Maiden winners in June

ALOCASIA (F2), GB by Kingman ex Portodora (Kingmambo)

Prix Pawneese (Maiden 2-year-old Fillies, 1,200m/6f), June 30, Saint-Cloud

Owner: Khalid Abdullah
Trainer: Henri-François Devin
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms
Rider: Alexis Badel

Alocasia (Kingman) annihilated the field in a few strides after bidding her time, beating Rouge Terre (Siyouni), always spotted in the leading group, by two and a half lengths, while Volynka (Sepoy), who'd stalked the leaders, just held off the good finishing Secret Time (Camacho).

The Khalid Abdullah homebred filly started with a 5th place at Maisons-Laffitte over 5f, then finished 2nd at Dieppe over an extended kilometre, seeming a bit outpaced that day.

Her dam Portodora (Kingmambo) won her maiden at Chester over 7f at 3, and she gave a few winners before Set Piece (Dansili), 3rd in the Craven Stakes (Gr3) last April.

This family originates from the US-bred dam Modena (Roberto), Alocasia's 3rd dam, who gave the sire Elmaamul (Diesis), a Derby 3rd who went on to win the Irish Champion Stakes and the Eclipse Stakes (Gr1), the Fillies Mile (Gr1) and Epsom Oaks (Gr1) winner Reams of Verse (Nureyev), and High Walden (El Gran Senor), a Listed winner sho is Alocasia's 2nd dam.

DRAGON HAS LANDED (C2), (IRE) by Dragon Pulse ex Indian Navy (Elusive City)

Prix Riverman (Maiden 2-year-old Colts & Geldings, 1,200m/6f), June 30, Saint-Cloud

Owner: Theresa Marnane
Trainer: Matthieu Palussière
Breeder: Con Marnane
Rider: Antoine Hamelin

A clean win, from one end to another and by three parts of a length for Dragon Has Landed (Dragon Pulse), who held off Panda Seven (Wootton Bassett), the third-placed Aarhus (bated Breath) finishing over two lengths behind.

Born in Ireland but assimilated as a French-bred, Dragon has Landed started with a 6th place at La Teste over the same distance. He had cheekpieces on this time and has already been entered in a claimer since that win.

His dam Indian Navy (Elusive City) also ran for the Marnane, who bought her as a yearling at Goffs in Ireland, She's a full sister to Soul City (Elusive City), a Prix La Rochette (Gr3) winner at 2, also 3rd in the Irish 2,000 Guineas (Gr1) for trainer Richard Hannon.

Indian Navy also gave a filly by Morpheus in 2018.

SOUDANIA (F3), (GB) by Sea the Stars ex Sahel (Monsun)

Prix Keymex Immobilier-Prix de Boasne (Maiden 3-year-olds, 2,100m / 10 1/2f), June 29, Chantilly

Owners: Wertheimer & Frère
Trainer: Freddy Head
Breeder: Wertheimer & Frère
Rider: Maxime Guyon

Held back early, Soudania (Sea the Stars) came wide to beat Lucky Doe (Dawn Approach) by a good length while Bliss For Ever (Slickly) finished 3rd after a  troubled trip about one out.

It was a second trial for Soudania after her debut 2nd at Fontainebleau behind Ashtara, who ran in the Prix Chloé (Gr3) the day after this maiden race.

Soudania's dam Sahel (Monsun) cost € 320,000 as a yearling at Deauville. She a full sister of the German championsSchiaparelli (Monsun), Samum (Monsun) and Salve Regina (Monsun), all of them Group1 winners, and another full sister, Sanwa (Monsun), gave the sire Sea the Moon (Sea the Stars), a German Derby winner.

Sahle's best foal to date is Sortilège (Tiger Hill), a Prix Lydia Tesio (Gr1) winner. After Soudania, she gave a 10th foal, Tyranique (Dansili), who's two now.

SOSOFT (C3), FRA by Pivotal ex Soft Lips (Rahy)

Prix de la Grande Bibliothèque (Maiden 3-year-old Colts & Geldings, 1,700m / 1m 1/2f), June 27, ParisLongchamp

Owners: Wertheimer & Frère
Trainer: Carlos Laffon-Parias
Breeders: Wertheimer & Frère
Rider: Augustin Madamet

Six colts only were at the start in this, and they spend 4 seconds more than the fillies (see below) to reach the post over this odd 1,700m -an extended mile. A very close finish too, there, with Sosoft (Pivotal) just edging Tactile (Wootton Bassett), by a head without leaving the rail, a neck in front of Son of Normandy (Galileo).

