Kasbah Bliss

Kasbah Bliss put up a fine performance to win the Group 3 Prix Gladiateur at Longchamp on Sunday. Settled well back in the field by Theirry Thulliez early on off a fair enough pace that was set by the John Gosden horse Centennial, hassled by Pointilliste, he was still only eighth and had a wall of horses in front of him as they straightened up for home. Thulliez was sitting and suffering and trying to angle out when Pointilliste kicked for home on the far rail with a furlong and a half to run, and went fully two lengths clear of his field. From there, Kasbah Bliss’s chances looked forlorn. He didn’t get into the clear until they had left the 200-metre pole behind them. He had at least three lengths to make up on the leader from that point, but he obviously had lots of energy in reserve and he still possesses a fine turn of foot, which he used to maximum effect to get up and catch Pointilliste with no more than four strides to run, to win going away by a half a length.

This was just Kasbah Bliss’s second start since last April. On his first, in a Group 2 race at Deauville last month, the early pace that ultimate winner Jukebox Jury set was way too sedate for a stayer over an inadequate mile and a half, yet he still kept on well to finish third. This was much more his trip, he has a fine turn of foot against stayers at this distance, and he could be in for a lucrative time of it now this autumn. He won this race last year and then disappointed in the Prix du Cadran on Arc weekend – it may be that two and a half miles stretches him on the flat – but he is a potent force over two miles.

13th September 2009