Zellie Rallies to Prix Marcel Boussac Score

Oisin Murphy has endured a challenging week but put all that behind him when partnering the Andre Fabre-trained Zellie  to victory in the Oct. 3 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac-Criterium des Pouliches (G1) at ParisLongchamp.

Britain's champion jockey required stitches to his lip after being thrown into the rail by Oasis Gift in the Salisbury paddock Sept. 30, but the thought of missing rides at Longchamp never crossed his mind.

"I had to pick myself up and I'm still a little bit sore," said Murphy, before pulling down his mask to show the cameras his damaged lip. "It's ugly, but I had good rides this weekend—it's all worthwhile."

Zellie proved an able deputy to her unbeaten stablemate Raclette, who was withdrawn due to the ground, as she chased down 33-1 shot Times Square  and powered a length and three-quarters clear.

"This was my first time riding her," said Murphy, who also took great pleasure in practicing his French during a number of TV interviews. "I've ridden for the owners (Al Wasmiyah Farm) and we kept in touch on WhatsApp. I got the ride as Mickael Barzalona was unavailable.

"I thought we would go very fast. Oscula  normally leads but she missed the break under Ryan Moore, so I was a little bit worried. Zellie didn't fly out of the stalls so I had to be patient and hope she'd pick up—when I did get her going she was always going to win."

Fabre was similarly confident and when it was suggested Zellie had looked complicated in her previous starts the trainer, channeling his inner Rene Descartes, said: "She's not complicated at all. Who is complicated? Men, not horses. Owners and jockeys, but not horses."

The daughter of Wootton Bassett  may be straightforward, but Fabre does not imagine her stepping up too much in distance, adding: "I never thought she would be only a 2-year-old. She has the scope and ability to be nice next year. We're impatient to see her in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas, G1).

"I think she'll be limited to a mile, but she could try the mile and a quarter in the Prix de Diane (French Oaks, G1). There will be no marathons for her."

Zellie, who was providing Fabre with his first Boussac success since Miss Tahiti won in 1995, emphatically turned the tables on market-leading stablemate Fleur d'Iris , 24 days on from finishing second to her in the Prix d'Aumale (G3).

Since the Prix Marcel Boussac is a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" challenge race, Zellie earned an automatic berth to the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) at Del Mar with her victory.

Trainer Christophe Ferland was delighted with the performance of runner-up Times Square, and said: "I thought we might win 200 meters from the line. This is why we get up in the mornings, for these horses. We've worked hard on this filly because she can be extremely complicated.

"She worked well 10 days ago and that gave me belief. I've only spoken with Cristian (Demuro, jockey) briefly but he was impressed and, while the winner is exceptional, we have a very good filly."