Until then, Sosoft had finished three times 7th over a mile and over 7 furlongs.

He's out of Soft Lips (Rahy), a winner at Deauville who has not performed so well at stud, even her dam is the good mare Iron Lips (Iron Mask), a Prix Eclipse (Gr3) winner and a sister to the French sire and French Guineas winner Falco (Pivotal). The Wertheimers probably tried to get the same nick there.

MERI SENSHI (F3), FRA by Elusive City ex Folle Biche (Take Risks)

Prix de la Bibliothèque Nationale (Maiden 3-year-old Fillies, 1,700m / 1m 1/2f), June 27, ParisLongchamp

Owner: Gérard Augustin-Normand
Trainer: Stéphane Wattel
Breeders: Christine Pastor & EARL Haras de la Gisloterie
Rider: Cristian Demuro

Coming from the rear, Meri Senshi (Elusive City) came by in the middle of the track and won by a half-length, easy, over Sabi River (Invincible Spirit), who had finally prevailed against the leading Lady Hippolyta (Sommerabend).

The winner was racing for the 7th time and had been running well in three consecutive handicaps, lately, with a 78lbs rating. She has since been upgraded to 82lbs, after what was her first test beyond the mile.

Meri Senshi was bred in Calvados and sold privately at the Arqana August sale for € 48,000. Her brother made € 32,000 at Arqana October. He has been gelded now, and he's training with his purchaser, Joël Boisnard.

EXALTED ANGEL (G3), FRA by Dark Angel ex Hurryupharriet (Camacho)

Prix Taboun (Maiden 3-year-olds, 1,100m / 5 1/2 furlongs), June 24, Maisons-Laffitte

Owners: Pau-Perth Partnership & Mme E. Burke
Trainer: Karl Burke
Breeder: Tirnaskea Stud
Rider: Ben Anthony Curtis

Fast ahead, Exalted Angel (Dark Angel) easily resisted as his main rival, Roseya (Invincible Spirit), somehow lost her stride near the post, leaving Morning Basma (Born to Sea) grab the second place two lengths behind the winner.

It was the fifth trial for Exalted Angel, a first one in France and since he was gelded. He had been placed three times out of four races, including one over  Southwell's AWT. He had been entered last season in the Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte (Gr3) after his debut at Nottingham but wasn't spotted again previous year.

Sold € 150,000 at Deauville, Exalted Angel is the first foal out of Hurryupharriet (Camacho), a Listed-winner over 5 furlongs at 2 )-she never raced after that first season. She's a sister to the good Devonshire (Fast Company), a Group2 winner in Ireland and an Irish 1,000 Guineas 3rd.

Since Exalted Angel, she gave a Siyouni colt sold €160,000 last Summer in Deauville, now also trained by Karl Burke. An Equiano colt and a Shalaa follow.

SAY HEY (F3), FRA by Pivotal ex Zynah (Oasis Dream)

Prix Saint-Maximin (Unraced 3yos, 1,600m/1m), June 21, Chantilly

Owner: Martin Schwartz Racing
Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget
Breeders: Thierry de la Héronnière, Écurie Salabi & Haras des Adelis
Rider: Coralie Pacaut

A handicap-like finish in this mile for late 3yo beginners with a clean winning effort from Say Hey (Pivotal), who has made her move without leaving the rail, very much unlike the front-running Raconteuse (Invincible Spirit), second beaten by a neck despite her veering left and right in the last stages.

Zynah (Pivotal), Say Hey's dam, was sold by Godolphin bearing this filly in December 2015 at Tattersalls, where she was bought for £ 82,000, less than double the sire's covering fee that year (£ 45,000). The mare was placed once, but her dam Vincennes (King's Best) had won at Group 3 level over the mile in Germany, and her second dam was none other than Park Appeal (Ahonoora), winner of the Cheveley Park Stakes ( Gr1) and the Moyglare Stud Stakes (Gr1) at 2, also the dam of leading sire Cape Cross, and 2nd dam to Diktat and Iffraaj.

Say Hey, on the other hand, was bought € 160,000 at two after having cost € 90,000 as a yearling at the same venue, while her Siyouni sister, consigned by Thierry de la Héronnière's Haras d'Ellon in Deauville last August, was unsold at € 180,000.

