SCOPE UPHOLDS LAWN STUD FAMILY HONOUR WITH GROUP 1 VICTORY IN FRANCE
SCOPE built upon an impressive winning performance at Listed level last time out to take the Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak at ParisLongchamp on Sunday afternoon for owner-breeder Julian Richmond-Watson and red-hot trainer Ralph Beckett.
Starting what was just the seventh race of his career, the Thoroughbred Breeders Association chairman’s homebred three-year-old colt, from Richmond-Watson’s treasured Lawn Stud family, raced kindly through the race before digging deep in the final two furlongs to get the better of Group 2 winner and eventual runner-up SKAZINO.
Scope is out of LOOK SO (GB), a half-sister to Richmond-Watson’s homebred Classic winner LOOK HERE (GB). Look So, also trained by Beckett, won four races for Richmond-Watson. Now 17-years-old, the mare has been an admirable servant for Lawn Stud, producing three Stakes winners from seven foals to race thus far. A maiden Group 1 success for Scope makes the colt her most high-profile progeny yet, and the most high-achieving performer from the family since Look Here.
The colt is by Darley sire TEOFILO, who also produced last year’s Prix Royal-Oak winner in the shape of subsequent Group 1 Gold Cup hero SUBJECTIVIST (GB).
Speaking with GBRI on Sunday afternoon, a delighted Richmond-Watson reflected on how Scope has exceeded his expectations with a win at the top-level:
“He did beat Mojo Star in his maiden, so I always knew he was above average, but we had a difficult run in the St Leger. It’s very exciting to win a Group 1, I thought he was more like a Group 3 horse.”
When asked about the mare, Richmond-Watson commented:
“The mare’s done me absolutely brilliantly, that’s her third black type winner, she’s been very consistent. She has a NIGHT OF THUNDER foal, so we’re looking forward to that.
“She’s not in foal this year, she foaled late and I didn’t get her in foal. I’ve now got to decide where I’m going to send her next, which is quite an interesting problem, because she deserves to have something a bit special.”
On the success that Lawn Stud has enjoyed in 2021, Richmond-Watson continued:
“We have a small stud of six mares, and about four yearlings go into training every year. Everyone forgets I owned and bred KINROSS (GB) and he’s won a Group 3 and a Group 2 this year. So we’ve had two Group winners this year from very small numbers, so we’re very lucky.”
On future plans for Scope, Richmond-Watson commented:
“I’ll certainly keep him in training.”
Sunday’s result also represented another feather in Ralph Beckett’s cap. The Kimpton Down-based trainer has enjoyed a magnificent weekend across the English Channel, having also saddled ANGEL BLEU to win a second Group 1 this month in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud on Saturday.
James Ferguson’s first career Group 1 success with EL BODEGON in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud on the same afternoon meant that British trainers staged a clean sweep of the weekend’s top-flight contests in France.