December 2020 Maiden Winners

ALLEZ BURROWS (f2), FRA by Goken ex See Your Dream (Siyouni)

€22,000 Prix du Chantier Naval (Maiden 2-year-olds, 1,300m/6.5f AWT), December 27, Deauville

• Owner: Julie Morgan (€11,000 in prizemoney + Frenchbred, €5,940 provision on 60% Owners' Premiums)
• Trainer: Henri-Alex Pantall
• Breeder: Julie Morgan (€2,202 in Breeders'Premiums - French sire, 13%)
• Rider: Vincent Cheminaud

Too keen for her debut in November at Chantilly, when she finished third over the same distance, Allez Burrows (Goken) this time was able to take the lead without burning too much gasoline and she overcame without difficulty to win by a good length at the expense of Tess (Elusive City), who travelled alongside from the start. The favourite Shalgoda Diamond (Bated Breath) finished very close in front of the other defeated.

Go Burrows' dam, See Your Dream (Siyouni), was bought for € 18,000 at the Arqana mixed sales in February 2016 by bloodstock agent Guy Petit. She had won two races at 2 and then failed at the top level at the start of the 3-year-old to finally compete in two claiming races without changing owners.

Go Burrows is her second foal after a double handicap winner on all-weather across the Channel (now rated 75lbs), and before a Dabirsim colt born in 2019, then an Ultra filly ...

SHALLGOUDA AGAIN (f3), USA by More Than Ready ex Again (Unbridled’s Song)

€20,000 Prix de Roiville (Maiden 3-year-olds, 1,500m/7.5f AWT), December 27, Deauville

• Owner: Elbashir Salem ab Elhari (€10,000 prizemoney - US-bred: no Owners' Premium)
• Trainer: Romain Le Dren Doleuze
• Breeder: Machmer Hall (US-bred: no Breeders' Premium)
• Rider: Quentin Perrette

Eighth for her debut in a class 2 race over 7.5f in August at Deauville, and on the all-weather, Shallgouda Again (More than Ready) went only after that in a maiden race, finishing second at Pornichet over 8.5f after leading all the way until the last hundred yards or so. Again on all-weather, but this time at Chantilly, she let the victory slip away again, and even the second place over this mile race, finally hampering a challenger when she veering sharply from the rail in the final phase.

This time, the filly travelled in the front row with Twilight's Baby (Tai Chi) and was pushed away out of the bend to make the difference and win by three and a half lengths over the good finisher Hooton (Wootton Bassett ), with Twilight's Baby third at a good length.

Bred in the USA, Shallgouda Again was unsold as a weanling at $ 55,000 at Keeneland, then the following year at Ocala, and at 2 years old at Fasig-Tipton… Her second dam Shine Again (Wild Again) won a Group 1 in the States -United.

ANY TIME SOON (F2), IRE by Camelot ex Aquarelliste (Danehill)

Prix du Jardin (Maiden 2-year-old fillies, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), December 21, Chantilly

• Owner: Ballymore Thoroughbred
• Trainer: André Fabre
• Breeder: Dayton Investments
• Rider: Augustin Madamet

One of the six beginners in this 17 maiden fillies contest, Any Time Soon (Camelot) was nevertheless the favourite, probably because of her royal pedigree, since she is by the classic Camelot and the no less classic Aquarelliste (Danehill), of which she is the fourteenth foal! In retrospect, the winner of the Prix de Diane 2001 - the race was still sponsored by Hermès! - will never have produced her equal on the racecourse, the best of which Ame Bleue (Dubawi) nevertheless finished second in the Prix Jean Romanet (Gr1).

Any Time Soon, her latest, if not last, foal, however, showed something interesting for these victorious debuts because, rising from far back, she had to make a lot of ground with her apprentice to catch Our Fast Lady (Fast Company), who has long looked like the winner to finally concede a small length by the post.

BOBBYMURPHY (c2), FRA by Intello ex Galaxie des Sables (Marchand de Sable)

€22,000 Prix de l’Ancien Potager (Maiden 2-year-old colts & geldings, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), December 21, Chantilly

• Owners: Mbaye Niang & Scuderia Il Fino (€11,000 in prizemoney + Frenchbred, €5,940 provision on 60% Owners' Premiums)
• Trainer: Frédéric Rossi
• Breeder: Haras d’Haspel (€2,202 in Breeders'Premiums - French sire, 13%)
• Rider: Franck Blondel

Second for his debut on Marseille-Borély's turf in November, Bobbymurphy (Intello) took immediate revenge on Chantilly's all-weather. With his 1 draw, he was able to keep a good place despite a sluggish start. He was the favourite and travelled in fourth after a runaway had taken off,  whom he eventually caught at the furlong pole to win easily by three and a half lengths ahead of Gogopro (Sea the Moon), who finished well. Most front runners had given in.

