April Maiden Winners

FLAT

ESTIJLAA (F3), GB by Tamayuz ex Yanabeeaa (Street Cry)
Prix de la Fosse aux Biches (Maiden 3F, 1,600m), April 27, Chantilly

Owner : Hamdan Al Maktoum
Trainer : Freddy Head
Breeder : Shadwell
Rider : Christophe Soumillon

After 4 races at 2 and 3, and that many 2nds and 3rds, Estijlaa (Tamayuz) finally made it to the top for her 2nd trial this season by holding off without too much trouble Watayouna (Siyouni), who had followed her all the way outside the field.

Estijlaa's dam, Yanabeeaa (Street Cry) was bought by Shadwell $400,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sales and she won her 4th and final race in a handicap on Kempton's all-weather. Her first born by Cape Cross made €2,000 unraced at the Goffs Mixed sale in January 2017.

Yanabeeaa's dam Queen (Sadler’s Wells) is also the 2nd dam of a dual cxlassic winner in Kolkatta from the family of the Canadian International (Gr1) winner Infamy (Shirley Heights), and the good mares Innuendo (Caerleon) and Moon Queen (Sadler’s Wells).

Estiljaa is followed by a 2yo Pivotal filly.

BALTIC BARON (C3), IRE by Shamardal ex Born Wild (Sadler’s Wells)
Prix de l’Hermitage (Maiden 2C&G, 1,600m), April 27, Chantilly

Owner : Gestüt Ammerland
Trainer : André Fabre
Breeder : Gestüt Ammerland
Rider : Pierre-Charles Boudot

Baltic Baron (Shamardal) followed almost the same route than Estiljaa as he was racing for the 4th time when he won his first race here, for his second test this season, having not been out of the board once. However he seemed to have improved a lot as he went away to score by 3 1/2 lentghs in a couple of stride on this demanding Chantilly track, beating the front-running Myholydream (Holy Roman Emperor).

The winner's dam Born Wild (Sadler’s Wells) is out of the champion German mare Borgia (Acatenango), German Derby (Gr1), Grosser Preis von Baden (Gr1) and Hong Kong Vase winner for the very same Ammerland breeding operation set up by Dietrich von Boetticher. Winner of one only race, a handicap in England, Born Wild however folaed nice horses, especially the Qatar Prix Vermeille (Gr1) victress Baltic Baroness (Shamardal), a full sister to Baltic Baron.

Even when her offspring fails to reach that kind of goal, they manage to pull something off, like her own Baltic Best (King’s Best), winner of one race in Germany, who made £380,000 last year at  à Newmarket breeding sale in foal of Ito.

ONE LAST NIGHT (F3), IRE by Elusive Quality ex Danuta (Sunday Silence)
Prix Cricket Ball (3yo Maiden, 1,200m), April 25, Maisons-Laffitte

Owners : Carlos & Yann Lerner, Geraldine Ryan
Trainer : Carlos & Yann Lerner
Breeder : Mighty Universe Ltd
Rider : Fabrice Véron

One Last Night (Elusive Quality) first raced in June with apromising 4th place over 7 furlongs but wasn't seen again before this come back on her home track.

She followed the leading Taxman (Congrats) and took over just handily to stay on without letting Time to Fly (Wootton Bassett)reach her. the two debutantes in the field, 3rd-placed Richmond Avenue (Elusive Quality), who didn't start well, and the 5th-placed Captain’s Girl (Captain Marvelous both closed in well in the end. A winner of three races, One Last Night's US dam Danuta (Sunday Silence) gave Devotee (Elusive Quality), a UAE Oaks winner  (L) also Gr1-placed Stateside.

It's a rather interesting family and Devotee, now 11 and in foal to Slade Power, has just been sold for €30,000 at the Goffs Ireland November sale…

PEDRO STAR (C2), FRA by Pedro the Great ex Elywave (Gentlewave)
Prix Sylvan (2yo Maiden, 1,000m), April 25, Maisons-Laffitte

Owners : Didier Guillemin et Laurence Baudouin
Trainer : Didier Guillemin
Breeders : Serge Bouvier et Éric Georget
Rider : Alexandre Gavilan

An easy one for Pedro Star (Pedro the Great) for this 3rd outing, almost from start to finish as he always showed the way despite his tricky 9 stall. Traind by his co-owner Didier Guillemin, he never gave any chace to 2nd-placed Wind Test (Epaulette) while Opera Chop (Amadeus Wolf) did well in the nend to catch the 3rd place.

