Moulin tilt proves no pipe dream as Tribalist runs rivals ragged

Tribalist secured a breakthrough G1 victory in spectacular fashion in France on Sunday as he put a top-quality field to the sword in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.

Returning to a mile after a disappointing sprinting audition at Deauville in August, Tribalist skipped clear of his rivals early on and never looked in any danger, hitting the line a length and a quarter in front of the Queen Anne Stakes and Prix Jacques le Marois victor Charyn.

Notable Speech, a brilliant winner of the 2,000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes, could only finish fifth on his first appearance on soft ground.

Tribalist, who had previously posted five Group-race wins over the distance, is at his best racing round a bend and the Farhh entire will head back to Longchamp for the Prix de la Foret before heading out to the United States for the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Notable Speech will also be aimed at the same race, with conditions in California expected to suit him much better.

Ombudsman continued his progressive profile on the same Longchamp card as he overcame signs of greenness to post a fourth straight win in the G3 Prix du Prince d’Orange. The Night Of Thunder colt looks certain to make his mark at a higher level, although he could now be put away until his four-year-old campaign.

In Australia, Pericles set himself up for some lofty sprint targets with a dominant win in the So You Think Stakes at Moonee Valley on Saturday. The dual G2 winner, who has filled the runner-up spot in a Doncaster Mile, Futurity Stakes and Rosehill Guineas, will be hoping to break his G1 duck this season, starting with the Underwood Stakes later this month.

A good day at The Valley also saw Too Darn Hot filly Silmarillion shed her maiden tag in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes.

Godolphin received the National Owner of the Year and National Breeder of the Year awards at the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association National Awards Dinner in Kentucky on Saturday. Dance Card, the dam of Cody’s Wish, was named National Broodmare of the Year at the same ceremony.

Woodbine hosts its Turf Champions Day this Saturday and Godolphin is set to be represented in all four G1 races on the fixture, with Naval Power bidding to emulate Modern Games and Master Of The Seas with victory in the Woodbine Mile.

Belmont and Saratoga Oaks winner Cinderella’s Dream will be aiming to continue her unbeaten North American season in the E P Taylor Stakes, while two-year-olds Al Qudra and Mountain Breeze will tackle the Summer Stakes and Natalma Stakes respectively.

Unbeaten two-year-old Ancient Truth could head to Ireland for Sunday’s G1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, a race won by Quorto, Pinatubo and Native Trail in recent years.

Contributer sadly passed away in New Zealand on Sunday. A Royal Ascot winner before joining Godolphin in Australia, Contributer was crowned Champion Middle Distance Horse of the Year in 2015 after successive victories in the G2 Apollo Stakes, G1 Chipping Norton Stakes and G1 Ranvet Stakes.