Bobbymurphy was sold for € 58,000 at the breeze-up sales to MAB Agency (Marc-Antoine Berghgracht) for football player Mbaye Niang and his partners. Last October, the colt's brother by Dariyan was unsold at € 28,000 in Deauville. Their dam Galaxie des Sables (Marchand de Sable) was placed in the Prix Imprudence (L), a French 1,000 Guineas prep race, and hails from a family which gave many good jumpers.

SKY ANGEL (f2), IRE by Dark Angel ex Mayhem (Whipper)

€ 22,000 Prix d’Epreville (Maiden 2-year-old fillies, 1,500m/7.5f AWT), December 19, Deauville

• Owner: Godolphin (€11,000 prizemoney, Irishbred - no Owners' Premium)
• Trainer: Henri-Alex Pantall
• Breeder: C-Squared Investments (Irishbred - no Breeders' Premium)
• Rider: Mickaël Barzalona

After four winless attempts with Charlie Appleby, including the second place in a handicap in August at Newmarket, Sky Angel (Dark Angel) moved to Henri-Alex Pantall in the West of France and won here for her French debut, but also her first trial on an all-weather track. Having started well with her 4 draw, she travelled by the rail while Amy C (Charming Thought) was leading outside of her. The latter never let go but could never take the lead again. She finished second at half a length. The favourite Evereste (Dabirsim) finished fourth, coming from too far with her 13 draw.

Sky Angel is out of Mayhem (Whipper). She was sold for € 800,000 at the Arqana yearling sales in 2019. Her sister Donnybrook (Invincible Spirit), bought € 900,000 at the same venue, also to Godolphin, was sold again for £ 240,000 last November at Newmarket after winning a race on heavy ground in Britain. The buyer was Knocktoran Stud, the stud run by Brendan and Anne-Marie Hayes, for whom Mayhem had raced.

COLONEL FAULKNER (c2), (IRE) by Wootton Bassett ex Kortoba (Distorted Humor)

€ 22,000 Prix de Martainville (Maiden 2-year-old colts & geldings, 1,500m/7.5f AWT), December 19, Deauville

• Owner: William Nash (€11,000 in prizemoney + Irish-born, Frenchbred, €5,940 provision on 60% Owners' Premiums)
• Trainer: Ambrose Watson
• Breeder: Al Shahania Stud (€2,202 in Breeders'Premiums - French sire, 13%)
• Rider: Hollie Doyle

Second at Doncaster on soft ground then third on the Newcastle all-weather, Colonel Faulkner (Wootton Bassett) opened his account in France with Hollie Doyle on board. The woman jockey pushed him early to take the lead and she also rode him early in the bend to make sure he wouldn't idle, supposedly. A wise precaution since Juan Seguin (Invincible Spirit), who had lost a lot of time to move out in the home stretch and could only bet into it one out, finished fast but still two lengths short. The fifth-placed Mysterious Land (Territories) finished well in fifth, too.

Colonel Faulkner was bought for € 33,000 at the Osarus yearling sales, then sold again £ 70,000 at the Goffs breeze-up sales in England last July. His brother by Make Believe made € 22,000 at Arqana in October. The family comes from Argentina, as the dam Kortoba (Distorted Humor) was bought for $ 200,000 as a yearling at Keeneland in the USA, where she was born. Trained by Francis Graffard, she then won the Prix Yacowlef (L). She was sold for € 40,000 at the Arqana breeding sales in December 2019, in foal to Highland Reel.

WISHUPONASTAR (c3), GB by Mukhadram ex White and Red (Orpen)

€ 20,000 Prix de Mirande – 2nd lot (Maiden 3-year-olds, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), December 17, Deauville

• Owner: Byerley Stable (€10,000 prizemoney, UK-bred - no Owners' Premium)
• Trainer: Andreas Suborics
• Breeder: Thurso Limited (UK-bred - no Breeders' Premium)
• Rider: Anthony Crastus

It was the tenth attempt by Wishuponastar (Mukhadram), who first raced five times at home in Germany starting in May, taking the second place twice, then four times in France, including two at Class 1 level, where he took a second place again, before finally winning here. Quickly out in front with Alikova (Galileo), he took over going off the bend and beat Sacred Belief (Muhaarar) by three lengths without being thoroughly challenged.

