Maiden winners in August

STRATÈGE (C3), FRA by Dutch Art ex King’s Doll (King’s Best)
Prix du Hamel (Maiden 3yos, 1,500m AW), August 29, Deauville

Owners : JML Racing, John Sinn, Peter Stein et Nicolas Clément
Trainer : Nicolas Clément
Breeder : Écurie Skymarc Farm
Rider : Stéphane Pasquier

Three times fifth before, behind horses who have performed well since then, chestnut colt Stratége (Dutch Art) finally prevailed easily after a good start and a nice ride by the leading Taekwondo (Excelebration), eventually 6th. Stratege stayed on and kept one and a half negth of advance on Victrici (Kendargent), who ran a bit green as he was trying to pass Frankelio (Frankel), who long seemed the best for 2nd place.

Stratège is the 8th and last foal out of King’s Doll (King’s Best). He was purchased €56,000 at Arqana October 2015 sale by bloodstock agent Tina Rau, and was consigned by the Haras de la Louvière owned by Chryss O’Reilly, his breeder through Skymarc Farm. His full sister More than Sotka (Dutch Art) won the 2yo 7 furlong Vichy Prix des Jouvenceaux et des Jouvencelles (L) while their own brother Mostaneer (Dutch Art) took the Prix de Suresnes (L) for trainer Nicolas Clément, who now trains Stratège!

GUARDINA (F3), FRA by Siyouni ex Monicker (Manduro)
Prix du Louvet (Maiden 3yos, 1,300m AW), August 28, Deauville

Owner :  Sandro V. Gianolla
Trainer : Henri-Alex Pantall
Breede : Appapays Racing Club
Jockey : Pierre-Charles Boudot

A clear victory for Guardina (Siyouni) a sshe pulled away in the last quarter to score for her 5th trial after four good placings. Beaten by Vernie (Kendargent) last time out on the same course and distance, the Alex Pantall-trained filly took 2 1/2 lengths over Kaaba Stone (Society Rock), always noted on the fore, and Ancient City (Zoffany), beaten three lengths after a being held back, pulling early.

Unsold at €32,000 € at Arqana in 2016, when consigned by Haras du Petit Tellier, Guardina is out of the winning mare Monicker (Manduro), a daughter of the great German mare Guadalajara (Acatenango),. It's a very live German family as classic winner Guadalupe (Monsun) is a sister to Guadalajara and the dam of Grosser Preis of Baden (Gr1) winner Guignol (Cape Cross).

FAIRY TALE (G3), (IRE) by Kheleyf ex Singapore Fairy (Sagacity)
Prix Casino Barrière Trouville (Maiden 3yos, 1,900m AW), August 26, Deauville

Owners : Winterbeck Manor Stud & Partners
Trainer : Gay Kelleway
Breeder : Haras de la Huderie
Rider : Pierre-Charles Boudot

3 1/2 lengths eventually separate Fairy Tale (Kheleyf) from the field for her 2nd race after a good 2nd place on this very all-weather behind the impressive Impulsif (New Approach), ten days earlier. Once again, El Manifico (High Chaparral) has to oblige for a place, beating Celtic Raider (Siyouni), another British raider. 4th-placed Magic Pivotal (Pivotal) was rzather unlucky in running.

Fairy Tale was sold €6,000 as a yearling at Osarus La Teste sale by Haras de l’Hotellerie to Gay Kelleway, his trainer. His dam Singapore Fairy (Sagacity) won a lower handicap at Maisons-Laffitte over a mile and a half at 4- for a total of 31 races. She also gave Texas Ranger (Bushranger), winner of five races and still in training, and the 2yo Mybaccara (Gale Force Ten), a maiden filly trained by Thomas Fourcy.

Fairy Tale's second dam is Madame Est Sortie (Longleat), dam of Majoune (Take Risks), Mousse Glacée (Mtoto), dam of Almond Mousse (Exit to Nowhere).

