BC Internationals: Mile/F&M Turf contender Spectre

Spectre has been a remarkably consistent standard-bearer for former soccer star-turned-trainer Markus Münch, who bred and also races the filly in the name of his MM Racing.

By the Aga Khan stallion Siyouni and out of a half-sister to German classic winner and high-class Hong Kong galloper Irian, Spectre broke her maiden at Strasbourg in a low-key juvenile campaign. Few could have forecast she’d end up being a multiple Group 1 performer, and Breeders’ Cup hopeful, at three.

Spectre served notice by upsetting the April 7 Prix Imprudence (G3), a French Guineas trial, at odds of 22-1. The heavy going at Maisons-Laffitte suited her to a tee.

 

Only beaten a couple of lengths by the perfect La Cressonniere when fifth in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (G1), Spectre wasn’t far off third-placer Qemah, and a subpar Alice Springs was further back in seventh. Qemah subsequently advertised the form when winning both the Coronation (G1) at Royal Ascot and the Prix Rotshchild (G1) back at Deauville.

Spectre upheld the form herself with a trio of solid Group 1 efforts versus males, all on good ground. Facing fellow sophomores in the Prix Jean Prat (G1), she checked in third as an 18-1 chance to Jean-Claude Rouget’s Zelzal in a fast time. Notice that the fourth-placer is none other Nemoralia, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) third who was also a hard-luck runner-up to Qemah in the Coronation.