November 2020 Maiden winners

SPACE RACE (f3), GB by Sea the Stars ex Act Fast (Shamardal)

€20,000 Prix du Bessin – Second Peloton (Maiden 3-year-olds, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), November 30, Deauville

• Owner: Godolphin (€10,000 prizemoney, UK-bred - no Owners' Premium)
• Trainer: André Fabre
• Breeder: Highclere Stud (UK-bred - no Breeders' Premium)
• Rider: Augustin Madamet

Third for her debut in March at Chantilly, on the all-weather, Space Race (Sea the Stars) did not run for five months after that. Sixth for her return at Clairefontaine in August, beaten shortly thereafter at La Teste, she had just been well beaten at Tours, on heavy ground and subject to interference. Thrown to the lead quite early this time, then taken over, she was again bothered in her progress along the rail and had to be taken out to the middle of the track to finally resist by a short neck to Right Hand (Lope de Vega ), who finished well, like the third-placed beginner Honor and Pleasure (Oasis Dream), a little sister to champion filly Sea of ​​Class ...

Space Race was sold for £ 170,000 as a yearling at the Newmarket sales and she is in the Arqana breeding sales this December. Her dam Act Fast (Shamardal) won over 9f for her debut in May at the age of 3 at Saint-Malo, and again in a handicap at Fontainebleau with a 72lbs mark, for Darley, before injuring herself in a Listed, at 12/1 in Fontainebleau.

A sister of Space Race by Postponed was born in 2019. Act Fast's dam is the Ribblesdale Stakes (Gr2) winner Flying Cloud (Storming Home).

WHISTLE (f3), (FRA) by Dabirsim ex Louya (Verglas)

€20,000 Prix du Bessin – Premier Peloton (Maiden 3-year-olds, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), November 30, Deauville

• Owner: Samuel de Barros (€10,000 prizemoney, Frenchborn exported before Nov 1st of birth year- no Owners' Premium)
• Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard
• Breeder: David Tucker (Frenchborn exported before Nov 1st of birth year- no Breeders' Premium)
• Rider: Pierre-Charles Boudot

The least we can say is that Whistle (Dabirsim) deserved this first victory! It was her sixth attempt and she had nearly won several times already, and in particular for her debut, in July at Compiègne, when caught near the post, and once again in her last race on the Lyon La Soie all-weather. This time, she was the one getting the best trip, covered by the rail by shifting leaders who opened her path to victory like in a dream.

She pulled away irresistibly in the last furlong to win by two lengths, beating Alikova (Galileo), a daughter of Goldikova who seems to make some progress, Risky Asset (Iffraaj), who only stayed on, and Dilar (Makfi), who finished well.

Whistle has gone through sales three times. She made £ 60,000 as a weanling, £ 75,000 as a yearling and € 130,000 at the Arqana breeze-up sale last year. Her weanling brother by Rajasinghe has just been sold for £ 46,000 at Newmarket. Their dam Louya (Verglas) won a claimer over 1,500m/7.5f at Deauville for her fifteenth race, out of a total of thirty.

FAYONA (f2), FRA by Power ex Sierra Slew (Fantastic Light)

€22,000 Prix de Préaux (Maiden 2-year-old fillies, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), November 30, Deauville

• Owner: Abullah bin Khalifa al Thani (€11,000 in prizemoney + Frenchbred, €5,940 provision on 60% Owners' Premiums)
• Trainer: Henri-Alex Pantall
• Breeder: Petra Bloodstock (€1,439 in Breeders' Premiums, non-French sire – 8.5%)
• Rider: Olivier Peslier

Ninth for her debut at Angers three weeks ago, Fayona (Power) got off to a good start and was then taken over by the favourite Shifting Wind (Intello) with La Parence (Saonois) at her side, soon relayed by Carmen (Siyouni). Entering the homestretch, Fayona accelerated by the rail along with Carmen in the middle of the track. The leading favourite resisted at first, before finally giving up. Fayona won by a head, under pressure from Carmen. Shifting Wind was third, nearly a length ahead of Aspirant (Myboycharlie) and Athena (Soldier Hollow), coming from afar.

