21 June 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 ...
PARABELLUM (C3), (IRE) by Dubawi and Pacifique (Montjeu)
Prix Rieur (Maiden, 3yo C&G, 2 400m Turf), June 15, Saint-Cloud
Owner : Godolphin SNC
Trainer : André Fabre
Breeder : Écurie Skymarc Farm, Écurie des Monceaux
Rider : Mickaël Barzalona
Parabellum made the news as a yearling at the Arqana Deauville August sale in 2015, setting the session's record at €2.6m. He started his career in April at Chantilly over one mile in a very hot beginners' race where he found just one too good for him, as Ratiocination (Excelebration) beat him by a short head. Since then, the winner won a Class 1 race and finished third in the Prix de Pontarmé (L).
Parabellum, however, was beaten again, by a short neck, by Malkoboy (Rajsaman) in a maiden over 2,100m at Saint-Cloud.
For his return to the same course, but over 1 1/2 m this time, Parabellum crushed the opposition as he put eight lengths between him and 2nd-placed Mondo Bello (Soldier Hollow), who hadn't showed much for his debut in Chantilly.
Entered in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1) and in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr1), Parabellum will soon have the opportunity to confirm this promising success.
Winner of a Prix de Lutèce (Gr3), his dam Pacifique is a three parts sister to Chicquita (Montjeu), Irish Oaks (Gr1) winner and 2nd in Treve (Anabaa)'s Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1), since Pacifique is a sister to her dam Prudenzia (Dansili).
LADY MONTDORE (F3), USA by Medaglia d’Oro and Hystericalady (Distorted Humor)
Prix Hildegarde (Maiden, 3yo Fillies, 2 400m Turf), June 15, Saint-Cloud
Owner : Godolphin SNC
Trainer : André Fabre
Breeder : Darley Stud
Rider : Mickaël Barzalona
Third for her 2-year debut at Saint-Cloud behind German raider Peace in Motion (Hat Trick), recently second in the German One Thousand Guineas (Gr2), and Heuristique (Shamardal), third in the French equivalen classic, Lady Montdore was entered in the first three Groups 1 for fillies of the French season but she had to postpone her return until June over 1 1/2 mile, and she prevailed anyway by two lengths, easily beating Piquiri (Fastnet Rock), second once again, and the Aga Khan's Canndera (Dalakhani), third for the second time.
Lady Montdore is out of the American Group 1 winner Hystericalady, whom John Ferguson, Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum's agent, bought $3m in 2008 as a broodmare, and who has already given Sublime (Medaglia d 'Oro), winner of a maiden and an allowance on the Belmont Park dirt. Hystericalady is herself born from a good Chilean mare, dam of a Puerto Rican champion sprinter.
CONTORTIONISTE (C2), (GB) by Pivotal and Distortion (Distorted Humor)
Prix du Soleil de Bretagne Longines (Unraced 2yo C&G, 1 200m Turf), JUne 17, Chantilly
Owner : Wertheimer & Frère
Trainer : Carlos Laffon-Parias
Breeder : Wertheimer & Frère
Rider : Maxime Guyon
Quickly ahead of the field, favourite Contortioniste held off every foe to pass the post with less than one length on the good finisher Saint Roch (Myboycharlie) while Zanziwin (Zanzibari) deprived Tadeem (Poet's Voice), who'd led most of the race, of the third place.
The winner's dam Distortion went to Pornichet to win her only race in four trials, but she is a sister to French Two Thousand Guineas winner Falco (Pivotal), and to Iron Lips (Iron Mask), a Listed winner over 6 furlongs and Gr2-placed on a short distance. Their dam, the US-bred Icelips (Unbridled), has won about €32,000, mostly in handicap races in France.
Wertheimer & Frère attempted the same crossing as that of Falco by returning to the stallion Pivotal with the same maternal lineage.
HIGH DREAM MILENA (F2), FRA by Dabirsim and High Limits (High Chaparral)
Prix de la Verrerie Longines (Unraced 2yo Fillies, 1 200m Turf), JUne 17, Chantilly
Owner : Claudio Marzocco
Trainer : Criquette Head-Maarek
Breeder : Claudio et Luca Marzocco
Rider : P.-C. Boudot
Favourite Tantheem (Teofilo) did not exit the gate well and couldn't catch up with High Dream Milena, who led the race and won by a length and a half.
High Dream Milena was bred by her owner Claudio Marzocco, who also owned French Derby winner Lawman. She is out of the unraced mare High Limits, whose dam is a sister of the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby-Gr1) winner Reliable Man (Dalakhani), but also of Imposing (Danehill Dancer), a Gr3 winner in Australia on The mile.
The 4th dam of High Dream Milena is Fair Salinia (Petingo), winner of the Epsom, Irish and Yorkshire Oaks.
AJACCIO (F3), USA by First Defence and Helstra (Nureyev)
Prix du Grand Monarque Longines (Unraced 3yo, 1 600m PSF), JUne 17, Chantilly
Owner : Khaled Abdullah
Trainer : Pascal Bary
Breeder : Juddmonte Farms
Rider : Vincent Cheminaud
A very clear victory for Ajaccio in this beginners' race of seven fillies and two geldings, and some beautiful pedigrees. Trained by Pascal Bary for her breeder Khaled Abdullah, Ajaccio made the difference early to leave Gold Penny (Dr Fong) three lengths behind, the latter enjoying the 2kgs allowance for female rider Delphine Santiago. Andira (Elusive Quality) finished third in front of the good finishing gelding Ripazur (Rip Van Winkle).
Ajaccio has been entered since the beginning of May. She is a sister to Stern Opinion (Mizzen Mast), a dual Listed winner in France over 5 furlongs, including the Prix du Cercle (L) at Deauville, and a sprint champion in Puerto Rico, Dr Arbatach (Smart Strike).