Is there another Alpinista lurking in the boxes at Heath House? That is the question which all at Longchamp will have almost simultaneously asked themselves as Luke Morris and Sir Mark Prescott combined to land the Prix de Royallieu (G1) Oct. 4 with Consent, a lightly raced 3-year-old filly who seems to be progressing at a rate of knots.
In doing so, Consent overturned defeats to both Santorini Star and Indalimos, giving Prescott a third group 1 in recent years following Alpinista's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) in 2022 and the Prix de l'Abbaye (G1) success of Marsha at Chantilly nine years ago.
Carrying the silks of Prince Faisal's Denford Stud, Morris stalked Tom Marquand on Santorini Star and produced a powerful surge up the middle of the straight to score by 4 1/2 lengths.
Assistant trainer William Butler admitted that Prince Faisal had been a nervous watcher from his home in Riyadh, while Prescott was also on edge back in Newmarket.
"I don't box-walk quite as badly as Prince Faisal, but I do weave a bit," Prescott said. "We were worried about the soft ground because she has an extraordinarily good action, but maybe she follows (sire) Lope de Vega and that little bit of softness helped her turn the tables with the two fillies who we've run against. She did it very well and it's marvelous for Prince Faisal."
Consent will become an important part of the Denford broodmare band at some stage, but Prescott revealed she will stay in training at 4, while he expects her name to be among the entries for the 2026 Arc when they are filed next May.
"They will definitely keep her in training," Prescott said. "I expect somebody might want to make her come back to a mile and a half at some stage, but a mile and six (furlongs) is probably her best trip, I would think. But the temptation is to come back."
Asked if she could develop into an Arc filly given her versatility with regards to ground, he added: "It would be nice to think so. I think she's a bit more stamina-oriented, but I'm sure that's what everybody will want to aim at."
Having edged out Consent in the Park Hill Stakes (G2) last time, Santorini Star lost nothing in defeat, as Marquand made a positive move from his wide draw in post 10 to take the lead and get to the rail by the time the field turned away from the stands.
Rabbit's Foot performed best of the home team to get third in a race no French horse has won since it was promoted to group 1 level and lengthened to 1 3/4 miles in 2019.
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late supplement Caballo De Mar Victorious in Cadran
George Scott was quite literally floored after landing a breakthrough group 1 that was a decade in the making with supplementary entry Caballo de Mar in the 2 1/2-mile Prix du Cadran (G1).
The trainer said he does not often get emotional, but he was visibly moved in the winner's enclosure after the 4-year-old, owned by Victorious Forever, made his younger legs count when stretching a length and a quarter clear of Coltrane, who was retired following the race.
"It's a special day for me and my team—we finally got there," Scott said. "The owners have been a big part of my journey, so to train a group 1 winner feels surreal. I've been training for 10 years and we've had loads of stakes winners, but I'm elated we've won our first at the highest level."
On the significance for the yard, he said: "I was on the floor as he crossed the line. I don't normally get emotional that's what it means to me. I felt like we needed it. We're in a really good position but you need to prove yourself at this level to elevate your yard."
Scott, who was assistant to Lady Jane Cecil at Warren Place following the death of Sir Henry Cecil, sent out his first runners at the end of 2015 and has had a steadier rise to the top than Caballo de Mar, who started life in handicaps off a mark of 65 in the summer of last year.
After three wins on the all-weather this year, Caballo de Mar was second in the Chester Cup and Copper Horse Stakes at Royal Ascot before stepping into group company last month, winning the Deutsches St Leger (G1). That victory in Germany helped to convince his connections to supplement him for the Cadran for a fee of €21,600.
"Tom (Marquand) said he could have gone round again," said Scott. "He's a one-off, a special horse. He began life in low-grade handicaps but has a huge heart. He switches off so well. You could pull him up halfway and restart him. It all went to plan today. He seems to be in his happy place when he's positioned just on the hip of the leader, and Tom rode him brilliantly.
"He has his whole future ahead of him at this level and he might not be done this season—there are a couple of big dances left, then he'll head out to the Middle East. He's a unique character. He's so tough and durable, so we'll see how he is and make a decision."
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