Fayona was bought for € 18,000 at the October sales in Deauville. Her weanling sister by Martinborough is in the next Arqana breeding sale. Their unraced dam Sierra Slew (Fantastic Light) is from the Ribblesdale Stakes (Gr2) winner Sahara Slew (Seattle Slew)

MOND (c2), GER by Sea the Moon ex Maricel (Silvano)

€ 22,000 Prix de Montfort (Maiden 2-year-old colts and geldings, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), November 30, Deauville

• Owner: Godolphin (€11,000 prizemoney, Germanbred - no Owners' Premium)
• Trainer: André Fabre
• Breeder: Gestüt Gorlsdorf (Germanbred - no Breeders' Premium)
• Rider: Mickaël Barzalona

The favourite in this populous maiden race after finishing second, beaten by a nose, behind Millebosc on the grass mile on the same racecourse on October 22, Mond (Sea the Moon) very easily dominated this group of 16 runners, including six geldings already.

The best of the three Godolphin runners at the start gained the upper hand in the final two furlongs after closing in on the lead in the turn.

He leaves his stablemate Gareth (Dubawi) at two lengths, a € 600,000 yearling who passed many rivals along the rail for his second unsuccessful attempt, and another two lengths further another good finisher, Sir Sparkalot (Hunter's Light), who had to wait within the field to get closer in the middle of the track.

Mond was paid € 170,000 at the Baden-Baden sales. His own 4-year-old older brother, Man on the Moon (Sea the Moon), winner of two races in Germany early in his career, was withdrawn from the Autumn Arqana sales in 2019. He won a claimer at Compiègne last June before injuring himself at ParisLongchamp.

TAHLIE (f2), FRA by Rio de la Plata ex Tianshan (Lahint)

€22,000 Prix du Rond Alicante (2-year-old maiden fillies, 1,600m/1m AWT), November 28, Chantilly

• Owners: Jean-Louis Bouchard & Gérard Augustin-Normand (€11,000 in prizemoney + Frenchbred, €5,940 provision on 60% Owners' Premiums)
• Trainer: Pascal Bary
• Breeder: Georges Sandor (€3,003 in Breeders'Premiums, French sire - 13% + 50%, young French sire and black type dam)
• Rider: Pierre-Charles Boudot

Second for her debut in July, very unlucky in her third race at Saint-Cloud in September, then sixth in the Prix Miesque (Gr3), Tahlie (Rio de la Plata) took the lead this time and dominated the race throughout to win by 3.5 lengths over Peinture Secrète (Lope de Vega), always seen at her side.

Tahlie was withdrawn from the Deauville sale in October 2019, unlike her elder full gelding brother Teston (Rio de la Plata), who was sold € 57,000 at the Arqana Autumn sale last year.

Winner of the Prix Coronation (L), their dam Tianshan (Lahint) is also that of Trixia (Siyouni), winner of the Prix des Reservoirs (Gr3) and the Prix de Lieurey (Gr3), and Thais (Rio de la Plata), placed in Group 1 in the USA after a very good start to her career in France.

HAVANA BOUND (f3), GB by Havana Gold ex Exceedingly Rare (Lope de Vega)

€20,000 Prix de la Petite Pelouse (Maiden 3-year-olds, 1,300m/6.5f AWT), November 28, Chantilly

• Owner: Stella Thayer (€11,000 prizemoney, UK-bred - no Owners' Premium)
• Trainer: Nicolas Clément
• Breeder: Qatar Bloodstock Limited (UK-bred - no Breeders' Premium)
• Rider: Stéphane Pasquier

Favourite of the race after five unsuccessful attempts since March, and five months without running between her debut and her second race, Havana Bound (Havana Gold) was twice placed in handicaps also run over 6.5 furlongs lately. This time she was able to win in one last, irresistible finish after taking some time to get out of the field. She finally left the two best starters, Bassoline (Wootton Bassett) and Moggins (Might of Thunder), who had always been in the front row, at less than a length. Cuban Meatball (Camacho) held his game well to finish in fourth place after taking the lead despite her 15 draw.

Havana Bound was bought for € 105,000 at Osarus sales in La Teste after being sold for £ 50,000 foal at Newmarket breeding sales. Her 2-year-old maiden sister by Charm Spirit was pulled from the Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale recently after winning her maiden for her seventh outing at Southwell on all-weather.

