Alson much the best in two-horse Criterium International
Alson, second in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Oct. 6, won his first Group 1 race in his final start of 2019 in Sunday’s $276,975 Criterium International at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris.
The final Group 1 race for 2-year-olds of the European season turned out to be a match race. Only four were entered in the Criterium International, with the field reduced to three after Wichita was scratched on Sunday morning. The filly Lady Penelope was withdrawn at the start after becoming upset in the gate.
Alson (1-2) was ridden by Frankie Dettori, giving him a personal-best 19th Group 1 win of the year for the famous 48-year-old jockey. Alson took the lead shortly after the start and was not urged by Dettori. In early stretch, Alson pulled clear to prevail by 20 lengths on heavy turf over 9-10 Armory, trained by Aidan O’Brien.
Alson, trained by Jean-Pierre Carvalho, was beaten three-quarters of a length by Victor Ludorum in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at a mile, with Armory in third. The Criterium International, restricted to colts and fillies, was run at seven furlongs.
Alson, a German-bred by Areion, is owned by Gestut Schlenderhan, and has won 3 of 5 starts.
Later on the Longchamp program, Technician won his second consecutive group race at Longchamp in October in the Group 1 Prix-Royal Oak, which was worth $387,765 and run at 1 15/16 miles.
Ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot, Technician (12-5) won the marathon by 1 1/4 lengths over 11-5 favorite Call the Wind, who finished 3 1/2 lengths clear of third-place finisher Holdthasigreen.
Holdthasigreen and Call the Wind were first and second in the Group 1 Prix du Cadran at 2 1/2 miles at Longchamp on Oct. 5.
Technician, a 3-year-old colt by Mastercraftsman, won the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay at 1 7/8 miles at Longchamp on Oct. 5 for the Team Valor Racing partnership and trainer Martyn Meade. Earlier this year, Technician won the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes at 1 11/16 miles at Newbury Racecourse in England.