Pedro Star had finished 2nd for his debut at Bordeaux, then only 12th at La Teste, where he stumbled at the start.

Sold €8,000 to Didier Guillemin at the Osarus La Teste sale last year, when consigned by haras de Clairefontaine, Pedro Star has a Prix Robert Papin (Gr2) in his family, namely his 4th dam Vific. A tad closer to hipm stand shis dam, the maiden Elywave (Gentlewave), a sister to High Star (High Yield), who kept on going until he reached 10 last year, taking over €340,000 in purses and premiums, plus about €50 000 in breeders' Premiums although he never with a rating above 86.

ENCHANTING SKIES (F3), IRE by Sea the Stars ex Estefania (Acatenango)
Prix de Chaillot (Unraced 3F, 2,100m), April 24, ParisLongchamp

Owner : Mayfair Speculators
Trainer : André Fabre
Breeder : Gestüt Ebbesloh
Rider : Amélie Foulon

Ridden by Amélie Foulon, who hadn't ridden in paris for 2 years, Enchanting Skies (Sea the Stars) finally got the better of the leading My Sister Nat (Acclamation) and Envergure (Hurricane Run), who failed to stay on until the end.

Enchanting Skies has already made a break at the Baden-Baden sales as a yearling when she made €500,000 in 2016, when purchased by Mayfair Speculators, that is South-African owner Markus Jooste. The filly belongs to one of the best families in Germany, tarcing back to the champion mare Elle Danzig, a sister to her 2nd dam. The filly's dam Estefania (Acatenango) won a Listed and gave birth to Empoli (Halling), a Gr1 winner in Germany.

Main entries : The Gurkha Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) et Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1).

BUGLE MAJOR (C3), USA by Mizzen Mast ex Conference Call (Anabaa)
Prix Juigné (Unraced 3C&G, 2,100m), April 24, ParisLongchamp

Owner : Khalid Abdullah
Trainer : Pascal Bary
Breeder : Juddmonte Farms
Rider : Vincent Cheminaud

ToujoursAlways well placed in 4th, Bugle Major (Mizzen Mast) went inside the leading L’Ottoman (Silver Frost) at the open stretch while Hush Writer (Rulership), who had trailed the leading pair, had turned wide to launch his bid. However, Bugle Major took over a length and held on while Impulsif (New Approach) finished well in 3rd ahead of another pleasing debutant Attorney (Makfi).

Bugle Major won like his brother Teletext (Empire Maker) in this very race in 2014, before he finished 3rd in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1) won by Gallante. Teletext also finished 2nd in the Qatar Prix Niel (Gr2) the following season for his come back.

Bugle Major's sister by Candy Ride was sold $190,000 at Keeneland after a short racing career. Their dam Conference Call (Anabaa) finished 2nd in the Total Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr1) won by Zarkava.

Conference Call's 2nd dam is a sister to the great Danehill.

Principaux engagements : QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1), Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1).

INDEED (G3), GB by Showcasing ex Argumentative (Observatory)
Prix du Mont Cenis (Unraced 3C&G, 1,600m), April 19, ParisLongchamp

Owner : Khalid Abdullah
Trainer : Henri-François Devin
Breeder : Juddmonte Farms
Rider : Vincent Cheminaud

Almushref (Smart Strike) took the lead early and was first challenged by Orbaan (Invincible Spirit), then by Arriate (Shamardal) who went inside at the open stretct but couldn't keep up whil Orbaan, also dominating Arriate, was unable to hold off Indeed (Showcasing)'s finish, as the Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte bred gelding won by one and a hlaf negth over Orbaan.

Indeed was withdrawn from the Tattersalls February mixed sale and he showed how shrewd a move that was. A gelded brother to Critérium de Saint-Cloud (Gr1) winner Epicuris (Rail Link), who gave some trouble to his connections after that, Indeed is out of Argumentative (Observatory), a winner for her debut at 2, then twoce 3rd in Listed events at 3 before she was retired.

ZARKAMIYA (F3), FRA by Frankel ex Zarkava (Zamindar)
Prix de la Lancette (Unraced 3F, 1,600m), April 19, ParisLongchamp

Owner : S. A. Aga Khan
Trainer : Alain de Royer Dupré
Breeder : S. A. Aga Khan
Rider : Christophe Soumillon

The debut of the regally bred Zarkamiya (Frankel), the 6th foal out of the great Zarkava (Zamindar), hence a sister to Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Gr1) winner Zarak (Dubawi), but also to 4 unraced horses so far, was very much anticipated. She hols entries in The Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Gr1), The Gurkha Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) and the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1). Ridden backwards, she took her time to find momentum but from then on, the leading Xagère (Kendargent) was no match for Zarkamiya, who won by one length.