PIMENTO (c2), GB by Iffraaj ex Chili Dip (Alhaarth)

€22,000 Prix du Rond du Chêne (Maiden 2-year-old colts and geldings, 1,600m/1m AWT), November 28, Chantilly

• Owner: Godolphin (€11,000 prizemoney, UK-bred - no Owners' Premium)
• Trainer: André Fabre
• Breeders: Alan Parker & New England Stud Farm (UK-bred - no Breeders' Premium)
• Rider: Mickaël Barzalona

Entered as early as July in the Prix de Tancarville in Deauville, Pimento (Iffraaj) ran for the first time in September at Saint-Cloud, finishing second last without seeming to have any interest in the race. This time, however, he took the lead right away only to let Zhang Fei (Camelot) take over in the turn despite his 12 draw. He then took off in the last furlong and was never really challenged. Absurde (Fastnet Rock) finished well at one and a half length, beating Smudo (Canford Cliffs), also a good finisher next to the rail.

Pimento was sold for £22,000 as a weanling, then £ 115,000 as a yearling at Tattersalls. His 4yo sister is for sale at the next December sales at Newmarket. Their dam Chili Dip (Alhaarth) was unraced, and so was her dam Fade (Persepolis), who is also the 3rd dam of the dual Group 1 winner Wonderful Tonight (Le Havre) and of the classic winner Camelot (Montjeu).

RICHE ROO (c2), FRA by Siyouni ex Sosquaw (Numerous)

€22,000 Prix de La Roque (Unraced 2-year-old colts and geldings, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), November 25, Deauville

• Owners: Thomas Lines & Lydia Père (€11,000 in prizemoney + Frenchbred, €5,940 provision on 60% Owners' Premiums)
• Trainer: Adrien Fouassier
• Breeders: Élevage de Tourgeville, Hilary Erculiani & Mme Pierre Lepeudry (€2,002 in Breeders'Premiums, French sire - 13%)
• Rider: Anthony Crastus

Last out of the starting stalls, Riche Roo (Siyouni) nevertheless gradually came back in the fray following the rail. Going into the home stretch, he was then able to switch to the middle of the track and come over the leaders. In the last furlong, he resisted Fenelon (Fastnet Rock), who had had to travel outside the field and was ultimately only beaten by a head. Also close to the rail early, Jacky (Literato) finished strongly in third place at almost two lengths.

Sold for € 41,000 at the Deauville sales last year, Riche Roo fetched € 50,000 at the Arqana summer sale this season. He is the sixth foal out of the unraced Sosquaw (Numerous), who's given a few useful horses, and most recently a filly by Bated Breath born in 2020.

BREIZH ANGEL (f2), FRA by Dabirsim ex Boathouse (Dylan Thomas)

€22,000 Prix de l’Epinay (Unraced 2-year-old fillies, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), November 25, Deauville

• Owner: Haras du Domaine de l’Étang (€11,000 in prizemoney + Frenchbred, €5,940 provision on 60% Owners' Premiums)
• Trainer: Edouard Monfort
• Breeders: Haras des Évées & Daniel Cherdo (€2,002 in Breeders'Premiums, French sire - 13%)
• Rider: Pierre-Charles Boudot

Withdrawn from the Deauville sales in 2019, Breizh Angel (Dabirsim) took the lead from the start in this race of sixteen beginners and started again in the homestretch. Had she not leaned to her left in the last furlong, she would probably have left the second-placed Adhafera (Sea the Stars) further behind that the length and a half finally seen at the post.

Bought in a claimer at the end of her 3-year-old campaign, still maiden back then, from her breeder Skymarc farm, Breizh Angel’s dam, Boathouse (Dylan Thomas), finally won at Chinon over 8.5f before entering stud. Breizh Angel is her fourth foal and her third winner. She has also since given a Birchwood colt sold last summer in Deauville for € 18,000 to trainer Christophe Escuder, and a filly by Pedro the Great. This is a very good bloodline going back to the dam of the great Coup de Folie, to the classic stallion Orpen and then to the classic Bluemamba.

