Maeve Mahony’s Wizz Kid came with a storming late run to win the Qatar Prix de l’Abbaye de Lonchamp (Fr-I) on Oct. 7, denying favorite and runner-up Mayson in tthe opening Thoroughbred race on the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) card.
The 4-year-old Whipper filly is a homebred of Mahony’s Ballylinch Stud in Ireland and trained in France by Robert Collet. She overtook Mayson nearing the finish line, halting a string of nine previous wins in the event by British-trained runners.
Wizz Kid, who won by a neck, earned her first win at the top level and made amends for her fifth-place finish in last year’s edition of the race.
Wizz Kid, outrun early, was full of run on the testing ground when Mayson and Hamish McGonagall spurted away in the final 200 meters in a battle to the finish. She closed furiously for the narrow victory,
Mayson, starting for the first time since romping to a five-length win in the Darley July Cup (Eng-I) July 14 at Newmarket, held for second while Hamish McGonagall finished a half-length back in third in the 18-horse field.
Second to Moonlight Cloud in the Prix Maurice de Gheest (Fr-I) Aug. 5 at
“She’s been unlucky in a couple of the big sprints before, but it’s nice everything has gone her way,” Ballylinch racing manager John O’Connor told The Guardian. “She loved the fast pace and finished off well, so she deserves it.
“We will consider going to
Wizz Kid, produced by stakes-placed winner Lidanski, by Soviet Star, is a half sister to French stakes winner Mustaheel.