An Invincible Spirit colt and a Siyouni filly are in the wings for the next season, whi Zarkamiya has everything of a star in the making.

TROIS MÂTS (C2), FRA by Wootton Bassett ex Tricky Bid (Silver Hawk)
Prix Épinard (Unraced 2yos, 1,000m), April 17, Maisons-Laffitte

Owner : Theresa Marnane
Trainer : Matthieu Palussière
Breeder : Jan Krauze
Rider : Eddy Hardouin

Fast ahead on a holding ground in this delayed Maisons-Laffitte opening, Trois Mâts (Wootton Bassett) just held Kodiac Time (Society Rock), beaten a nose after a long and undecisive struggle.

The Matthieu Palussière-trained colt and her rival left their 10 rivals a legth and a half behind. Bred by ex-journalist Jan Krauze, who became a thoroughbred breeder in Normandy after covering the news from the Soviet block for the AFP and Le Monde, Trois Mâts went for sale last November and Con Marnane paid €18,000 to secure him.

Tweleve years earlier in 2005, Jan Krauze had bought Trois Mâts's dam, the American-bred Tricky Bid (Silver Hawk), twice a winner in Marseilles, for only €10,000 through bloodstock agent Crispin de Moubray. Tricky Bid has given birth to 7 foals since then, including Tricky Week (Sunday Break), a  Listed-placed now winning races in the French Antilles. Trois Mâts is Tricky Bid's 6th consecutive winner and she got her owner to net about €50,000 in breeders' Premiums on top of the sale of her foals.

VLATKA (F3), IRE by Dawn Approach ex Sotka (Dutch Art)
Prix Balbonella (Maiden 3F, 1,400m), April 17, Maisons-Laffitte

Owner : Alain Jathière
Trainer : Pia Brandt
Breeder : Zalim Bifov
Rider : Maxime Guyon

It was first time outthis season for Vlatka (Dawn Approach) who boldly held off a well finishing Vespera (Teofilo).

Last year, this Pia Brandt-trained filly started her career with a 4th place over 6 furlongs in Deauville behind Fou Rire and Polydream, then she failed after leading all the way on the straight course and she wasn't to be seen again in action after that.

Bought for €80,000 by Pia Brandt at the August 2016 Arqana sale, Vlatka is out of Sotka (Dutch Art), a winner at Maisons-Laffitte, also 2nd in the Prix des Rêves d’Or (L) at Vichy, and a sister to the top sprinter Sole Power (Kyllachy).

Sotka's first foal Fas (Fastnet Rock) was looking like a very promising 3yo sprinter last year when he won the Prix Sigy (gr3) like a champion but he never reproduced that form. Sotka has also foald a Kodiac filly also in training with Pia Brandt and another filly by No Nay Never bred in 2017.

ZAHA’S EYE (G3), FRA by Orpen ex Leni Riefenstahl (Mull of Kintyre)
Prix Good Luck (Maiden 3C&G, 1,400m), April 17, Maisons-Laffitte

Owners : Thoroughbred Bloodstock Agency & Gianluca Bietolini
Trainer : Gianluca Bietolini
Breeder : Razza Della Sila SRL
Rider : Ioritz Mendizabal

One of the two unraced 3yos in the race, even though he was already entered in October, Zaha’s Eye (Orpen) made it by four lengths from pillar to post, leaving the favourite Unplugged (Power) and the gelding Story of My Life (Siyouni) keep the remainder of the field away.

Zaha’s Eye younger brother, a yearling by Rio de la Plata, was unsold €3,000 in February at Arqana. Their dam Leni Riefenstahl (Mull of Kintyre) won five races in Italy and her own dam Rofan (Cozzene) gave birth to 9 winners out of 14 foals.

OKEEHEELEE (F3), (GB) by Dansili ex Oh Beautiful (Galileo)
Prix de la Piste Ronde (Unraced 3yos, 1,300m AW), April 13, Chantilly

Owner : George Strawbridge
Trainer : Freddy Head
Breeder : George Strawbridge
Rider : Aurélien Lemaître

Okeeheelee (Dansili) led all the way and was never challenged even though Zabrinka (Rajsaman) finsihged well at about 1 1/2 length.