LONE PEAK (C2), FRA by Lope de Vega ex Oh Beautiful (Galileo)
Prix de Montaigu (Unraced 2yo colts and geldings, 1,600m), August 21, Deauville

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

First out of the stalls in this hot beginners race, Lone Peak (Lope de Vega) upstaged all his rivals as he went away to score by 7 lengths over 2nd-placed In Favour (Frankel), always in the leading group by the rail. The George Strawbridge-bred Normandy colt wins this race after Cloth of Stars, National Defense and Wootton ...

Lone Peak is the 3rd foal out of Oh Beautiful (Galileo), winner at 3 of the Prix Vulcain (L) over 2,500m at Deauville and also dam of two Kendargent younger siblings.

Oh Beautiful is out of a sister to Cassandra Go (Indian Ridge), dam of classic winner Halfway to Heaven (Pivotal), and of the prolific French sire Verglas (Highest Honor), amongst others...

COMMES (F2), FRA by Le Havre ex Léaupartie (Stormy River)
Prix de la Reboursière (Unraced 2yo Fillies, 1,600m), August 21, Deauville

Owner : Gérard Augustin-Normand
Trainer : Jean-Claude Rouget
Breeder :  Franklin Finance SA
Rider : Cristian Demuro

Easy win here again with a patiently ridden Commes (Le Havre) who gained momentum after a wide corner and prevailed by three lengths over Olympe (Charm Spirit), who came from within the field. The Gérard Augustin-Normand-bred filly win comes one year after that of Luminate, one of the best hopes as a 2yo last season. 3rd-placed Nova Sol (Soldier Holloiw) finished well after leading the eventual winner to finally dive to the inside entering the straight.

Commes is the 2nd foal out of Leaupartie (Stormy River) after the maiden Longroy (Oasis Dream) and before Le Torquesne (Le Havre), born in 2018. A Prix de Psyche (Gr3) winner and Shadwell Prix de la Nonette (Gr2) 2nd for Augustin-Normand, Leaupartie had been paid €25,000 at the Arqana yearling sales.

PAULINE (F2), FRA by Siyouni ex Painting (Peintre Célèbre)
Prix de Pretreville (2yo Maiden fillies, 1,200m), August 19, Deauville

Owner : Haras d’Etreham
Trainer : Fabrice Chappet
Breeder : Haras d’Etreham
Rider : Cristian Demuro

3rd to Darley Prix Morny (Gr1) fancy Tasleya for her debut, Pauline (Siyouni) bounced back to win on her 2nd trial over Deauville's 6 furlongs straight, defeating her debut 2nd Hold True (Bated Breath), who was unable to catch Dream With You (George Vancouver) because of an unlucky trip. The best out of the stalls, Hold True was taken over along the stands rail and found it hard to find the gap while Pauline came outside Dream With You about halfway to take control of the race.

Pauline was sold €100,000 at the Arqana October sale last year but was returned to her breeder/consignor Haras d’Etreham. Her Raven’s Pass brother was unsold this Summer at €60,000 despite that convincing update. Their maiden dam Painting (Peintre Célèbre) also gave the 3yo winner Tingu (Intello). She's out of the very good Zelding (Warning), like Beauty of Truth (Pivotal), a Prix du Gros-Chêne (Gr2) winner and the dam of dual Gr1-winner Hydrangea (Galileo).

ICEFINGER (C2), (IRE) by Kodiac ex Miss Spinamix (Verglas)
Prix des étalons Shadwell (2yo maiden colts and geldings, 1,200m), August 18, Deauville

Owner : BLC Horseracing
Trainer : Gavin Hernon
Breeder :  Écurie Skymarc Farm
Rider : Stéphane Pasquier

New Chantilly trainer Gavin Hernon saddled his first runner and it was a winner as the unraced Icefinger (Kodiac) won the opening maiden of the Shadwell day at Deauville under in-form Stéphane Pasquier's urge. He was the only unraced runner in the contest. So far he's the only trainee Hernon counts in his yard and the colors of BLC Horseracing he's sporting were also first seen on a racecourse on this occasion. BLC Horseracing is a group of owners representedn by Danish bloodstock agent Morten Buskop.

