(1st Aug 00)
AGNES WORLD two-time Group One winner in Europe
<1999 October & 2000 July>
As he did 14 months ago at Deauville, where he won Mourice de Gheest with less-fanciedSeeking The Pearl a week before fancied Taki Shuttle won Jacques le Marois, HideyukiMori sent his Agnes World, two-time track record setter in Japan, to G1/Prix Abbaye deLongchamp, a race on the same card as El Condor Pasa attemted to take the Arc.
Once again, Mori laughed at the winners' circle as his 8/1 fifth choice Agnes Worldcaptured the Group One, about 45 minutes before the second favorite El Condor Pasa wasnarrowly beaten in the Arc.
Following summer, Mori sent Agnes World to Newmarket, where he was given the leading roleas 4/1 favorite in G1/July Cup.
Agnes World enjoyed his new role and became the firstJapanese-trained horse to win the Group One race in England.
So far he is the only two-time winner of G1 race in Europe.
(1st Jan 00)
EL CONDOR PASA still remembered by everybody in Europe
<1999 through the year>
Takashi Watanabe's home-bred El Condro Pasa became well known world-widely as he won1998 G1/Japan Cup at 3 by 2 and half lengths, the widest margin in the race's history,and El Condor Pasa had the campaign in Europe throughout the year as he was 4.
After finishing second to Croco Rouge in G1/Prix Ispahan in May, El Condor Pasa wonG1/Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud very impressively, beating the highest copetitors includingFrench/Irish Derby winner Dream Well, Arc winner Sagamix, and Grosser Preis von Badenwinners Tiger Hill and Borgia.
However, his best performace had yet to come.
It was regarded by many poeple as one of the greatest battle in Europe's racing history,as Montjeu and El Condor Pasa fought through the homestretch of Longchamp in the 1999Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
El Condor Pasa just lost out to Montjeu by half a length,despite very heavy ground favoured the winner while El Condor Pasa had never experiencedsuch ground before.
At the end of year, El Condor Pasa was given official rating 134,the third highest weight of the year, after Montjeu and Daylami, both of whom weregiven 135.