SILVESTRI (f2), FRA by Siyouni ex La Zubia (Montjeu)

€22,000 Prix de la Cerisaie (Unraced 2-year-old fillies, 1,500m/7.5f AWT), November 24, Deauville

• Owner: Al Shira’aa Farms (€11,000 in prizemoney + Frenchbred, €5,940 provision on 60% Owners' Premiums)
• Trainer: Carlos Laffon-Parias
• Breeder: Snig Élevage (€2,002 in Breeders'Premiums, French sire - 13%)
• Rider: Olivier Peslier

Moved forward into the homestretch, Silvestri (Siyouni) took command after a fight against Donna Anna (Dutch Art), always pointed near the leaders, to get out of reach of the good finisher Evereste (Dabirsim), who came at full speed by the rail with her apprentice-rider allowance. The favourite Drawn to Race (Pastorius) was kept outside with her 15 draw. She still finished fourth.

Silvestri was bought for € 380,000 at the Deauville sales. Her Almanzor sister was sold for € 100,000 at the same auction last September. Their dam La Zubia (Montjeu) won a race for Ecurie Darpat at 3 over 9 furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte, then another one in Hollywood Park before being sold for $70,000 to SNIG Élevage, who bred Silvestri, at the Keeneland sales.

SOTORO (c2), FRA by Toronado ex Sotunza (Astronomer Royal)

€22,000 Prix de la Pommeraie (Unraced 2-year-old colts & geldings, 1,500m/7.5f AWT), November 24, Deauville

Owners: Ecurie Castillon Bloodstock & Karwin Stud (€11,000 in prizemoney + Frenchbred, €5,940 provision on 60% Owners' Premiums)

Trainer: Edouard Monfort

Breeders: Écurie de Castillon & SCEA des Prairies (€1,439 in Breeders' Premiums, non-French sire – 8.5%)

Rider: Mickaël Barzalona

Already on hand going into the home stretch, Sotoro (Toronado) controlled the race. He won on the bridle by a good length over the good finished Aggagio (Born to Sea).

The winner was unsold at € 30,000 at the Arqana breeding sales, where he was presented as a yearling by Haras du Castillon (Benoît Jeffroy). His dam Sotunza (Astronomer Royal) did not win despite two attempts in claimers. This is her first foal before an Al Wukair filly and an Almanzor colt. She is a sister to Absolutely Yes (Country Reel), winner of the Prix de Guiche (Gr3). Their dam Semenova (Green Tune) was Listed-placed and her Recoletos filly goes to the December Breeding sale in Deauville, consigned by Haras du Hoguenet.

ANIMAL FEVER (F3), USA by Animal Kingdom ex Fortyniner Fever (Forty Niner)

€20,000 Prix du Valois Multier (Maiden 3-year-olds, 1,600m/1m AWT), November 18, Chantilly

• Owner: Al Shira’aa Farms (€10,000 prizemoney, US-bred, no Owners' Premiums)

• Trainer: Pascal Bary

• Breeders: Hunter Valley Farm & Godolphin (US-bred, no Owners' Premiums)

• Rider: Augustin Madamet

After finishing four times second since her debut in July, over 10, 9 and then 8 furlongs, Animal Fever (Animal Kingdom), who was entered in the Saint-Alary and the Diane, has finally found the way to success on the Chantilly all-weather, and over one mile, in this race for apprentices. She flew away from the field in the final furlong after closing in in the middle of the track. The second-placed Wishuponastar (Mukhadram), also a good finisher, came in at five lengths.

Bred in the United States, Animal Fever was bought there for $97,000 as a weanling, then $250,000 yearling at Keeneland. She is the offspring of an unraced mare who has given several Stakes winners across the Atlantic and happens to be the sister of Keeneland top price, classic winner and famed sire Fusaichi Pegasus.

SA’AD (c2), FRA by Tamayuz ex Nimbin (Champs Elysees)

€22,000 Prix Kantar (Maiden 2-year-old colts & geldings, 2,000m/1m2f), November 17, Saint-Cloud

• Owners: Khalid Rashid Al Mohannadi & AGV Karwin Stud (€11,000 in prizemoney + Frenchbred, €5,940 provision on 60% Owners' Premiums)
• Trainer: Jean de Mieulle
• Breeders: Team Hogdala France et Fiona Thomson (€1,439 in Breeders' Premiums, non-French sire – 8.5%)
• Rider: Olivier d’Andigné

Sixth for his debut over one mile at Deauville, the day Bangalore who won the female version of this maiden half an hour earlier also started her career, Sa'ad (Tamayuz) took over in the last furlong, after having waited in midfield rather than in the rear. He beat Martial Eagle (Adlerflug), who had travelled within the field, too. After looking like a potential challenger one out, he had to give in and was beaten 1.5 lengths. The third-placed Blue Horizon (Myboycharlie) finished at five lengths, and five lengths in front of the other runners in this long maiden race run of very heavy ground.

