Maiden winners weekly (Sept.25-Oct 1st)

4 October 2017

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 ...

FLAT

FIVE ICE CUBES (C2), FRA by Rip Van Winkle ex Victoria College (Rock of Gibraltar)

Prix Victrix (2C&G Maiden, 1,600m Turf), September 29, Saint-Cloud

Owners : Alain-Michel Haddad & Tarek El Sharif
Trainer : David Smaga
Breeder : Alain-Michel Haddad
Rider : Stéphane Pasquier

Lahdan (Style Vendome) showed the way flanked by Five Ice Cubes (Rip Van Winkle), pushed along entering the straight to take over and resist Naturally High (Camelot), who ended up beaten by a short neck.

It was Five Ice Cubes' third attempt. He finished 4th for his debut behind subsequent Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Gr1) second Olmedo, and was then beaten by Mister Jo, also at Deauville over the mile.

Five Ice Cubes is a brother to Lucky Look (Teofilo), third in the Qatar Prix Chaudenay (Gr2), Millfield (Whipper), second in the Prix de Condé (Gr3) and a recent handicap winner rated 86, and their stable companion at David Smaga's (who trained their mother), 3yo filly La Poutanesca (Falco), Listed placed and a recent winner of a Class 2 race in Vichy, also over 1,600 meters .

PRONTAMENTE (F2), GB by More Than Ready ex Specific Dream (Danehill Dancer)

Prix Barquette (2F Maiden, 1,600m Turf), September 29, Saint-Cloud

Owners : Écurie Jean-Louis Bouchard & A.-G. Kavanagh
Trainer : Fabrice Chappet
Breeder : Newsells Park Stud
Rider : Christophe Soumillon

Ninth for her debut behind the good Efaadah, Prontamente (More Than Ready) won cosily here, only pushed along after galloping in fifth position. The race was led at a good pace by Jukebox Star (Jukebox Jury), finally third. The second Say To Me (Redoute's Choice) finished well frommidfield and the final time was nearly four seconds better than that of the colts.

Prontamente went four times on the sales ring but she only changed owners only the first time, as a weanling at Tattersalls where she was sold £22,000. She went again to the sales twice the following year, in Deauville then in Newmarket, and in the breeze-ups Arqana last May when she did not find buyer at 110,000 €, she left without having changed hands.

It is the fourth foal out of the unraced Specific Dream (Danehill Dancer), a sister to classic filly Speciosa (Danehill Dancer), a One Thousand Guineas (Gr1) winner whose aunt was Pride champion (Peintre Célèbre) ...

Main entries: Prix des Réservoirs-Stallion Kendargent (Gr3)

JUMPS

PESK EBREL (G3), FRA by Enrique ex River Flyer (River Majesty)

Prix Pride of Kildare – 1st lot (Unraced 3yo Hurdle, 3,900m), September 27, Auteuil

Owners : Succession Goulven Berthouloux & Yohann Gourraud
Trainer : Yohann Gourraud
Breeders : Succession Goulven Berthouloux, Fabenne Perennes, Céline Berthouloux & Pierre-Yves Berthouloux
Rider : Steven Colas

Pesk Ebrel (Enrique) took the lead with one lap to go and won all the more easily as a threatening Relkadam (Muhtathir) fell at the last. However, second-placed El'Ban (Poliglote) finished well and both were miles ahead of the field.

Pesk Ebrel had won his maiden over the flat in Dieppe for his debut over 3,000 meters but he was unplaced in August in Deauville in the Prix Michel Houyvet (L) won by Darbuzan.

His dam River Flyer (River Majesty) had also won over the flat before switching to the jumps with some success as she won twice hurdling and once chasing. She was never further than 3rd over obstacles in 9 races between 2006, as she was 4, and 2008.

Pesk Ebrel is her third foal after an unraced Poliglote filly and a flat winner by Panis. She then gave a filly by Dunkerque born in 2015 and another by Montmartre the following year.

ESPION DU CHÊNET (H3), FRA by Sunday Break ex Reine Irlandaise (Lost World)

Prix Pride of Kildare – 2^nd lot (Unraced 3yo Hurdle, 3,900m), September 27, Auteuil

Owners : Nicholas Teehan & Matthieu Palussière
Trainer : Matthieu Palussière
Breeder : Haras du Chênet
Rider : Alain de Chitray

Favorite Valcroix (South Lord) and Espion du Chênet (Sunday Break) seemed happy enough to relax off the pace behind a small, compact field and waited until the last turn to make their move. Espion was pushed outside to the stands' side and made a difference in the run-in to score by two and a half length ahead of Valcroix. This lot took nearly five seconds longer than the first to complete the trip, however.

Espion du Chênet failed two times over the flat at Clairefontaine in August before taking the road to Auteuil. He had been sold by its breeder, Haras du Chênet, at the Arqana Autumn sales for €4,000. he's the third foal out of Reine Irlandaise (Lost World), pulled up at Auteuil for her 2nd and last appearance after starting with a third place over hurdles at Compiègne, both for owner Magalen Bryant. Indeed, Reine Irlandaise's dam, Irlandaise (Garde Royale), is a sister to La Grive (Pharly), who gave champions Grivette (Antarctica) and Royaleety (Royal Guard), and Beautywal (Magwal), the dam of Epsom Oaks second Gazelle Royale (Garde Royale), and Mésange Royale (Garde Royale), winner of the Prix Alain du Breil 4yo Hurdle (Gr1) at Auteuil, like Grivette ...

After Espion du Chênet, his dam gave a colt by Doctor Dino.