The winner was sold as a weanling in England, where he was bred, for £ 11,000, then bought back for € 40,000 as a yearling at the Baden-Baden sales. He is a brother of the good Vintager (Mastercraftsman), winner of the German Two Thousand Guineas (Gr2).

JAMILYA (f3), FRA by Kingman ex Jane Eyre (Sadler’s Wells)

€ 20,000 Prix de Mirande - 1st lot (Maiden 3-year-olds, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), December 17, Deauville

• Owner: Rashit Shaykhutdinov (€10,000 in prizemoney + Frenchbred, €5,400 provision on 60% Owners' Premiums)
• Trainer: Fabrice Chappet
• Breeder: Rashit Shaykhutdinov (€1,309 in Breeders'Premiums - Non-French sire, 8.5%)
• Rider: Stéphane Pasquier

It was Jamilya (Kingman)'s 6th attempt. She'd already finished second three times since making her debut in March when beaten by a nose. However, she kept going all season as she ran every two months until the Autumn. It was indeed his third race since October 8th. She nevertheless clearly dominated here after a good start and a smooth run behind the leaders. The beginning gelding Relocate (Galileo) finished well in second place, five and a half lengths behind.

Jamilya, who was withdrawn at the Deauville yearling sales, is the fourth foal out of Jane Eyre (Sadler’s Wells), whose dam is the German champion mare Albanova (Alzao), herself from a family of champions. Bought by Coolmore as a yearling at Goffs for €2.4m, she failed on her only attempt, on the Dundalk all-weather track. Sold for £ 700,000 in foal to Sea the Stars in December 2011. Her first foal, by the same sire, was born two years later, in 2013. It was a filly who failed to win for André Fabre on three occasions.

Jane Eyre then gave an Oasis Dream filly who did not run, another filly, by Invincible Spirit, who won once, for her debut at Cagnes, then Jamilya ... Her first colt, by Siyouni, sold for £ 300,000 in 2019 at Newmarket to Shadwell, failed three times this year ...

DARENNDI (c3), FRA by Poet’s Voice ex Darannda (Invincible Spirit)

€19,000 Prix de Précolette (Maiden 3-year-olds, 2,500m/12.5f AWT), December 12, Deauville

• Owner: Olivier Chauchart du Mottay (€9,500 in prizemoney + Frenchbred, €5,130 provision on 60% Owners' Premiums)
• Trainer: Alain de Royer Dupré
• Breeder: HH Aga Khan (€1,243 in Breeders'Premiums - Foreign sire, 8.5%)
• Rider : Nicolas Larenaudie

This was only Darenndi (Poet’s Voice)'s second outing, but also his first since moving from his breeder the Aga Khan to Olivier Chauchart du Mottay. The colt remained in training with Alain de Royer Dupré after being sold for € 28,000 at the Deauville sales.

It long looked as if the pacemaker Baden Rocks (Champs Elysees) was going to stay out of reach but after travelling in four or fifth position, Darenndi accelerated in the last furlong to take over his opponent and easily win by almost two lengths, even though the second-placed was much more seasoned.

Darenndi's dam Darannda (Invincible Spirit) was twice sixth. At stud, she first foaled Darenndi, then a Vadamos filly bred by Haras de Montaigu, who acquired the mare in December 2017 at Arqana, and who only ran once, without success, in Senonnes. A Wind of Eagles filly and a Pedro the Great colt born in 2020 follow.

JOIE DU SOIR (f2), IRE by Fastnet Rock ex Highest Ever (Galileo)

€22,000 Prix du Grand Chesnay 2^nd lot (Unraced 2-year-old fillies, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), December 12, Deauville

• Owners: Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith & Michael Tabor (€11,000 prizemoney, Irishbred - no Owners' Premium)
• Trainer: André Fabre
• Breeder: Coolmore Stud (Irishbred - no Breeders' Premium)
• Rider: Hugo Besnier

After a good start with the 1 draw, Joie du Soir (Fastnet Rock) let hersled slip away by the rail, as Famous Charlie (Myboycharlie) took the lead with Tatjana (Territories) by her side. These last two were going to fight with each other in the homestretch but they were soon to ne outclassed by the winning filly, who took over to score by half a length, helped in her task by the allowance of her apprentice rider.

Joie du Soir is a sister to the good Villa d'Amore (Mastercraftsman), who was just sold for £ 290,000 at the Newmarket sales in foal to Siyouni. She won only one race at 3, but was placed several times at group level for the same connections as Joie du Soir.

Their dam Highest Ever (Galileo) was sold for one million euros at the Deauville sales by Ecurie des Monceaux, but she was never able to race. She comes straight from a great family as she is out of Alpine Rose (Linamix), Group 1 winner and sister of Group winners.