The winner if Oh Beautiful (Galileo)'s 2nd foal. The dam won a Listed event and was 2nd in the Derby de l’Ouest (L) for the same connections. Her first foal, an Oasis Dream filly, has just been sold £50,000 at Tattersalls. There's also a 2yo Lope de Vega colt and a Kendargent filly.

Oh Beautiful's 2nd dam is Rahaam (Secreto), from whom also trace champion fillies Cassandra Go (Indian Ridge), Halfway to Heaven (Pivotal) and Rhododendron (Galileo), and a sire who did well in France, Verglas (Huighest Honor).

JULIAN ROCK (C3), FRA by Invincible Spirit ex Soneva (Cherokee Run)
Prix du Musée Carnavalet (Maiden, 3C&G, 1,600m), April 11, ParisLongchamp

Owner : Aleyrion Bloodstock
Trainer : David Smaga
Breeder : Aleyrion Bloodstock
Rider : Mickaël Barzalona

Beaten by Godolphin's Magny Cours (Medaglia d’Oro) by 3 lengths for their debut over the mile at Chantilly last season, Julian Rock (Invincible Spirit) came back in style to land his first race by 2 lengths over Baltic Baron (Shamardal), who took his lead in the open stretch and held on. Falcony (Soyouni), who'd gone by the winner ahead, stayed on while Al Adaid (Zoffany) finished well in 3rd.

Julian Rock's damSoneva (Cherokee) won the Prix d’Aumale (Gr3) at 2 and the Prix de Lieurey (Gr3) the following seaosn after failing in the French 1,000 Guineas. She wa strained by Yves de Nicolaÿ.

Her offspring did well at the sales but Julian Rock failed to make his reserved tag at €300,000 at the 2016 Arqana August sale. The fast Soneva also gave a 2yo by Siyouni.

Main entries : Abu Dhabi Poule d’Essai des Poulains (Gr1), QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1).

LA CANCHE (F3), FRA by Le Havre ex L’Authie (Linamix)
Prix du Musée Rodin (Maiden, 3F, 1,600m), April 8, ParisLongchamp

Owners : Patrick Fellous, Hugues Delloye, Alain Solal, Tony Clout
Trainer : Tony Clout
Breeders : Hugues Delloye, Alain Solal, Tony Clout
Rider : Tony Piccone

The first ever maiden race run at ParisLongchamp, the Prix du Musée Rodin went to La Canche (Le Havre) at her 6th trial, her first this season. 2nd for her debut in April last year, she was placed at every start at 2 over 1,000 to 1,600 metres trips.

This time however, the Tony Clout-trained filly proved irresistible as she went away to score by three lengths. her dam L’Authie (Linamix) was 3rd in the Prix Renaud du Vivier 4yo Hurdle (Gr1) at Auteuil and she's sister to the good stayer Cléty (Sillery). La Chance was bred by Hugues Delloye, Alain Solal and Tony Clout, who partenered withher main owner Patrick Fellous.

GALOUSKA (F3), FRA by Kentucky Dynamite ex Calia (Orpen)
Prix Nikellora (Unraced 3F, 1,600m), April 5, Saint-Cloud

Owner : Alain Louis-Dreyfus
Trainer : David Smaga
Breeder : Alain Louis-Dreyfus
Rider : Mickaëlle Michel

fast ahead, Galouska (Kentucky Dynamite) resisted all the way to a vindicative Hallucinante (Dubawi), only beaten a head after a long struggle while Saccharose (Exceed and Excel) remained third beating Much Loved (Masterstroke), who closed in from far behind. Galouska is owned by her breeder, Alain-Louis Dreyfus.

Her dam Calia (Orpen), winner of one race, was sold €5,000 € lst February at Arqana in foal to Anodin.

Galouska's sister by Makfi is also in training with David Smaga, and a colt by Anodin was born in 2017.

HOURTIN (G3), FRA by Lawman ex Alnamara (Linamix)
Prix Sica Boy (Unraced 3C&G, 1,600m), April 5, Saint-Cloud

Owner : Laghi France
Trainer : Pascal Bary
Breeder : Angeville Racing Club Ltd
Rider : Christophe Soumillon

A front-running Latinius (Kouroun) took his chance early on and although he was able to hold off Time To Fly (Wootton Bassett), there wasn't much left in the tank to resist Hourtin (Lawman), who scored handily by a good length. Hortzadar (Sepoy) also finished well to just fail near  Time To Fly for 3rd place.

