France Shows Pride in Champion Triumph

Pride made amends for her second place finish in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) with an easy three length victory in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes (Eng-I) at Newmarket on Saturday.

The 6-year-old daughter of Peintre Celebre is trained in France by Alain de Royer-Dupre and was ridden by fellow Frenchman, Christophe Lemaire. She finished second in this event last year to David Junior.

With no natural front-runner in the field, Hurricane Run was sent to the front by Mick Kinane, with Notnowcato and Vodafone Derby (Eng-I) winner Sir Percy in hot pursuit. Pride tracked this trio closely in fourth.

Hitting the front at the furlong marker, Pride galloped strongly up the hill to run out a convincing winner. English Group 2 winner Rob Roy finished second, a head in front of Hurricane Run.

Jockey Lemaire told Channel 4 Racing afterwards, "She was very relaxed behind Sir Percy and when I asked her, she did it very well. She's a champion and I am very happy for all the connections. Mr. Dupre has done a really good job, as he has kept the filly in really good condition."

Pride is a bay daughter of Peintre Celebre, out of the Alleged mare, Specificity. Pride is a half-sister to Specifically, who has produced 2006 Stan James One Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) victress Speciosa, and North American Grade 3 winner, Major Rhythm.