One Master repeats in Prix de la Foret

One Master is not quite an elite short sprinter, nor has she been able to reach her highest peak racing one mile. But seven furlongs? That’s ideal, and for the second year in a row, One Master won the seven-furlong, Group 1 Prix de La Foret on the Arc undercard.

In 2018, One Master – who was bred and is owned by Roy and Gretchen Jackson’s Lael Stables – went from the Foret on to a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, but trainer William Haggas said after Sunday’s race the 4-year-old filly would be cut back to six furlongs for the Champions Sprint in two weeks at Ascot.

Haggas said he hoped for soft, testing ground at Ascot like the going over which One Master excelled Sunday, where she provided another big-race winner for jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot, who won the Arc aboard Waldgeist earlier on the program. One Master, tucked in mid-pack with cover, wheeled out with about 300 yards to run and finished with a flourish, out-kicking favored City Light, who raced inside, found a seam between horses in the late stages, and came home well along the rail. City Light nearly got on even terms with One Master about 50 yards from the finish but One Master, who has more stamina, was going away again at the wire.

One Master is by Fastnet Rock out of Enticing, by Pivotal, and won for the fifth time in 15 starts. Haggas said she’s scheduled to return for a 5-year-old campaign.

Glass Slippers fits l’Abbaye

Glass Slippers surprised even her own connections leading nearly all the way to win the Group 1 Prix l’Abbaye de Longchamp by three lengths over So Perfect.

Heavily favored Battaash appeared to labor mightily over the very soft conditions, was beaten half-way through the five-furlong straight-course sprint and checked in 14th of 16.

Glass Slippers, trained by Kevin Ryan for breeder Bearstone Stud Limited, is not typically a filly to show early speed, but she hit the front Sunday after about a furlong and never came close to being challenged thereafter, running the best race of her life.

Plans had called for Glass Slippers to be retired following this race but now she will return for a 4-year-old campaign. The l’Abbaye is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Win and You’re In linked to the BC Turf Sprint and Glass Slippers’ connections didn’t entirely rule out a trip to Santa Anita.

Glass Slippers is by Dream Ahead out of Night Gypsy, by Mind Games. Though she’s based in England, Glass Slippers has now put together a three-race win streak in France during the latter part of her 2019 campaign.