FORT PAYNE (m2), FRA par Rio de la Plata et Lady Verde (Meshaheer)

€22,000 Prix de la Gagnerie (Unraced 2-year-old colts & geldings, 9.5f AWT), December 12, Deauville

• Owners: Mrs Philippe Demercastel & Nicolas Caullery (€11,000 in prizemoney + Frenchbred, €5,940 provision on 60% Owners' Premiums)
• Trainer: Nicolas Caullery
• Breeder: Mme Philippe Demercastel (€2,202 in Breeders'Premiums - French sire, 13%)
• Rider: Thomas Trullier

Fort Payne (Rio de la Plata) led the race from the first turn and bravely kept off all challenges to win by a length in front of Bernouville (Le Havre) and his stablemate Longvillers (Le Havre), who attacked the winner earlier in the home stretch but gave way in the end, beaten over a length for the 2nd place.

Fort Payne is owned by his breeder, the wife of former trainer Philippe Demercastel and the colt's actual handler Nicolas Caullery. His dam Lady Verde (Meshaheer) was sold for € 1,000 in foal to Martinborough at Deauville in 2019. His second dam is a sister of the champion Kendor, and an aunt of the good Hightori and Vatori.

SWEET BETSY (f2), FRA by Lawman ex My Wish (Galileo)

€22,000 Prix du Grand Chesnay 1st lot (Unraced 2-year-old fillies, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), December 12, Deauville

• Owner: David Thorpe, Adrian Pratt & Lord Clinton (€11,000 in prizemoney + Frenchbred, €5,940 provision on 60% Owners' Premiums)
• Trainer: Stéphane Wattel
• Breeder: Haras Bonne Chance (€1,439 in Breeders'Premiums - Foreign sire, 8.5%)
• Rider: Théo Bachelot

Already ridden in the bend after travelling in the field, Sweet Betsy (Lawman) nevertheless continued to make progress in the home stretch and took three lengths in the last hundred yards over her stablemate Morisot ( Manduro), also trained on the racecourse by Stéphane Wattel. Izana Béré (Peer Gynt) finished third at almost two lengths.

The filly - whose name, as a Lawman's foal, was that of Betsy Johnson, a woman judge in New Mexico at the end of the 19th century - was bought for €28,000 by Pierre Boulard at the Deauville sales. Her weanling sister by Bated Breath reached €30,000 this year at the Newmarket sales. Their dam My Wish (Galileo) won a handicap in the Autumne at 3 over 1m1/2, but her dam Mona Lisa (Giant's Causeway) won a Listed and finished second in the Prix de l'Opéra (Gr1), and all this little World goes back to Reprocolor, fourth dam of Sweet Betsy and dam of Colorspin, who gave the champions Kayf Tara, Opera House and Zee Zee Top.

STAR OF INDIA (f2), FRA by Muhaarar ex Special Gift (New Approach)

€22,000 Prix de Lexington (Unraced 2-year-old fillies, 1,500m/7.5f AWT), December 11, Deauville

• Owner: Écurie Skymarc Farm (€11,000 in prizemoney + Frenchbred, €5,940 provision on 60% Owners' Premiums)
• Trainer: Stéphane Wattel
• Breeders: Écurie des Monceaux, Lordship Stud, Écurie Skymarc Farm & Beauregard Bloodstock (€1,439 in Breeders'Premiums - Foreign sire, 8.5%)
• Rider: Maxime Guyon

Easy victory, by three lengths, for Star of India (Muhaarar), who came close without a hitch in mid-stretch and dominated without any challenge. The second-placed Shalgoda Diamond (Bated Breath) finished ahead of a promising Hard Headed Woman (Muhaarar), third at two lengths in a pleasant final dash.

Sold € 50,000 at the Arqana October sales to one of her breeders, Chryss O'Reilly's Skymarc Farm, Star of India has got a Siyouni sister sold by Arqana last September for € 290,000 to trainer Yann Barberot and named Licorne. A Harry Angel filly follows.

BREIZH EAGLE (c2), FRA by Bow Creek ex Breizh Touch (Country Reel)

€22,000 Prix de Kildare (Unraced 2-year-old colts & geldings, 1,500m/7.5f AWT), December 11, Deauville

• Owners: Mrs Roland Perron & Haras des Évées (€11,000 in prizemoney + Frenchbred, €5,940 provision on 60% Owners' Premiums)
• Trainer: Joël Boisnard
• Breeders: Haras des Évées & Daniel Cherdo (€2,202 in Breeders'Premiums - French sire, 13%)
• Rider: Alexandre Roussel

Entered twice in July at Senonnes and Nantes, Breizh Eagle (Bow Creek) went off the radar for five months and he came back here with a spectacular all-weather win. Checked in the rear early on, he came closer in the middle of the track three hundred yards from home and won by three and a half lengths, beating Hallowed Time (Hallowed Crown) by two and a half lengths, and the favourite Verderon (Lope de Vega), who will undoubtedly improve a lot on that.

