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Freddie Head's very highly regarded filly Moonlight Cloud was extremely impressive in the second race at Longchamp today (over 7f) and now reportedly heads for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. It's hard to know what she beat - the second, third and fifth were all newcomers, and the fourth Uldiko had form figures of 8657616586 and had been well beaten in Listed contests (including tailed-off last of eight behind Mambia on penultimate start). The other runner parted company with his jockey soon after the start. But the winner showed a lot of speed and a superb turn of foot and won very easily indeed. She looks a very smart filly. I was so taken by the performance that I have backed her speculatively for the Guineas (I was quoted prices ranging from 12/1 to 40/1).
Although she's by Invincible Spirit I think she'll get a mile: her half-brother Cedar Mountain (by Galileo) was a useful 12-14f winner and her half-sister Lakuta (by Pivotal) won over 9-10f; her dam Ventura (by Spectrum out of a half-sister to Generous and Imagine) won twice over a mile. She had previously won over 6½f at Deauville, beating Putyball (who won at Longchamp today).
Freddie Head is clearly very excited about this filly. Here's the Racing Post article:
FREDDIE HEAD hailed Moonlight Cloud (Davy Bonilla) as "the best two-year-old I have ever trained" after the daughter of Invincible Spirit took a conditions event by six lengths at Longchamp on Thursday. Winner of her debut on the all-weather at Deauville in August by two and a half lengths, Moonlight Cloud further confirmed her class when she glided into the lead passing long time leader Turn Of Phrase to continue unchallenged to the line. Victory was never in doubt for the odds-on favourite, whose outstanding win required little effort from the George Strawbridge-owned juvenile.
Head said: "She is a filly we have big hopes for and is very rare. You can do anything with Moonlight Cloud and she has huge class. We will now probably run her in the Jean-Luc Lagardere (October 3). I have never had a two year old this good," the filly's trainer said.
Head won this conditions race two years ago with Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's Naaqoos, who subsequently triumphed in the Lagardere.
Although she's by Invincible Spirit I think she'll get a mile: her half-brother Cedar Mountain (by Galileo) was a useful 12-14f winner and her half-sister Lakuta (by Pivotal) won over 9-10f; her dam Ventura (by Spectrum out of a half-sister to Generous and Imagine) won twice over a mile. She had previously won over 6½f at Deauville, beating Putyball (who won at Longchamp today).
Freddie Head is clearly very excited about this filly. Here's the Racing Post article:
FREDDIE HEAD hailed Moonlight Cloud (Davy Bonilla) as "the best two-year-old I have ever trained" after the daughter of Invincible Spirit took a conditions event by six lengths at Longchamp on Thursday. Winner of her debut on the all-weather at Deauville in August by two and a half lengths, Moonlight Cloud further confirmed her class when she glided into the lead passing long time leader Turn Of Phrase to continue unchallenged to the line. Victory was never in doubt for the odds-on favourite, whose outstanding win required little effort from the George Strawbridge-owned juvenile.
Head said: "She is a filly we have big hopes for and is very rare. You can do anything with Moonlight Cloud and she has huge class. We will now probably run her in the Jean-Luc Lagardere (October 3). I have never had a two year old this good," the filly's trainer said.
Head won this conditions race two years ago with Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's Naaqoos, who subsequently triumphed in the Lagardere.
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Interesting that she takes on the colts in the Lagadere on Sunday, following the same route as 2008 winner Naaqoos. She was visually very, very impressive last out, hardly coming out of a canter yet going clear to beat her rivals senseless; of course, now has to prove herself against the colts at the highest level, but has looked nothing short of exceptional so far and could be a real superstar if proving up to the task on Sunday. Has also proven herself in soft ground, an obvious positive considering the state of the ground over at Longchamp.
I think she's pure class, hoping for a big run at the weekend, anything above 3/1 would be nice 
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