The grey colt came by ridden early on to finally get the better of Harbour Spirit (Charm Spirit), also hard ridden along the stands's rail.

Icefinger was bred by Lady O'Reilly's Skymarc Farm, which sold him for €150,000 at Arqana October sale, the colt behing pinhooked at the Arqana breeze-up sale last May, and sold €320,000.

His full brother is in Arqana Augst sale. The dam Miss Spinamix (Verglas) ended her racing career after ten unsuccessful trials at 3. She has however now folaed three individual winners and has given birth to an Acclamation colt this year.

Main entries : Prix La Rochette (Gr3)

SINGING TOWER (F2), FRA by Siyouni ex La Tour Rouge (Monsun)
Prix de la Motte Sassy (Unraced 2yo Fillies, 1,300m AW), August 12, Deauville

Owner : Stella Thayer
Trainer : Nicolas Clément
Breeder :  Stella Thayer
Rider : Stéphane Pasquier

Singing Tower (Siyouni) is out of the maiden mare La Tour Rouge (Monsun), who made only £5,000 at the Tattersalls HIT sale when French-based agent Tina Rau spotted her. A schrewd catch as her brother Corsen (Cape Cross) just won his first race at Clairefontaine for Godolphin after finishing 3rd in the highly-regarded Mer et Nuages' Prix de Pontarmé (L).

Since her purchase, La Tour Rouge gave the maiden Petrosinella (Worthadd), Singing Tower and a third filly by Youmzain.

To win this, Singing Tower syttarted well and went by the early leader Eyeliner (Bated Breath), took off early in the straight and just held off the favourite Siyoulater (Siyouni). A few fillies finished well after seeming outpaced and it will be interesting to see them around again.

DULL KNIFE (C2), USA by Scat Daddy ex Flip Flop (Zieten)
Prix de Val Sery (Unraced 2yo colts and geldings, 1,300m PSF), August 11, Deauville

Owners : Haras du Saubouas, Hubert Guy, Mohamed Fahad Al Attiyah
Trainer : Christophe Ferland
Breeder :  Justin Carthy
Rider : Julien Augé

Unsold at €190,000 at the Arqana breeze up last may, Dull Knife (Scat Daddy) had been bought €80,000 as a yearling by Paul basquin's Haras du Saubouas. Her dam Flip Flop (Zieten) won a Listed in France and went on to finish 2nd in the Yellow Ribbon Stakes (Gr1) at Santa Anita. She then foaled Qurbaan (Speightstown), also a Listed-winner, and Dull Knife.

He was the first out of the stalls but let Realityhacking (Bungle Inthejungle), a gelding, take the lead only to take over going into the last straight and lead him to the wire, as Inde (Olympic Glory) finished well for 3rd.

TOIJK (C2), FRA by Siyouni ex Eire (Medicean)
Prix de Tour-en-Bessin (Maiden 2yo colts and geldings, 1,400m), August 9, Deauville

Owner : Lutz Bongen
Trainer : Marc et Stéphanie Nigge
Breeder :  Lutz Bongen
Rider : Hugo Journiac

Checked early to stay off the pace, Toijk (Siyouni) took his time to make his bid in the last straight and overtake the fiueld about one furlong out, while the 2nd-placed Mon Ouragan (Toronado) was having trouble finiding a gap behind the early leaders.

Montagu (Motivator) stayed on in 3rd after his early bid getting into the straight.

Toijk was one of the 4 unraced colts in the race.

He's out of the good Eire (Medicean), winner of 5 races and dam of Listed-placed Happy Approach (New Approach). Eiria (King’s Best), also out of Eire, won 4 races and was unsold at €24,000 € last February at Arqana in foal to Intello. Eire also foald a Hunter’s Light yearling.