FANTASTIC DIAMOND (F2), FRA by Sommerabend ex Fine Emotion (Big Shuffle)

Prix Rose Royale (Unraced 2yo Fillies, 1,100m/ 5 1/2f), June 19, Maisons-Laffitte

Owner: Georg Kern
Trainer: Henri-Alex Pantall
Breeder: Georg Kern
Rider: Vincent Cheminaud

One of the best out of the gate despite her 9 outside draw, Fantastic Diamond (Sommerabend) won all the way, leading the middle pack and galloping away to hold Marieta (Siyouni), also a good starter closer to the stands' rail, and a good finisher here, only one and a half-length away from the winner.

The winner's dam Fine Emotion (Big Shuffle) won twice in Germany, at three over 6 furlongs in Berlin, and over 1,300m in Leipzig at 4. Her first foal, Fine Intention (Soldier Hollow), briefly reached an 88lbs rating at three but ended up in smaller handicaps and claimers. Her resulting offspring was unable to win, and after this filly, she gave the other filly by Captain Marvelous (Invincible Spirit), a Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte (Gr2) winner based in the Haras de Saint-Arnoult near Deauville.

EARTHLIGHT (C2), IRE by Shamardal ex Winters Moon (New Approach)

Prix Prince Bio (Unraced 2yo colts and geldings, 1,100m / 5 1/2f), June 19, Maisons-Laffitte

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

The favourite Earthlight (Shamardal) first followed the leader Dutch Chop (Amadeus Wolf) then came out in the last two furlongs to challenge and finally prevail by a neck. The two colts left the pack more than four lengths down the road.

Earthlight's family was managed by Robert Sangster's Swettenham Stud and passed into the hands of the Dubai family through the late Sheik Maktoum al Maktoum, who bought Earthlight's 3rd dam, a sister of the Derby winner Golden Fleece. His second dam, Summertime Legacy (Darshaan) won the Prix des Réservoirs (Gr3) for trainer André Fabre and bred Critérium de Saint-Cloud (Gr1) winner, Mandaean (Manduro),  and a Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) winner, Wavering (Refuse to Bend). Their sibling Winters Moon (New Approach), Earthlight's dam, was third in the Fillies Mile (Gr1) but left racing with only her debut victory under her belt.

HELTER SKELTER (C2), FRA by Wootton Bassett ex Winna Chope (Soave)

Prix du Bassin Parisien (Maiden 2yos, 1,400m/7F), June 13, ParisLongchamp

Owners: Écuries Serge Stempniak & Jean-Claude Rouget
Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget
Breeder: Laurent Jamault
Rider: Christophe Soumillon

Fourth for his May debut at La Teste over 6 furlongs, Helter Skelter (Wootton Bassett) made small work of this 7f maiden. Soumillon made him bid his time by the pack and the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained colt simply took off, in the end, to score on the bit by 3 1/2 lengths over the front-running Get Set (French Navy), a good second for Con and Theresa Marnane's stable -he was also running for the second time.

The colt cost €30,000 at the Osarus yearling sale to his trainer and joint-owner. His dam Winna Chope (Soave) won five races at 2 and 3, mostly in claimers as she changed hands a few times before calling it a day. There isn't any black type in her catalogue page before a few generations, but this individual seems to have hit his best ancestors' vein.

VORASHANN (G3), FRA by Sinndar ex Visorama (Linamix)

Prix Helissio (Unraced 3yos, 2,400m/1m4f), June 12, Saint-Cloud

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

Ridden wide after the last bend to join the stands' rail, Vorashann (Sinndar) was firmly pushed away by Christophe Soumillon to finally take over Pivoine Rose (Cacique) in the last furlong of this late-maturing types.

Vorashann was gelded at the end of last year, even though he's out of a great Lagardere family. His dam Visorama (Linamix) also foaled the stayer Vazirabad (Manduro), twice a winner of the Prix Royal-Oak (French Leger, Gr1), and the Prix du Cadran (Gr1). She had won the Prix de Flore (Gr3) and finished third in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Gr1) won by English raider Gamut ahead of Policy Maker. Pride, Polish Summer and Westerner were, however, not placed in this race.

SIMEEN (F2), FRA by Lope de Vega ex Samadrisa (Oasis Dream)

Prix Allée d’Amour (Unraced 2yo fillies, 1,400m/7f), June 12, Saint-Cloud

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

Held in the rear until after the last bend, Simeen (Lope de Vega) outclassed the field here to win by three and a half lengths on that rainy afternoon.

Taranta (Gleneagles) finished well in second.

