December maiden winners

MILLE SABORDS (C2), (IRE) by Le Havre ex Perfect Day (Holy Roman Emperor)
Prix de la Route Papillon (2yo Maiden, 1,300m AWT), December 26, Chantilly

Owner :  Hervé Roux, Marie-Louise Ricard, Micheline Vidal, Robert Collet, Bertrand Roux
Trainer : Robert Collet
Breeder : Écurie Skymarc Farm, Écurie des Charmes
Rider : Léa Bails

Nice ride from female rider Léa Bails who stalked the favourite Realityhacking (Bungle Inthejungle) with Mille Sabords (Le Havre) and took over for good in the final 100 yards as 2^nd placed Grace Spirit (Invincible Spirit) finished well, just ahead of a closing fast beginner Gardol Man (Dandy Man).

It was a 4th test for Mille Sabords, a first with Léa Bails and over a distance shorter than the mile.

Mille Sabords cost €80,000 to trainer Robert Collet at Arqana August 2017 sale. His Acclamation sister was sold €45,000 as a weanling at the Deauville latest breeding sale. A Lope de Vega 2yo is in training with Fabrice Vermeulen.

Their dam Perfect Day (Holy Roman Emperor) couldn’t get placed in six attempts but she’s out of the classic filly Yesterday (Sadler’s Wells), an Irish Guineas (Gr1) winner, also 2^nd in the Oaks (Gr1), the Vermeille (Gr1) and the Opéra (Gr1) who proved rather disappointing at stud compared to her sister Quarter Moon (Sadler’s Wells), also a Gr1 winner but at 2.

HARBOUR SPIRIT (G2), FRA by Charm Spirit ex Save Me The Waltz (Halling)
Prix de Martainville (Maiden 2yo colts and geldings, 1,500m AWT), December 18, Deauville

Owner :  The Heffer Syndicate
Trainer : Richard Hughes
Breeder : Haras d’Etreham, Riviera Equine
Rider : Pierre-Charles Boudot

Third for his debut at Ascot over 6 furlongs and then 2^nd at Deauville last Summer over the same distance, Harbour Spirit (Charm Spirit) returned on both racecourses without success and was extended to a short mile for his 3^rd trial in Normandy. Trained by Richard Hughes in Britain he went to the fore with another British-trained raider Sassoon (Poet’s Voice) following him along with Montfiquet (Le Havre). Harbour Spirit moved first though and immediately took a few lengths that he spared to resist Sassoon and Montfiquet, both finishing well however.

Gelded in the Autumn, Harbour Spirit had cost €50,000 at the Arqana breeze up sales in May but his unraced sister was paid only €6,000 at the breeding sale earlier in December. Their dam Save Me The Waltz (Halling) won once and gave one winner to date, Dealbata (Dubawi), a Listed in the States and in France. A Kendargent colt is born in 2017.

One will note that both the maiden races Harbour Spirit ran at Ascot were worth €13,800 and €7,455 to the winner while all his French maidens offered €13,500 to the winner, with €7,300 added in owners’ Premiums for this Frenchbred colt.

OLYMPE (F2), FRA by Charm Spirit ex Naissance Royale (Giant’s Causeway)
Prix d’Epreville (Maiden 2yo fillies, 1,500m AWT), December 18, Deauville

Owner : Haras Voltaire
Trainer : Jean-Claude Rouget
Breeder : Écurie des Monceaux
Rider : Christophe Soumillon

Second in the Prix de la Reboursière for his debut on August 21st at Deauville, Olympe (Charm Spirit) failed in ParisLongchamp and then at Clairefontaine before winning over Deauville’s PSF. She started well from stall 1 but let Glad Memory (Medicean) take over and never had to move from the rail to find the gap as the leader veered to his left entering the last straight. She was out of reach before a fast finishing 2^ndTifosa (Kodiac) could pick up.

Sold €130,000 to MAB Agency (Marc-Antoine Berghgracht) at the Arqana August 2017 sale, Olympe is out of Naissance Royale (Giant’s Causeway), a Gr2 winner in the States after winning the Prix Vanteaux (Gr3) in France, the dam of a winning Jadhaba (Galileo), and of a Galileo filly sold €600,000 to Narvick International (Emmanuel de Seroux) last august in Deauville. A Shalaa filly was born after her …

GRAND GLORY (F2), (GB) by Olympic Glory ex Madonna Lily (Daylami)
Prix de la Gagnerie (Unraced 2yo fillies, 1,900m AW), December 16, Deauville

Owner :  Bartolo Faraci
Trainer : Gianluca Bietolini
Breeder : Élevage Haras de Bourgeauville
Rider : Stéphane Pasquier

Grand Glory (Olympic Glory) took an early lead but was ridden entering the last straight to try and make a difference before anyone could reach him, which proved decisive as Lady Hippolyta (Sommerabend) closed fast to lose by less than a length with Grand Glory seeming a bit lost on his own.