Trained by Pascal Bary for Laghi France, Hourtin was bred in Calvados by Angeville Racing Club. Consigend by Haras du Cadran at the Arqana October yealrings sale in 2016, he was purchased for €90,000 by Pascal Bary. His younger sisters by Dalakhani and Exceed and Excel were sold respectively €65,000 and €50,000 at the Arqana breeding sales last Winter.

their dam Alnamara (Linamix) won a Listed event and also foaled Alnadana (Danehill Dancer), winner of the Prix Messidor (Gr3) for her breeder the Aga Khan. She has also foaled a Mastercraftsman colt born in 2017.

SEXY METRO (C2, main photo), FRA by Diamond Green ex Mindset (Vettori)
Prix du Premier Pas (Unraced 2yos, 1,000m), April 3, Chantilly

Owners : Écurie Jules Ouaki, Didier Guillemin, Mathieu Daguzan-Garros
Trainer : Didier Guillemin
Breeder : Mathieu Daguzan-Garros
Rider : Alexandre Gavilan

Five lengths between a flying Sexy Metro (Diamond Green) and his six rivals, Propose A Toast (Elusive City) showing the way 2 lengths ahead of the field.

Bred in Gers by Mathieu Daguzan-Garros, who still owns a part of him since the colt was withdrawn twice at the Arqana yearlings sale in October and December.

Sexy Metro's dam Mindset (Vettori) won once at Pau, and she foaled four winners including Mindsomer (Diamond Green), 4th in the Prix des Chênes (Gr3) and exported to Morocco, and Birdparker (Never On Sunday), third in the 4yo Grand Steeple at Cagnes (L).

HOMÉRIQUE (F3), USA by Exchange Rate ex Chiquita Picosa (Congaree)
Prix de Brunehaut (Maiden, 3F, 2,000m), April 3, Chantilly

Owner : Écurie de Montlahuc
Trainer : Francis Graffard
Breeder : Nicolas et François Drion
Rider : Cristian Demuro

A beginner in a hot maiden race, Homérique (Exchange Rate) regardless outclassed the field and won by eight lengths. Unold at $34,000 as a weanling at Keeneland, the greywas bought back again for £22,000 as a yearling at Newmarket, and was finally sold at Arqana breeze-up sales in May, for €75,000 to Broadhurst Agency (Laurent Benoît).

Her dam is a sister to Dubai Guineas and Oaks form the family at  White Moonstone (Dynaformer), une acquisition de Godolphin aux ventes américains qui s’imposa dans le Fillies’ Mile (Gr1) à 2 ans en 2010.

Principaux engagements : The Gurkha Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1)

NATURALLY HIGH (C3), FRA by Camelot ex Just Little (Grand Slam)
Prix du Pont du Roi (Maiden, 3C&G, 2,000m), April 3, Chantilly

Owner : Écurie Jean-Louis Bouchard
Trainer : Pascal Bary
Breeder : Oceanic Bloodstock et Ariane Gravereaux
Rider : Théo Bachelot

Easy catch for Naturally High (Camelot) who dominated El Manifico (High Chaparral) who he'd followed most of the way. It was the latter's third consecutive 2nd place ...

Naturally High also started his career last season but he'd run only twice, first finishing 9th behind champion juvenile Olmedo (Declaration of War) for their debut, then 2nd at Saint-Cloud, just beaten by Five Ice Cubes (Rip Van Winkle).

Consigned by Haras des Capucines at the Arqana August Sale in 2016, Naturally High was bought €160,000 by Gérard Larrieu (Chantilly Bloodstock) for famous French owner Jean-Louis Bouchard. He's a brother to Justwantacontact (Rock of Gibraltar), a Listed in Toulouse exported to Australia, and their Holy Roman Emperor sister was unsold at the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale last Winter.

Since Naturally High, the dam Just Little (Grand Slam), a Prix Vanteaux (Gr3) winner, foaled a 2yo filly by Siyouni and a Lope de Vega colt.

Main entries : QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1) et Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1).

AWAAMIR (C3), (IRE) by Dark Angel ex Sorcière (Orpen)
Prix des Cotes d’Orléans (Maiden 3yos, 1,200m), April 3, Chantilly

Owner : Hamdan Al Maktoum
Trainer : John Hammond
Breeder : Petra Bloodstock Agency Ltd
Rider : Ronan Thomas

2nd at Chantilly then 3rd at Fontainebleau last year over 6 furlongs, Awaamir (Dark Angel) fought hard to the line to edge Cabotin (Kendargent), whi also finished close to victory on a few occasions at 2.

