French Maiden Winners Weekly (Nov. 27-Dec. 10th)

5 December 2017

French Maiden Winners Weekly (Nov. 27-Dec. 10th)

Photos scoopdyga.com

Focus on the maiden winners of the past two weeks on the France Galop racecourses, an opportunity to discover some of tomorrow's champions ...

CHAILLOUE (C2), FRA by Le Havre ex Equity Card (Dubai Destination)
Prix de l’Epinay (Unraced 2C&G, 1,900m AW), November 27, Deauville

Owners : Gérard Augustin-Normand et Alain Jathière
Trainer : Jean-Claude Rouget
Breeders : Elisabeth Vidal et Écurie de Montfort&Préaux
Rider : Hugo Journiac

Surprising win at 20/1 for the less popular of the 2 Augustin-Normand representatives. A fancy 4th Beautot (Le Havre) was only half that price ! However in the final turn, Chailloué (Le Havre)'s rider Hugo Journiac was already very busy to keep up with the pace on a 2nd rank alongside the favourite El Adaid (Zoffany), going well, and Boulevard (Galileo) in between them, also going easy. Once he had a clear run, Chailloué showed a great fighting spirit and although he's still green, he held on and beat the 2 Fabre horses.

Chailloué's own yearling brother was sold €50,000 at Arqana in October to its co-breeder Sylvain Vidal and it makes sense to expect the horse to fight for Gérard Augustin-Normand in the future.

Their dam Equity Card (Dubai Destination), whose dam Snow Ballerina (Sadler’s Wells) is a sister to the wonderful Lammtarra (Nijinsky), unbeaten winner of the Epsom Derby, the King George and the Arc, and a full sister to the Prix Jean Prat (Gr1) winner Aesop’s Fables (Sadler’s Wells).

 

MOSKOVA (F2), FRA by Invincible Spirit ex Lunashkaya (Muhtathir)
Prix de la Roque (Unraced 2F, 1,900m AW), November 27, Deauville

Owner : Alain Jathière
Trainer : Jean-Claude Rouget
Breeder : Alain Jathière
Rider : Christophe Soumillon

Chailloué's co-owner Alain Jathière didn't wait too long before he could enjoy another win as his homebred Moskova (Invincible Spirit), laso trained by Jean-Claude Rouget won the next race on the card ! The rainer was probably keener on Al Shaqab Racing's Almaha (Galileo), a daughter to the great Zagora, whom he also trained in France before she was shipped for international fame Stateside, but she missed the start here and finished well but in 7th place only. As for Moskova, she was kept in the pack and slowly found her way in the middle of the track, following the subsequent 3rd Colonia (Champs Elysees), whom she finally beat by three lengths while Lozoya (Declaration of War) stayed on closer to the rail for 2nd place.

Moskova is out of Lunashkaya (Muhtathir), who didn't race but gave 6 foals to this day, including Elka (Elusive City), a claimer in the South of France. The family traces back to the great French sire Linamix, whose dam in 4th dam to Moskova, while Lunashkaya is a sister to Prix André Baboin (Gr3) winner Celtic Rock (Rock of Gibraltar), and Fresles (Royal Applause), winner of the Prix Miss Satamixa (L) on this very track.

Lunashkaya also gave a 2016 colt by Olympic Glory in training with Pia Brandt, and a son of Intello.

 

SADARAK (C2), FRA by Myboycharlie ex Sadiyna (Sinndar)
Prix de l’Epronnière (Maiden 2C&G, 1,500m AW), November 29, Deauville

Owner : H.H. Aga Khan
Trainer : Jean-Claude Rouget
Breeder : Haras de S.A. Aga Khan SCEA
Rider : Christophe Soumillon

4th for his debut at Mont-de-Marsan over 7f, in a rather dull effort, Sadarak (Myboycharlie) was much more on the job this time, as he was ridden once again by Christophe Soumillon who sent him earlier and more decisively after trailing along the rail. He was able to hold off a closing Lorraynio (Elusive City), who'd been clearly beaten earlier.

