18 July 2017
Photos scoopdyga.com
Focus on the maiden winners of the past week on the France Galop racecourses, an opportunity to discover some of tomorrow's champions ...
SAGRES (F2), GB by Henrythenavigator ex Ascot Family (Desert Style)
Prix Reine du Chant (Maiden, 2yo Fillies, 1,100m Turf), July 12, Maisons-Laffitte
Owner : Simon Hope
Trainer : Francis Graffard
Breeders : Oceanic Bloodstock, Éric Puérari, OTI Management, Haras de Saint-Pair
Rider : Mickaël Barzalona
Sagres opened the way and opened her account by 2 lengths over Arabica (Style Vendôme). The latter was racing for the 2nd time while the winner was competing for the 4th time. She had just failed last time out when betaen by a mere nose by Kentish Waltz (Dandy Man), who's entered on Thursday in the Prix des Rêves d’Or-Jacques Bouchara (L) at Vichy.
Sagres was sold €95,000€ as a yearling at Arqana October sale in 2016, consigned by her co-breeders Eric Puerari and Oceanic Bloodstock's Haras des Capucines. She was sold to Blandford Bloodstock for owner Simon Hope (Aston Mullins Stud).
She's a three parts sister to Nordic One (Dubai Destination) -both their sires are sons of Kingmambo- and won both the Prix du Bois (Gr3) and the Prix Robert Papin (Gr2) before leaving to Hong Kong. Their dam Ascot Family was fast and precocious as well sinc eshe won the Prix des Jouvenceaux et des Jouvencelles (L) at Vichy at 2 in August.
ARECIBO (C2 -Top pix), FRA by Invincible Spirit ex Océanique (Forest Wildcat)
Prix Sun Prince (Maiden, 2yo C&G, 1,100m Turf), July 12, Maisons-Laffitte
Owner : Wertheimer&Frère
Trainer : Carlos Laffon-Parias
Breeder : Wertheimer&Frère
Rider : Maxime Guyon
3rd to Kentish Waltz (Dandy Man) a head behind Sagres –who won the fillies race on the same card- before this, Arecibo finally won here from pillar to post, leaving Global Passion (Penny’s Picnic) 3 1/2 lentghs behind without seeming to care that much. he's the sith foal out of maiden dam Océanique, who ran 4 tims in the West of France but couldn't do better than 7th. It must have been somehow disappointing since she's a sister to classic sire Green Tune (Green Dancer) and 2yo champion Pas de Réponse (Danzig), amongst others…
However Océanique has already foaled Okana (Zamindar), Prix Ronde de Nuit (L) winner and Gr3-placed in the States, and Snowday (Falco), winner of the Prix du Bois (Gr3) -the 1st French group race for juveniles-, 3rd in the Prix Robert Papin (Gr2) and 4th in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (Gr1) before leaving to the USA as he finished 4th to eventual French 2,000 Guineas winner Style Vendome in the Prix Djebel (Gr3).
DICE ROLL (C2), FRA by Showcasing ex Schlague (Pulpit)
Prix Hunyade (Unraced 2yo C&G, 1,200m Turf), July 16, Maisons-Laffitte
Owner : Giacomo Algranti
Trainer : Fabrice Chappet
Breeder : Gestüt Zur Kuste
Rider : Cristian Demuro
A short head only separated Dice Roll and favourite Drummore (Dubawi), even though latter seemed to have the race in the bag half a furlong out. But the Cristian Demuro-ridden winner showed a great fighting spirit to come back and pip his rival bang on the line.
He had been sold 130.000€ as a yearling by Haras d’Étreham at the 2016 Arqana October sale to agen Amanda Skiffington. Dice Roll is the 4th foal out of Schlague, a winner at 4, and her 2nd winner after Falcon (Falco), a horse rated 56lbs.
One has to go back to the 3rd dam, Boréale (Bellypha), winner of the Prix des Réservoirs (Gr3) and second in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Gr1) won by Masarika for owner Haras d’Étreham, to find some black type with the likes of Corre Caminos, Racinger or Récital.
AUDACIOUS GIRL (F2), FRA by Dabirsim ex Firuza (Oasis Dream)
Prix La Belle II (Unraced 2yo Fillies, 1,200m Turf), July 16, Maisons-Laffitte
Owners : Gemini Stud et Michel Haski
Trainer : Elie Lellouche
Breeders : Gemini Stud et Michel Haski
Rider : Tony Piccone
Same story than the previous race here with another leader holding off her rival as Audacious Girl beat the favourite Oleska (Excelebration). The winning filly is homebred by Francis Teboul's Gemini Stud and Michel Haski. They had bought her dam Firuza in foal to that filly for €13,000 at the 2014 Arqana Breeding sale. Winner once, in a 7f handicap at Dresden in Germany, she also gave a filly by Gemix, a hrudling champion for owner Francis Teboul. Firuza's dam won 7 races in UK and USA, including a 5f Listed at Sandown, the Dragon Stakes.