Bred by Petra Bloodstock and sold at the 2016 Arqana August yearling sale, he was sold €150,000 to Shadwell, Hamdan Al Maktoum's breeding operation. His dam Sorcière (Orpen) foled a colt after him.

POLLARA (F3), IRE by Camelot ex Brooklyn’s Storm (Storm Cat)
Prix Sicarelle (Maiden, 3F, 2,400m), April 2, Saint-Cloud

Owner : Ilse Smits
Trainer : Francis Graffard
Breeder : Paget Bloodstock
Rider : Pierre-Charles Boudot

The unraced Pollara (Camelot) took over Lolldaiga (Teofilo) int he last furlong after followig the leading pair Allotria (Soldier Hollow) and Pure Elegance (Galileo). The Francis Graffard-trained filly won by 2 lengths while Lolldaiga was way ahead of the remaining runners.

Bred in Ireland by Paget Bloodstock, Pollara was sold £160,000 at Newmarket as a yearling to BBA Ireland. Sge now races for Ilse Smits, and her dam Brooklyn’s Storm (Storm Cat) had cost €70,000 at the Arqana 2011 Breeding sale, where Horse France Agency had bought her to Wertheimer&Frère. She'd won twice, for her debut in France and then for her last race at Bay Meadows in California. She had also given 4 folas to the Wertheimers, including Stormina (Gulch), a Listed winner Stateside and the dam of Silasol (Monsun), Total Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr1) and Pour Moi Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) winner.

Brooklyn’s Storm also foaled a 2yo filly by Camelot.

Main entries : Prix Pénélope (Gr3)

RABDAN (C3), (GB) by Frankel ex Shotgun Gulch (Thunder Gulch)
Prix Amour Drake (Maiden, 3C&G, 2,400m), April 2, Saint-Cloud

Owner : Al Shaqab Racing
Trainer : André Fabre
Breeder : Al Shaqab Racing
Rider : Grégory Benoist

The athletic Rabdan (Frankel) didn't leave much suspense developing here as he crushed the field to win by 9 kentghs over Ziyad (Rock of Gibraltar) … Trained by André Fabre, he had however never been a threat to Emerald Master (Mastercrafstman) for their common debut in October on an also heavy ground.

Rabdan is out of Shotgun Gulch (Thunder Gulch), a Group 1 winner in the USA purchased for $1.6m in 2012 at Keeneland in foal to Bernardini. The mare foled Watan, a 2yo by Toronado after that.

Main entries : QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1) et Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1).

JUMPS

SHAHINA DU BERLAIS (F3), (GB) by Saint des Saints ex Shanon du Berlais (Turgeon)
Prix Géographie (3F Beginners, Hurdle 3,000m), April 12, Auteuil

Owners : Pascal Magne, Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé, Catherine Pousin, Hubert Mauillon
Trainer : Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé
Breeders : Haras du Berlais et Catherine Pousin
Rider : Pierre Dubourg

While Thrilling (Network) led the whole race, Shahina du Berlais (Saint des Saints) took over in the run in to then hold off her rival. Good finish for the future of the 3rd-placed Lamarckise (Martaline) and the 4th-placed Foja (Masterstroke) ...

Trainer Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé swooped both those two 3yo beginners Hurdle races a few days after Beaumec de Houelle won the colts' one (see below).

Shahina du Berlais's dam Shanon du Berlais (Turgeon) has been sold in foal to Saint des Saints for €140,000 at Arqana to Highflyer Bloodstock. She's a sister to Madison du Berlais (Indian River) and Hilton du Berlais (Saint des Saints), both Group performers in France and England.

After Shahina, Shanon foaled another Saint des Saints filly and and a colt by Poliglote.

BEAUMEC DE HOUELLE (C3), (GB) by Martaline ex Zandalee (Trempolino)
Prix Grandak (3C&G Beginners, Hurdle 3,000m), April 7, Auteuil

Owner : Franck Leblanc
Trainer : Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé
Breeder : Franck Leblanc
Rider : Pierre Dubourg

Never far from the lead, Beaumec de Houelle (Martaline) came in the middle of the course to defeat Adjali (Kamsin) for trainer Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé and owner Franck Leblanc, a famous trotting trainer who also bred the colt. Leblanc bought the dam, Zandalee (Trempolino), winner of 4 races over jumps for owner Guy Pariente and trainer Yannick Fouin, for €20,000 at the 2013 Arqana breeding sale.

Since then, Zandalee foaled a 2yo filly by Poliglote and a Martaline colt.