrington was still far from bullish about this mission.

"Zoffany horses tend to go on a bit of soft ground, but we just didn't know," she said. "She had never run on it, and she ran free before being found to be in season after her last race, so we weren't that confident, but today we saw the real Albigna, the filly we've seen at home. I didn't think she was traveling great, but Shane said she likes to find her feet, just as she had done in her first two races."

Albigna definitely found her feet, so much so she is now challenging Quadrilateral for QIPCO One Thousand Guineas (G1) favoritism. Before that, there could possibly be a trip to the Breeders' Cup.

Assessing her two most recent group 1 winners, Harrington said: "They've never worked together, but this filly has showed she stays a mile, so she looks more like a classic filly."

Marieta's trainer, Mauricio Delcher Sanchez, hopes he might also have a classic contender and said: "My filly has run a marvelous race and showed a real turn of foot before just fading at the finish."

In the next race, Godolphin's juvenile crop continued to dominate as Victor Ludorum joined his André Fabre-trained stablemate Earthlight and Charlie Appleby's exciting Pinatubo among group 1 winners when he scored in the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1).

The margin of Victor Ludorum's superiority over longtime leader Alson and Armory was three-quarters of a length and a neck, but that underplayed the superiority of a colt who only made his debut Sept. 1 and was having his third start in just five weeks. 

"He has a big heart, is a beautiful mover, and he goes on any ground, which was a big, big concern beforehand," a delighted Fabre said. "He likes to come late and overtake horses. I don't see him as a natural 2-year-old—he is next year's horse. I don't know if he'll stay a mile and a half, but definitely a mile and a quarter, which I think Earthlight will as well. He could start off over a mile."

Victor Ludorum earned a berth into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) and is now 5-1 to win next year's French Two Thousand Guineas (G1) with Paddy Power. The same firm has gone 20-1 for him to claim the Newmarket classic.

"I will have to speak to Sheikh Mohammed regarding plans for next year, but, personally, I would look at a French classic campaign," Fabre said.

Mickael Barzalona tracked Ryan Moore on Armory from the start and rode Victor Ludorum with a confidence that belied a horse that had not run at even listed level.

"He has a strong will and great potential," Barzalona said. "Before and after a race he can be difficult, but after his debut, André Fabre did well to give him a second run for experience, and that really paid off today."

Asked how he compared Victor Ludorum and Earthlight, Barzalona pointed to their different paths to becoming group 1 winners.

"They are two horses with very different profiles," the jockey said. "Earthlight has done everything we've asked of him over six furlongs, and the question of how far he will stay is for later. Against that, Victor Ludorum has started off over a mile and showed that he could stay further. If Earthlight proves he stays, then he is already a confirmed group 1 winner who has dominated at that distance. It's a complex question."

Alson made the running for much of the way under Frankie Dettori and held on gamely for second, while Aidan O'Brien was pleased with Armory, who was thrashed last time out by Pinatubo in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1) at the Curragh.

The victory further highlighted the strength of Shamardal, who is the sire of Pinatubo, Earthlight, and Victor Ludorum.

The third juvenile test Sunday came two starts later when longshot Glass Slippers won the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (G1) by three lengths while sprinting five furlongs for trainer Kevin Ryan. The Dream Ahead filly is owned by Bearstone Stud Limited. The win earned Glass Slippers an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T).