Samadrisa (Oasis Dream), Simeen's dam, is a sister to the champion mare Sarafina (Refuse to Bend), a Saint-Alary (Gr1) and Diane (Gr1) winner, also an Arc-third, now a broodmare in Japan, where she foaled Geniale (Deep Impact), a winner of the Prix Messidor (Gr3) mile race in  France.

Samadrisa only won on her 4th attempt and went on to finish unplaced in a Listed-event. Simeen is her first foal. She's also foaled a Teofilo filly in 2018.

ARAPAHO (C2), FRA by Lope de Vega ex Alzubra (Dansili)

Prix Chapeau Rouge (Unraced 2yo colts & geldings, 1,400m/7f), June 12, Saint-Cloud

Owner: Mme André Fabre
Trainer: André Fabre
Breeder: Ecurie Peregrine SAS
Rider: Pierre-Charles Boudot

A comfortable getaway for Arapaho (Lope de Vega), who took off in the last two furlongs to win by three lengths over a pleasing Mutual (Lope de Vega), who finished well despite a rough trip inside the field.

Arapaho is out of Alzubra (Dansili) who, like him, was bred by Peregrine, the Fabre family breeding organisation. The mare ran until she was 5 and she finally won a Listed-event in October at Saint-Cloud over 10f.

Since Arapaho, she gave a Kendargent filly. Fabre also bred Soleil Marin from Kendargent, whom he didn't train. On the contrary, he trained Lope de Vega, Arapaho's sire.

He was also the handler in charge of the colt's 2nd dam Azabara (Pivotal), who won a Listed at 3, the Prix des Lilas (L) mile when it was scheduled a month earlier than the Prix des Lilas won this season by Obligate before she went on to win the Prix de Sandringham (Gr3).

Azabara used to race for Mayfair Stud, but she went to the Arc Sale after her last race, consigned by André Fabre, and sold privately for € 200,000.

The family originates from Alec Head's bloodlines, as he bred the 3rd, the 4th and the 5th dam of Arapaho.

NOORAMUNGA (F3), FRA by Siyouni ex Turtle Bow (Turtle Island)

Prix de Trévise (3yo maiden fillies, 1,600m/1m), June 10, ParisLongchamp

Owner: Berend van Dalfsen
Trainer: Mikel Delzangles
Breeder: Berend van Dalfsen
Rider: Cristian Demuro

Third for her debut against more experienced fillies in a maiden race won by Eternal Summer in front of Dragoness (Frankel); also a beginner that day, Nooramunga (Siyouni) took her revenge on the latter by taking off early to stay out of reach. Dragoness was kept in the rear of the field, and she finished well but was never going to catch a resolute Nooramunga.

Nooramunga couldn't reach € 100,000 at the Arqana yearling sales, a pretty conservative bid for a Siyouni filly since the sire's covering fee is now € 100,000.

Her dam Turtle Bow (Turtle Island), winner of the Prix Astarte (Gr2, now Prix Rothschild-Gr1) and Group 1-placed, and a sister to Prix Jean Prat (Gr1) winner Turtle Bowl (Dyhim Diamond), had not given much until then as her his best foal at the time only won the Grand Prix de Marseille (L).

AIR DANCE (C3), FRA by So You Think ex Spring Morning (Ashkalani)

Prix de l’Opéra Comique (3yo maiden colts & geldings, 1,600m/1m), June 10, ParisLongchamp

Owner: Écurie Jean-Louis Bouchard
Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget
Breeder: Aliette et Gilles Forien
Rider: Cristian Demuro

Second by a neck to Al Aresh for his debut in March, then unlucky at Chantilly before concluding in third place in a maiden race behind Boardman and Zarkallani, who won next, and in front of Top Max, who has recently won in Compiegne, Air Dance (So You Think) was looking for his race, to say the least.

He started well and was kept in fifth place by the rail in this 9-string field, and he gradually came by to take over Bleu Marine (Dark Angel), who had passed the leader earlier. The two first home finished four lengths ahead of the third-placed Ferid (Oasis Dream).

Twice a winner in Bordeaux, including once in a handicap with a 68lbs tag for Marquesa de Moratalla, her dam Spring Morning (Ashkalani) has also given French Fifteen (Ashkalani), now a sire after winning the Criterium International (Gr1) and finishing second in the Two Thousand Guineas (Gr1). This is the distant family of Zarkava and Zainta, among others.