Sold for € 30,000 at the August 2019 sales in Deauville, Sa’ad did not find a buyer at € 35,000 at the Osarus breeze-up sales ...

His dam and second dam didn't run, but they are both from the classic filly Wemyss Bight, also dam of the sire Beat Hollow and second dam to the excellent young English hurdler Allmankind (Sea the Moon).

BANGALORE (f2), GB by Kingman ex Because (Sadler’s Wells)

€22,000 Prix Pharsale (Maiden 2-year-old fillies, 2,000m/1m2f), November 17, Saint-Cloud

• Owner: Lady Bamford (€11,000 prizemoney, UK-bred, no Owners' Premiums)
• Trainer: André Fabre
• Breeder: Lady Bamford (UK-bred, no Breeders' Premiums)
• Rider: Hugo Besnier

Fourth for his debut over one mile at Deauville at the end of October, Bangalore (Kingman) took advantage of an 8lbs allowance claimed by apprentice Hugo Besnier and clearly dominated in the last furlong after waiting at the rear. On the contrary, the second-placed Dary Ci (Dariyan), who was given a 9lbs allowance, kept close to the pace and fought hard for victory with the leaders. She ended up losing by 1.5 lengths to the winner, more than a length in front of the third-placed Sareina (Rajsaman), who had been kept by the rail near the front from the start but was not taking advantage of any allowance.

Bangalore's full sister just so happens to be listed in the upcoming Tattersalls Breeding sale. Their dam Because (Sadler’s Wells) failed to win but she is a full sister to the classics Yesterday and Quarter Moon, trained, like her, by Aidan O’Brien, in this case for Richard Henry, of Coolmore. Because didn’t really succeed at stud though.

BLUE SWAN (c3), FRA by Rajsaman ex Blue Blue Sea (Galileo)

€20,000 Prix Rheingold (Maiden 3-year-olds, 2,400m/1m4f), November 13, Saint-Cloud

• Owners: Go Horses SPRL & Olivier Weber-Caflisch (€10,000 in prizemoney + Frenchbred, €5,400 provision on 60% Owners' Premiums)
• Trainer: Yann Barberot
• Breeder: Écurie Skymarc Farm (€2,002 in Breeders'Premiums - French sire, 13%)
• Rider: Quentin Perrette

It was a ninth attempt for Blue Swan (Rajsaman), several times placed in handicaps with a 80lbs mark, and twice second in such conditions. This time, back in a maiden race, he travelled in fourth place, then went by challenging Baden Rocks (Champs Elysees), who had taken the lead going into the bend. He gained the upper hand in the last hundred yards and left his rival at a good length.

Blue Swan was bought for € 4000 at the Arqana October sales by trainer Cédric Boutin. Most recently, his 4-year-old maiden gelding brother by Le Havre was sold £ 10,000 at a horse in training sale in England. Winner over one mile at Maisons-Laffitte, his dam Blue Blue Sea (Galileo) also gave a 2-year-old by Wootton Bassett in training with Ambrose Watson, then two fillies by Le Havre.

CAFÉ FLEUR (F2), FRA by Myboycharlie ex Flores del Lago (Encosta de Lago)

Prix de la Croix Saint-Rieuil (2-year-old maiden Fillies, 1,600m/1m AWT), November 10, Chantilly

• Owner: White Birch Farm (€11,000 in prizemoney + Frenchbred, €5,940 provision on 60% Owners' Premiums)
• Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget
• Breeder: Erich Schmid (€2,202 in Breeders'Premiums - French sire, 13%)
• Rider: Coralie Pacaut

Eighth at Saint-Cloud for her debut in September, Café Fleur (Myboycharlie) let the favourite Sentimental Mambo (Deep Impact) set up the pace; For her part, she has always been well placed by the rail, thanks to her 1 draw. With three hundred yards to go, the favourite seemed to be in control of the race but in the final stages, Café Fleur managed to take over. She won by half a length over Sentimental Mambo, who finished just ahead of a closing Shifting Winds (Intello).

