Breeding & Racing Magazine

Grand Lodge Adds US Gr2

In the US, ill-fated former Woodlands Stud shuttler Grand Lodge (Chief's Crown-La Papagena, by Habitat) added a graded-stakes success when multiple Gr1-winning UK-bred 6YO entire Grand Couturier (Grand Lodge-Lady Elgar, by Sadler's Wells) scored a 2-lengths victory in the US$158,000 Gr2 Bowling Green Handicap (11 furlongs on turf) at Belmont Park in New York. Grand Couturier (ridden by Alan Garcia for trainer Robert Ribaudo) defeated 4YO entires Winchester (Theatrical-Rum Charger, by Spectrum) & Thabazimbi (Empire Maker-Aletta Maria, by Diesis). Grand Couturier was a 3,500 guineas (A$7,200) yearling at the 2004 UK Tattersalls October Sale. Overall he now has 8 wins (also including 2008's Gr1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes over 12 furlongs at Belmont Park & Gr1 Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap over 12 furlongs at Saratoga, plus 2007's Gr1 Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap over 12 furlongs at Saratoga & 2006's French Listed Derby Du Midi over 2400m at Bordeaux) & 5 placings (including 2008's Listed Academy Award Stakes over 10 furlongs at Belmont Park, 2007's US Gr1 Man O'War Stakes over 11 furlongs at Belmont & both 2006's Gr1 Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap over 12 furlongs at Saratoga & French Gr3 Prix Noailles at Longchamp) from 22 starts for US$1,351,385 earnings.