Air Dance was bought € 170,000 at the Arqana yearling sale by Chantilly Bloodstock (Gérard Larrieu). Her unraced sister by Redoute's Choice, Libre À Vous, was sold for € 45,000 at the Arqana Breeding Sales last December to Belmont Bloodstock, in foal to Olympic Glory.

ALL GRACE (F3), FRA by Kingman ex Agathe Rare (Sadler’s Wells)

Prix du Parc de Maisons-Laffitte-Prix Gyges (Unraced 3-year-olds, 2,100m/ 10 1/2f), June 8, Maisons-Laffitte

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

After a slow start and a messy beginning into the race, All Grace (Kingman) was ridden hard as early as the last turn, but she nevertheless gathered momentum to edge I Am A Dream (Dunkerque), on the post to win by a head.

Her brother African Grey (Kendargent) was purchased € 140,000 at the Deauville yearlings sale last Summer. He's now in training with André Fabre.

All Grace is the fifth winner out of Agathe Rare (Sadler’s Wells), an unraced mare who also gave Apache Spirit (Invincible Spirit), a Listed winner in France. She's a sister to the classic winner Aquarelliste (Danehill) and US Group 1 winner Artiste Royal (Danehill).

Agathe Rare gave a Siyouni filly in 2018.

Main entry : Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1)

MISTER NINO (C3), FRA by Magician ex Desideria (Desert Party)

Prix du Marché aux Fleurs (Maiden 3yo colts and geldings, 2,400m/1m4f), June 3, ParisLongchamp

Owner: Paul Nataf
Trainer: Jean-Marie Béguigné
Breeder: SAGL Seserve
Rider: Mickaël Barzalona

Sixth for his debut at two over 9 furlongs at Fontainebleau, Mister Nino (Magician) inexorably got closer to victory with every run this year. He finished fourth for his comeback, over 1m4f, then third on the same distance in Chantilly before concluding here at ParisLongchamp with a commanding pillar to post the win.

Like Bergamasque, the colt owned by bloodstock agent Paul Nataf went on on the bridle with over a length to spare over Poet's Quest (Poet's Voice), who ran by him most of the way.

Mister Nino went three times on the ring: at Deauville as a yearling, at Tattersalls at the breeze-up sale, and again at Arqana in July 2018. First, he was sold € 28,000 to Ardglas Stables, who had to buy it back at Newmarket. Then he was purchased at Deauville for € 30,000 by Paul Nataf.

Mister Nino is the first foal out of the US maiden mare Desideria (Desert Party), whose dam was a Listed winner across the Atlantic. It seems that she has been exported to Turkey.

BERGAMASQUE (F3), IRE by Sea the Stars ex Tereschenko (Giant’s Causeway)

Prix de l’Allée des Cygnes (Maiden 3yo fillies, 2,400m/1m4f), June 3, ParisLongchamp

Owner: Al Asayl France
Trainer: Francis Graffard
Breeder: Al Asayl Bloodstock
Rider: Pierre-Charles Boudot

A pleasant second less than two lengths behind Pelligrina (Soldier Hollow) for her debut, three weeks earlier at Saint-Cloud over an extended mile and a quarter, Bergamasque (Sea the Stars) received a welcome update on the eve on this second trial when Pelligrina won the Prix de Royaumont (Gr3) on French derby day!

Fast in the lead this time, she was never under pressure and won by two lengths without much effort, Sister Midnight (Dark Angel) finishing second in front of Donizzeta (Motivator).

Bergamasque was bred by Al Asayl, the stable and stud of the UAE's president, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nayan. Her dam Tereschenko (Giant's Causeway) ran only once and failed, but she is a sister of the sire Fasliyev (Nureyev), form the family of champion mare Misty for Me (Galileo), Group 1 winner and dam of Group 1 winners. Also in this family is the champion sprinter Les Arcs (Arch). The best thoroughbreds of this family won at 2, and over 1,600 meters at an older age.

In any case, it sounded like a good idea to keep the maiden Tereschenko at stud. She first gave Fibonacci (Galileo), bred by Al Asayl, who had bought the dam from Coolmore. He followed the same path as The Revenant from Hugo Palmer in England to Francis Graffard's stable in Chantilly. Fibonacci had won at Haydock, and he succeeded in France at Pin-au-Haras before being resold to Great Britain. Then Tereschenko gave the filly Dieulefit (Oasis Dream), which couldn't win and was sold for £ 5,000 last July at Tattersalls.

Bergamasque is her third foal. She then gave a Battle of Marengo colt, and a filly by Invincible Spirit.