Grand Glory was paid €18,000 at Arqana and his Toronado brother couldn’t reach €16,000 last October at the same venue. Their dam Madonna Lily (Daylami) never won but she’s a sister to Minakshi (Footstepsinthesand), a Gr2 winner in Canada. Their brother Marble Garden (Royal Academy) won a Listed at Auteuil.

GOYA SENORA (C2), FRA by Anodin ex Nina Senora (My Risk)
Prix du Grand Chesnay (Unraced 2yo colts and geldings, 1,900m AWT), December 15, Deauville

Owner : Écurie Haras des Senora
Trauner : Yann Barberot
Breeder : Écurie Haras des Senora
Rider : Jérôme Cabre

A rather clean win for Goya Senora (Anodin) who followed the leaders and made his move in good time to leave Trouville (Le Havre) and Deacon (Dansili) two lengths behind as Camprond (Lope de Vega) was finishing well to end up 4th…

Goya Senora is out of Nina Senora (My Risk), winner of three handicaps rathed less than 65, and the dam of 4 foals with Goya born in 2nd, followed by two fillies by Anodin.

SILVA (F2), IRE by Kodiac ex Sotka (Dutch Art)
Prix de la Hauquerie 1st lot (Maiden 2yo fillies, 1,900m AWT), December 14, Deauville

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

Twice 5^th at Chantilly over 6 and 8 furlongs, Silva (Kodiac) seemed to relish the extended trip as she seemed outpaced one furlong out with the leading Pleasant Hope (Motivator) apparently gone for the best. Yet she stayed on along Ababeel (Dansili), and accelerated again to reach Pleasant Hope and hold off Ababeel, only beaten a short neck.

Silva is a sister to the fast Fas (Fastnet Rock), who proved rather disappointing after looking like an outstanding spinting prospect in the spring of 2017. Second in the Prix des Rêves d’Or (L), Sotka (Dutch Art), Silva’s dam, is herself a sister to the sprinting champ Sole Power (Kyllachy), five times a Gr1 winner in Britain and Dubai, also a Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (Gr1) third.

A No Nay Never filly and a Kingman colt are to follow…

MALEVRA (F2), FRA by Le Havre ex Marania (Marju)
Prix de la Hauquerie 2^nd lot (Maiden 2yo fillies, 1,900m AWT), December 14, Deauville

Owner :  Genets Srl et A. & G. Botti
Trainer :  A. & G. Botti
Breeder :  Az. Ag. Valdirone Lualdi Lucia
Rider : Pierre Bazire

The front-running Malevra (Le Havre) took off about two out and left a group of fillies argue for the leftovers two lengths and more behind her. It was her 3rd trip, a first on all-weather though, and the first time she eventually made the frame.

Returned at €55,000 at Arqana October 2017 yearling sale, Malevra is the 7th foal out of Marania (Marju), and her third winner after first foal Moonlife (Invincible Spirit), a Listed-winner over Lingfield’s All-Weather mile. Godolphin put her in the Goffs November sale in 2017 but she never went to the ring. Her youngest filly to date, by Charm Spirit, was born in 2017.

INCITATUS (C3), FRA by Anodin ex Narva (Grand Slam)
Prix du Pont de la Pierre (Maiden 2yo colts and geldings, 1,900m AWT), December 14, Deauville

Owner :  Écurie Philippe Segalot
Trainer : Jean-Claude Rouget
Breeder : Écurie du Grand-Chêne
Rider : Christophe Soumillon

Incitatus (Anodin) ran four times since his debut at Deauville in August and finally won after a two-months hiatus for his first trial over AWT. He was also fitted with blinkers for the first time. He started well enough outside with his 15 draw and this representative of Écurie Philippe Ségalot took the lead before Hodeng (Cape Cross) came by to take over soon thereafter. Turning into the home straight, Christophe Soumillon let Incitatus veer outside as he was pretty confident the race was in the bag, but Hodeng proved to be a tougher nut to crack than anticipated and only obliged by a neck with the three pounds allowance due to his female rider Coralie Pacault.

