Evolutionist (Night Of Thunder) made a striking return to action in the Gr.3 Prix de la Grotte over 1600m at Longchamp.
The Karl Burke-trained three-year-old filly was the winner of a 1m maiden at Newmarket’s July Course on her second outing last season and then went on to finish third in both the Gr.2 Debutante Stakes and Gr.1 Fillies’ Mile. She holds a range of upcoming entries, from the Gr.2 Prix Saint-Alary, Gr.1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches and Gr.1 Prix de Diane in France, to the Gr.1 1,000 Guineas and Gr.1 Oaks closer to home.
Seven fillies faced the starter in a race that has been won in recent seasons by subsequent Classic winners Zarigana (Siyouni) and Blue Rose Cen (Churchill), and the Wertheimer and Frere second string Ceramic (Lope De Vega) went straight to the front and set a decent gallop. She was five lengths clear at halfway from stablemate Green Spirit (Kingman), with Evolutionist just half a length further away in third under Shane Foley.
Ceramic stretched her lead considerably on the approach to the home straight and was eight to ten lengths clear with 500m left to run. Most of the field were caught flat-footed at that stage, with Evolutionist being the key exception. The Burke filly picked up in excellent fashion from the 300m marker to run down the longtime leader and win by two and a half lengths. Ceramic was swallowed up by the chasers close to the line, allowing Narissa (Siyouni) and Pierchic (Palace Pier) to grab second and third in a very close call for the minor honours.
Bred by Gigginstown House Stud, Evolutionist was sourced for €600,000 from Eddie O’Leary’s Lynn Lodge Stud at Book 1 of the Goffs Orby Sale. This win delivers a timely boost to her owners, Forz Europe Ltd, in the wake of the news that their Gr.1 Dewhurst Stakes hero Gewan (Night Of Thunder) suffered a fatal injury during a racecourse gallop. Evolutionist is the only runner so far out of the Gr.3-placed winner Model Guest (Showcasing), while her lightly-raced grandam Looks All Right (Danehill Dancer) is a full-sister to the Irish Gr.3 winner and Stakes-producer Venturi and the French Listed winner and Gr.1-placed sire Feels All Right.
Written for European Bloodstock News