L’ÉCRITURE (F2), (GB) by Bated Breath ex Abandagold (Orpen)
Prix de Falaise (2yo maiden fillies, 1,400m), August 9, Deauville

Owners : Rémy Dupuy-Naulot, Alexis Andrieu et Yohann Gourraud
Trainer : Yohann Gourraud
Breeder :  SCEA des Prairies
Rider : Thierry Thulliez

Fast ahead, L’Ecriture (Bated Breath) made her move early to win easily while Quiet Dignity (Kitten’s Joy), outpaced as she was stalking her, came back to take the 2nd place to Simona (Siyouni), who came by the rail. The unraced Chamundi Hills (Lope de Vega) unseated her rider shortly after the start.

It was a third attempt by L’Ecriture. 7th for her debut, she finished 3rd very close to Olendon (Le Havre), who went on to race in the Prix Six Perfections (Gr3).

Abandagold (Orpen), the unraced dam of L’Écriture, also gave an Outstrip colt. L’Écriture was sold €53,000 at Arqana October Yearling sale.

IMPULSIF (C3), GB by New Approach ex Violante (Kingmambo)
Prix d’Heurtevent (3yo maiden colts and geldings, 1,900m AW), August 9 août, Deauville

Owner : Godolphin SNC
Trainer : André Fabre
Breeder :  Godolphin
Rider : Mickaël Barzalona

Outstanding win by Impulsif (New Approach) on this maiden race over Deauville's all-weather. The Godolphin representative left another good finisher, Fairy Tale (Kheleyf) at four lengths without being extended. First time out at ParisLongchamp in April, he'd finished third behind the good Bugle Major and Hush Writer, subsequently 3rd in the Prix Hocquart Longines (Gr2).

Impulsif's dam, Violante (Kingmambo) is a sister to Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby-Gr1)-winner Anabaa Blue (Anabaa), and Al Ishq (Nureyev), dam of the Prix Jacques le Marois (Gr1) winner Tamayuz (Nayef). their dam Allez Les Trois (Riverman) is a sister to Urban Sea (Miswaki), one of the greatest dams of the Century, and of the sire King’s Best.

TROPICAL PRINCESS (F3), FRA by Dabirsim ex Tropical Pearl (Librettist)
Prix de Courbépine (3yo maiden fillies, 1,900m AW), August 9, Deauville

Owner : Écurie Normandie Pur-Sang
Trainer : Fabrice Chappet
Breeder :  Gestüt Eulenberger Hof
Rider : Pierre-Charles Boudot

Tropical Princess (Dabirsim), the race's favourite, was the first to accelerate entering the last straight after going by the leaders and she went out of Selimonte (Camelot)'s reach, Marouche (Dalakhani) finishing 3rd. It was the winner's 3rd attempt after two second places in June at ParisLongchamp behind Saccharose and then Environs, winner of the Prix de Bagatelle (L).

Bought €43,000 at Baden-Baden, Tropical Princess has got a full brother for sale at Baden-Baden at the end of the month.

Twice a winner at Nantes and Chateaubriant with Alex Pantall, Tropical Pearl (Librettist) belongs to a successful German bloodline, that of the German sire Turfkönig, and the classic Tryphosa, etc.

VERNIE (F3), FRA by Kendargent ex Persian Belle (Machiavellian)
Prix de Coudray (maiden 3yo Fillies, 1,300m AW), August 7, Deauville

Owners :  Salabi Racing & Thierry de la Héronnière
Trainer :  Francis-Henri Graffard
Breeders : Thierry, Danielle and Amaury de la Héronnière
Rider : Christophe Soumillon

It was a 5th trial for Vernie (Kendargent), a first on the all-weather and on a trip shorter than 7 furlongs. This sister to Calvados Blues (Lando) and Volta (Siyouni), a Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1) 3rd and Prix Rothschild (Gr1) 2nd in 2016, waited behind the leaders and the convincingly took over Guardina (Siyouni), who came inside by the rail, in the last hundrerd yards. It looks like a pretty easy win.