Consigned by Haras du Petit Tellier, Café Fleur was sold for € 50,000 to Oceanic Bloodstock at the Deauville sales. Her dam Flores del Lago (Encosta de Lago) couldn't win in eight outings, but she took second place three times in Germany and Nancy. She gave two winners before Café Fleur in four recorded births.

ENTEI (c2), (IRE) by Motivator ex Upbeat Mood (Mizzen Mast)

Prix des Usages (Maiden 2-year-olds, 1,200m/6f), November 10, Chantilly

• Owner: Giovanni Bajetti (€11,000 in prizemoney + Irish-born, Frenchbred, €5,940 provision on 60% Owners' Premiums)
• Trainer: Mario Baratti
• Breeder: Écurie Jean-Louis Bouchard (€2,202 in Breeders'Premiums - French sire, 13%)
• Rider: Maxime Guyon

After five races, including four places in the top four, Entei (Motivator) was able to open his tally, almost three weeks after finishing second to the good Kennella. Drawn 1, he headed straight to the rail on the far side while More Joy (Morandi), drawn wide, took command of the stands side's group. Despite a wide-open stretch about one furlong out on the far side as they went past the turn, Entei kept an edge until the end, with More Joy finishing second at three lengths, ahead of two horses who had travelled with Entei.

Entei is out of Upbeat Mood (Mizzen Mast), stakes-placed in the USA, and sister to Antonoe (First Defense), winner of the Prix d'Aumale (Gr3) and then a Group 1 winner at Belmont Park in the USA.

His Siyouni sister is in the Tattersalls December sale.

MEDIA STREAM (c2), GB by Frankel ex Very Good News, par Empire Maker)

Prix de la Croix Marquet (2-year-old maiden colts & geldings, 1,600m/1m AWT), November 10, Chantilly

• Owner: Khalid Abdullah (€11,000 in prizemoney ; UK-bred, no Owners' Premium)
• Trainer: André Fabre
• Breeder: Juddmonte Farms (UK-bred, no Breeders' Premium)
• Rider: Pierre-Charles Boudot

One of the four unraced runners in this field of 8 maiden colts, Media Stream (Frankel), the last to make his move, still won at the finish by half a length.

Saponaro (Kodiac) had led the race from the start with Ethnic Type (Fast Company) outside. Media Stream was in fifth position. First, the two leaders fought each other without conceding anything to their pursuers but a hundred yards out, Media Stream finally managed to catch up with them and then won, Ethnic Type finally taking a neck to Saponaro for second place.

Media Stream is out of Very Good News (Empire Maker), a daughter of the great Hasili (Kahyasi), dam of champions Dansili, Banks Hill, Champs Elysees, Intercontinental, etc. She didn't run herself. She also gave birth to Weekender (Frankel), third in the Irish Saint Léger (Gr1). Their brother by Gleneagles, placed in France for his debut, and then twice unplaced, was sold this summer at 3 for £ 24,000. He had been entered in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1).

BERNEUIL (g3), (IRE) by Lope de Vega ex Derivatives (Dansili)

€20,000 Prix de la Chapelle Saint-Pierre (Maiden 3-year-olds, 1,300m/6.5f AWT), November 6, Chantilly

• Owners: Antoine Gilibert & Carlos&Yves Lerner (€10,000 in prizemoney + Irish-born, Frenchbred, €5,400 provision on 60% Owners' Premiums)
• Trainers: Carlos&Yves Lerner
• Breeder: Écurie La Vallée Martigny (€1,394 in Breeders'Premiums - non-French sire, 8.5%)
• Rider: Eddy Hardouin

Demolition job operated by Berneuil (Lope de Vega), who left his best rival Cuban Meatball (Camacho) to take the second place at 6.5 lengths ...

It was the third race run by the gelding owned by Antoine Gilibert and his trainers. The colt started off with a 7th place in September last year. Castrated at the end of June, he returned to Fontainebleau (4th) and started here for the first time over an all-weather track.

He was bought for € 40,000 at the Deauville sales in October by his trainers. His sister by Gleneagles made € 60,000 a year later in August. Their dam Derivatives (Dansili), bred by Darley out of a Nassau Stakes (Gr1) winner, won a race in Dieppe before entering stud. Sold twice in a row, she first made € 48,000, barren, in Deauville, then carrying to Sea the Stars - no less! - at Tattersalls a year later, she reached £135,000.