The winner's dam Breizh Touch (Country Reel) won five races in the West for the same connections. Her first offspring, Breizhou (Evasive), won three consecutive handicaps in the winter of 18-19 at Pau, climbing 22lbs on the scale of weights. His younger brother Bopedro (Pedro the Great) won two races before being sold for € 205,000 at the Arqana Arc sale in 2018, and went to various fortunes in Ireland and the Emirates. . He remains on two failures for his latest trainer, Jessica Harrington.

After Breizh Eagle, Breizh Touch gave a filly by Herald the Dawn born in 2019, then a Dabirsim colt born this year.

PASSEFONTAINE (F3), FRA by Wootton Bassett ex Perpetual Glory (Dansili)

€20,000 Prix Magdelene (Maiden 3-year-olds, 1,600m/1m AWT), December 8, Chantilly

• Owners: Écurie Noël Forgeard, Myriam Bollack-Badel & Pierre Bonnier (€10,000 in prizemoney + Frenchbred, €5,400 provision on 60% Owners' Premiums)
• Trainer: Myriam Bollack-Badel 
• Breeders: Myriam Bollack-Badel, Noël Forgeard & Pierre Lamy (€2,002 in Breeders'Premiums - French sire, 13%)
• Rider: Stéphane Pasquier

Entered in the Prix Saint-Alary and the Prix de Diane, third for her debut in February on this same all-weather course and distance, less than a length behind fillies who won and placed at Listed level immediately after, Passefontaine herself finished second in a black-type race contested over Deauville All-weather track's 9.5 furlong-trip. Seventh in the Prix Vanteaux (Gr3) in her next outing, she was again well beaten (9th) at Listed level afterwards and did not reappear until this maiden race, seven months later.

Having started well with her 1 draw, Passefontaine let herself be taken over and waited until the homestretch close to the pace. Gradually shifted towards the middle of the track, she made her move two out and won surely to beat the second-placed Rondo (Twirling) by a good length, the latter finishing well to beat Navidad (Kendargent).

Passefontaine was withdrawn from Arqana's October 2018 sales. Her rather misnamed dam Perpetual Glory (Dansili) finished twelfth in her only outing, at 2 years old at Newmarket. She was bought for £ 11,500 at Tattersalls Breeding Sales at 3 carrying to Foxwedge, which gave birth to her first of six foals. Besides Passefontaine, she gave two winners, a filly soon to be 3 by Myboycharlie still unrace, and a Toronado colt born in 2019. Both are also in training with their co-breeder, Myriam Bollack-Badel.

Passefontaine’s fourth dam is none other than Kerali (High Line), also dam of Hasili (Kahyasi), dam of Dansili, Banks Hill, Intercontinental, etc.

PETIT CALVADOS (f2), IRE by Equiano ex Apple Spirit (Lemon Drop Kid)

€22,000 Prix de l’Hôtellerie (Maiden 2-year-olds, 1,300m/6.5f AWT), December 1st, Deauville

• Owners: Frank Cosgrove & Melissa O’Neill (€11,000 prizemoney, Irishbred - no Owners' Premium)
• Trainer: Eoghan O’Neill
• Breeder: Brid Cosgrove (Irishbred - no Breeders' Premium)
• Rider: Aurélien Lemaître

fast ahead and well placed outside the front-runner, Petit Calvados (Equiano) first resisted the attack of Live (Outstrip), who had had to turn wide outside the whole field, then she stayed on to win by a length over Gunma (Literato), who had travelled in sixth after a busy start, on her way to the first and only bend.

It was a second outing for Petit Calvados, fourth on her October debut on the heavy Chantilly course behind Suesa, who is now a Listed winner and whom she challenged early in the final stages only to give in in the last 100 yards.

Petit Calvados was bought back by her breeders at Goffs for € 2,200, but her El Kabeir sister reached € 33,000 at the same sales this year. It's a very lively family full of minor Group winners, but the fourth dam is none other than the classic winner Al Bahathri, dam of stallions Haafhd and Munir, whose name inspired that of a synthetic training track built at Newmarket by the owner of the champion filly, Hamdan Al Maktoum.