Incitatus is out of US-bred Narva (Grand Slam) who went twice on Deauville’s ring, as a weanling when she made €40,000, and as a yearling when sold €150,000 to her trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. Her Requinto brother was sold at Goffs in England last Summer for £65,000to trainer Karl Burke. That yearling is a full brother to Mojito (Requinto), four times a winner in Britain last year.

ANN VAN KLEEF (F2), GB by Siyouni ex How High the Sky (Danehill Dancer)
Prix du Temple de Vénus (Unraced 2yo fillies, 1,500m AWT), December 13, Chantilly

Owner :  Jan Romel
Trainer : Jean-Claude Rouget
Breeders : Whatton Manor Stud et Robert Cornelius
Rider : Christophe Soumillon

An easy win for Ann van Kleef (Siyouni) who simply outclassed her rivals at the furlong pole to score by over 2 lentghs, beating Reine de Vitesse (Wootton Bassett), a nice closer from the rear guard.

Ann van Kleef was paid £100,000 at Tattersalls, and her Rip Van Winkle 4yo sister is for sale at Keeneland. Their dam How High in the Sky (Danehill Dancer) never ran. She is however out of Hint of Silver (Alysheba), like High Rock (Rock of Gibraltar), a Prix La Force (Gr3) and Prix de Condé (Gr3) winner. The former is a French Derby prep and the latter is a last gasp Autumne juvenile gig. Hint of Silver is also the 2^nd dam of  classic winner Silver Frost (Verglas), a French 2,000 Guineas (Gr1) winner, and of the well-seasoned Spiritjim (Galileo), winner of the Grand Prix de Chantilly (Gr2).

KANDERAS (C2), GB by Rip Van Winkle ex Keshvar (Shamardal)
Prix du Jeu de l’Oie (Unraced 2yo colts and geldings, 1,500m AWT), December 13, Chantilly

Owner :  Alexandre Pereira
Trainer : Henri-Alex Pantall
Breeder : Gestut Hachetal
Rider : Maxime Guyon

The smallest margin separate Kanderas (Rip van Winkle) form the front-running Emersion (Kodiac), who had already fought off Scoodby Chop (Moss Vale), along with him at the fore from the word go. On the contrary, Kanderas was ridden early behind Emersion but he still managed to edge his rival on the wire. Scooby Chop stayed on in third, beating Sir Maxalot (Sir Percy) and History Chop (Amadeus Wolf).

Kanderas was sold €15,000 at the Baden-Baden breeze up sales. His Farhh sister was not sold as a yearling at the same venue last Summer. Kanderas is the first foal out of the unraced Kheshvar (Shamardal), form an Aga Khan bloodline. She’s a sister to the good Kerdem (Rainbow Quest), a Gr2 winner in Australia after winning in Britain.

EL MANIFICO (C3), FRA by High Chaparral ex Envoutement (Vettori)
Prix de Mirande (3yo Maiden, 1,900m AWT), December 5, Deauville

Owners :  Alain-Louis Dreyfus & David Smaga
Trainer : David Smaga
Breeders : Robert Nahas & Alain-Louis Dreyfus
Rider : Glen Braem

So we have had to wait 15 months and 14 races to watch El Manifico (High Chaparral) finally make it! Ridden by a cold-blooded Glen Braem for owner-breeder Alain-Louis Dreyfus and trainer David Smaga, he outclassed the field and easily beat Banoush (Mizzen Mast), a fourth time in the frame in 5 outings.

El Manifico is out of Envoutement (Vettori), a €32,000 yearling at Deauville secured by David Smaga in 2008. She’s out of Grandes Illusions (Kendor), bred by the late Teddy de Zuylen de Nyevelt. Envoutement won only once in 15 races, on her 7th attempt, in a handicap, but her dam won the Prix La Camargo (L). She’s an aunt to Santa Bamba (Saint des Saints), dam of hurdling champion De Bon Cœur (Vision d’État). Grandes Illusions never sparkled at stud, like Envoutement, who still gave Djiguite (Makfi), winner of four races including Prix Tantième (L), and Vilaro (Whipper), winner in March of Prix Altipan (L) for Alain-Louis Dreyfus.

More recently, Envoutement foaled Fofo (Kendargent) and Havenvous (Le Havre), born respectively in 2016 and 2017.