Vernie did not go to the sales, like Volta (who had been withdrawn), bu she's partly owned by David Salabi… like Volta! Their sister Varamini (Siyouni) however was sold last year at the Arqana yearlings sale for €300,000 to Godolphin, who put her in training with André Fabre.

ANODOR (C2), FRA by Anodin ex Decize (Kentucky Dynamite)
Prix de Crèvecoeur (Unraced 2yo Colts and Geldings, 1,500m), August 7, Deauville

Owner :  Mrs Frédéric Head
Trainer :  Frédéric Head
Breeder :  Ian Fair
Rider : Aurélien Lemaître

Consigned to the Arqana yearlings sale in August 2017 by the Head family's haras du Quesnay, where he was bred, Anodor (Anodin) was unsold at €32,000. His dam Decize (Kentucky Dynamite) won three race son minor tracks (Wissembourg, Montier-en-Der and Amiens) for the same connections than her daughter. She also gave a Youmzain colt and a Dariyan colt after Anodor, her first foal.

It is a good family since Decize's 3rd dam is Navratilovna (Nureyev), winner of the Prix d’Astarte (Gr2) before it became the Gr1-Prix Rothschild and sister to Maximova (Green Dancer), a Prix de la Salamandre (Gr1) winner and the dam of sire Septième Ciel (Seattle Slew), Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr1) winner Macoumba (Mr Prospector), the family of the 2014 French Derby winner The Grey Gastby (Mastercraftsman). It is also the family of the fast filly Aladdine (Naaqoos).

fast with the leader Normandy Dela Vega (Lope de Vega), Anodor went away early on to stay out of reach to Persian King (Kingman), a slow starter who had to make up the lost ground outside the field.

MONTVIETTE (F2), FRA by Le Havre ex Lady Meydan (American Post)
Prix des Marettes (Unraced 2yo Fillies, 1 500m), August 7, Deauville

Owner :  Gérard Augustin-Normand
Trainer :  Jean-Claude Rouget
Breeder :  Franklin Finance
Rider : Cristian Demuro

The first five home were already ahead entering the only bend of this maiden race, amongst the most rated every season (Efaadah won last season). with 3rd-placed Lady Neartica (Kodiac) leading with 2nd-placed Lucky Jolie (More Than Ready), the unlucky 5th Madeleine Must (Motivator) following by the rail with the eventual winner Montviette (Le Havre), held back after her good start, while the 4th-placed Simplicity (Casamento) was galloping outside the leading group.

Montviette had the last word then over Lucky Jolie, but only by a short head while Lady Neartica stayed on to beat Simplicity, Madeleine Must never being able to extend, locked in behind and inside the leading quatuor. 5th-placed Cartiem (Cape Cross) finished well.

3yo Lignou (Rajsaman), the winner's eleder brother, was sold €120,000 at Arqana's Summer Sale in July. he'd just won his two first races at Tarbes and Dax. Montviette and him are siblings to La Cochère (Le Havre), winner of the very same Prix des Marettes, beating the eventual French Oaks winner Senga.

BROADCAST (C3), USA by Distorted Humor ex Announce (Selkirk)
Prix de Coupesarte (Maiden 3yo Colts and Geldings, 1,300m AW), August 7, Deauville

Owner :  Khalid Abdullah
Trainer :  André Fabre
Breeder :  Juddmonte Farms
Rider : Vincent Cheminaud

Favoured for his come back, a 2nd race after an eye-catching 5th place last November at Deauville, Broadcast (Distorted Humor) gave the impression that he'd come up short once again but he finally held on to his task and finally beat the front-running gelding Faithful Man (Reliable Man). 3rd two lengths away, Got Awan (George Vancouver) had beaten Broadcast for their common November debut.

Broadcast was homebred by Juddmonte. His dam Announce (Selkirk) won the Prix Jean Romanet (Gr1) on this course and finished 2nd in the Prix de l’Opéra Longines (Gr1). Her granddam Zaizafon (The Minstrel) gave champions Zafonic (Gone West) and Zamindar (Gone West), as well as Listed-winner Choice Spirit (Danzig), who gave in turn Announce.