New Group 1 winner for Mehmas as Vertical Blue stuns Zarigana at Longchamp

Vertical Blue stunned racegoers with her narrow defeat of stable companion and red-hot favourite Zarigana in a photo-finish to the Prix Marcel Boussac, on a murky autumn lunchtime in Paris.

Returned at 100-1, she is the second juvenile Group 1 winner of the season for her sire Mehmas following the success of Scorthy Champ in the National Stakes at the Curragh last month. 

The filly, bred by Haras Du Mont Dit Mont out of the Sea The Stars mare Krunch, is the sixth career top-level winner sired by Mehmas, who stands at the O'Callaghan family's Tally-Ho Stud outside Mullingar, County Westmeath.

Vertical Blue, trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, is a member of the most expensively-bred crop by Mehmas to hit the track, as his fee was increased to €25,000 for the 2021 breeding season following the juvenile success of his first crop, which included Supremacy and Minzaal, who gave their sire a one-three in the Middle Park Stakes.

Second in the Listed Criterium de Lyon a month ago, Vertical Blue was making her fifth career start and first in Group company, having won or been placed on each of her runs.

Vertical Blue (red and green) beats Zarigana and ExactlyCredit: Edward Whitaker

Racing in the colours of Gemini Stud and Argella Racing, she was a €50,000 purchase by Paul Nataf from the draft of her breeders at Arqana's August Yearling Sale.

She is the only registered foal out of Krunch, who was bred by Lordship Stud and sold for €310,000 by Ecurie des Monceaux to Prime Equestrian at Deauville as a yearling.

Twice successful at three, Krunch is out of Listed Flame Of Tara Stakes winner and Group 3 Prix Imprudence third Spinacre, a Verglas half-sister to Group 3 winner San Sicharia and to Same World and Spin Cycle, both successful in Listed contests.

Under Vertical Blue's fifth dam Vadsa are Group 1 winners Voleuse De Couers, Vadamos, Valixir, Val Royal and Vadamos amongst others.

Vertical Blue is the sixth individual Group 1 winner for her sire Sea The Stars, who crowned his unprecedented career with a stunning triumph in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe 15 years ago.

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