His sisters Sajida (Medicean) and Sadia (Teofilo), aged 3 and 4 respectively, are both in the Arqana Breeding sale next weekend in Deauville.

All of them are out of the triple winner Sadiyna (Sinndar), herslef a sister to Arc winner Sagamix (Linamix) and to Sage et Jolie (Linamix), dam of famed sire Sageburg (Johannesburg). It is a Lagardere family acquired by the Aga Khan and now back on the market.

 

AT YOUR PLEASURE (F2), GB by War Front ex Ventura (Chester House)
Prix de la Placière (Maiden 2F, 1,500m AW), November 29, Deauville

Owner : Khalid Abdullah
Trainer : André Fabre
Breeder : Ventura Syndicate
Rider : Mickaël Barzalona

A beginner amongst maiden racers, At Your Pleasure (War Front) neveretheless held on in a tight finish against a solid Money Sister (Harbour Watch), three times on the podium already for 5 outings.

At Your Pleasure was bred by Ventura Syndicate, owner of her dam Ventura (Chester House), a champion in USA : She onw three Gr1s there but At Your Pleasure seems to be the best she could give so far …

 

RÊVE DE SŒURS (F3), FRA by Apsis ex Reine de Rome (Roi de Rome)
Prix de Précolette (Maiden, 3yos, 2,500m AW), December 5, Deauville

Owners : Laurent Mustière et Stéphane Seignoux
Trainer : Valérie Seignoux
Breeders : Stéphane et Valérie Seignoux
Rider : Benjamin Hubert

Slowly out of the stalls but soon in contention behind the leaders, flanking the pack, Rêve de Sœurs (Apsis) stayed wide in the last turn and she showed a great fighting spirit to finally hit the wire ahead after 7 failed attempts this year. She just held an unlucky Piquiri (Fastnet Rock), who saw daylight a tad too late, while the leading favourite Belleire (Soldier of Fortune) held on for 3rd.

Bred by one of her owners and by her trainer, Rêve de Sœurs is out of Reine de Rome (Roi de Rome), who ran 88 times to win 5 races, one per year between 1996 and 200, mostly in handicaps and claimers.

At stud she gave 9 foals and Rêve de Sœurs is the last recorded so far. She's a sister to Voie Romaine (Voix du Nord), a six-times winner including over hurdles in Angers, and Epaline Tivoli (Epalo), a recent 2nd at Pornichet with a rating of 51.

 

JACK TAYLOR (C2), (IRE) by Invincible Spirit ex Glory Power (Medicean)
Prix de Mondeville (Maiden, 2yos, 1,300m AW), December 5, Deauville

Owner : Anthony Hogarth
Trainer : Richard Hughes
Breeders : Qatar Bloodstock Ltd, Écurie des Charmes
Rider : Fabrice Véron

Fst behind the leaders in a 16-runners field, Jack Taylor (Invincible Spirit) first got the best of Taxman (Congrats), who failed to hold on the last 30 yards or so, and then only held off a fast closing Rozanne (Canford Cliffs), while Senza Fine (Reliable Man) finished well in 3rd for her 2nd outing only.

Sixth for her debut at Goodwood in October and then 2nd on Chelmsford's all weather, Jack Taylor was sent to France by her trainer Richard Hughes (left in the photograph, with owner Antony Hogarth on the right). Jack Taylor is a French "assimilated" colt (he's eligible to the Owners Premiums (€7,776 on top of the €13,500 awarded to him for this win) sold as a yearling for €42,000 at Arqana October sales in 2016. His younger brother by Dark Angel made €27,000 later that year as a weanling in Deauville. Their dam Glory Power (Medicean) was entered in the lastest Deauville breeding sales but she didn't make it to the sales. Jack Taylor is her 2nd foal, the 1st one being the maiden Mr Slicker (Exceed and Excel), in training in Britain.

Glory Power won 3 tumes in France with trainer Jean-Marie Béguigné, including the Prix Miss Satamixa (L) on this very all-weather track in Deauville.