Marcel Springs Racing Post Trophy Surprise
Description:
Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam tallied his first group I win in eight years when Marcel pulled a 33-1 shocker in the Racing Post Trophy (Eng-I) for 2-year-olds at Doncaster.
With previously unbeaten 10-11 favorite Foundation trapped in traffic, Marcel and jockey Andrea Atzeni enjoyed a clear run outside six rivals to lead just over a furlong out and stayed on for a 1 1/2-length triumph from Irish group III winner Johannes Vermeer. Foundation, once clear, was up for third, 2 1/2 lengths behind the runner-up.
Paul Hancock's Marcel was timed in 1:42.19 for a mile on good to soft turf, going from last-out maiden winner to a group I winner in his third career start.
Chapple-Hyam, in sending out his first top-level victor since Authorized captured the 2007 Juddmonte International (Eng-I), indicated Marcel was a candidate for the Prix du Jockey Club (Fr-I, French Derby) rather than the Epsom Derby (Eng-I).
Off the early pace of Port Douglas, Marcel was sent wide with a quarter mile to run and spurted past Johannes Vermeer to get the win. Juddmonte Royal Lodge (Eng-II) victor Foundation was guided to running room before the furlong maker and kept on for the show spot.
With Saturday's win, Atzeni was aboard the Racing Post Trophy winner for the third consectutive year, winning with Kingston Hill in 2013 and Elm Park last year.
"He is a big horse and he has taken time to come together," Chapple-Hyam told Racing Post about Marcel, a son of Lawman. "His work had been really good coming into the race.
"Authorized was more of a stayer than this horse is. You can't compare them, but this horse has won a group I, so let's go forward. I'd love to think he would be a Derby horse, but realistically I would say he is probably more of a French Derby horse."
Irish-bred Marcel, who is out of the unraced Marju mare Mauresmo, is the first top-level winner bred by the Hyland family's Oghill House Stud. Troy Steve Bloodstock bought the colt for 26,000 guineas ($43,421) at the 2014 Tattersalls October yearling sale after his breeders sold him as a weanling to Mick Flanagan, agent, for €50,000 ($67,485) at Goffs 2013 November sale. Second dam Absaar, by Alleged, is a half sister to multiple U.S. grade I winner Annoconnor and 1986 Melbourne Cup (Aus-I) winner At Talaq.