GOLD FAMILY (f2), FRA by Belardo and Modern Family (Excellent Art)

€22,000 Prix de la Seigneurerie (Unraced 2-year-olds, 1,300m/6.5f, AWT), November 6, Chantilly

• Owners: Bernard Giraudon & Écurie Ascot (€11,000 in prizemoney + €5,940 provision on 60% Owners' Premiums)

• Trainers: Didier & Pauline Prod’homme
• Breeder: Écurie Ascot (€1,439 in Breeders' Premiums, non-French sire – 8.5%)
• Rider: Hugo Journiac

Twelve runners including seven fillies and two geldings were at the start. Always well placed behind the leaders, Invincible Ibra (Anjaal) and a keen Allez Burrows (Goken), Gold Family (Belardo) had to be held quite a while before finally being able to have her run as Much Style (Vendôme Style) was unable to make any progress on her side. The two leaders were still fighting for the win when finally Gold Family got her way and came by We Get By (Brazen Beau) outside, whom she beat in the final thirty yards. Back finished Go Burrows, a clear third.

Gold Family was in in the Goffs Arqana breeze-up sale in July but she was withdrawn.

She is the second foal out of Modern Family (Excellent Art), sister to the Prix Robert Papin (Gr2) winner Family One (Dubai Destination). She also won at Saint-Malo and was second in an Italian Listed, from a family loaded with speed.

The mare foaled an Ultra colt in 2019.

FAR ROCKAWAY (f3), GB by Frankel ex Darinza (Dalakhani)

€20,000 Prix Poliglote (Maiden 3-year-olds, 2,100m/10.5f), November 3, Saint-Cloud

• Owner: SAS Racing D (Prizemoney: €10,000 - UK-bred, no Owners' premium)
• Trainer: Philippe Decouz
• Breeder: Apple Tree Stud (UK-bred, no Breeders' premium)
• Rider: Thomas Trullier 

Sold for £ 13,000 this summer at the Newmarket sales after taking three places in four outings in England, Far Rockaway (Frankel) finished seventh on his French debut after a nine-month absence. For this second outing on the Continent, she hit the mark rather easily, controlling her best rival, Bouvardia (Motivator), in the last three hundred yards.

According to Tattersalls, Far Rockaway's dam Darinza (Dalakhani), bred by Princess Zahra Aga Khan, gave birth to a 2-year-old colt by Kingman and then another male by Churchill. She is a sister to the classic winner Darjina (Zamindar). It is also the family of the young and promising sire Almanzor.

ES LA VIDA (f2), GER by Soldier Hollow ex Exotic Rose (Manduro)

€22,000 Prix Douve (Unraced 2-year-old fillies, 1,500m/7.5f), November 3, Saint-Cloud

• Owner: Bernd Dietel (Prizemoney: €11,000 - German-bred, no Owners' premium)
• Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard
• Breeders: Thomas Jordan & Bernd Dietel (German-bred, no Breeders' premium)
• Rider: Cristian Demuro

Rather a clear verdict at the end of this 12-beginner race. Always well placed, Es la Vida (Soldier Hollow) gradually moved closer through the expanding field early in the home stretch and was able to keep out of reach of Belle Évasion (Evasive), who lost ground by going to get early off the bend towards the Stands side. Still, she was clearly beaten by a length and a half despite her female rider claiming an allowance. Always close to the leaders, Ricla (Adlerflug) stayed on a good third at three lengths.

Es La Vida is a full sister - and a stablemate - to the good Emoji (Soldier Hollow), winner of the Prix La Camargo (L) and second in the Prix Vanteaux (Gr3) in the spring of a failed 2020 campaign. Es la Vida was bought back for just € 3,000 last year at the Baden-Baden sales. Fun fact: the sisters of Es La Vida and Ricla failed in the same card in the Prix Isola Bella (L).

MIDTOWN (c2), GB par Dubawi et First City (Diktat)

Prix Antivari (Unraced 2-year-old colts & geldings, 1,500m/7.5f), November 3, Saint-Cloud

• Owner: Godolphin (Prizemoney: €11,000 - UK-bred, no Owners' premium)
• Trainer: André Fabre
• Breeder: Rabbah Bloodstock (UK-bred, no Breeders' premium)
• Rider: Hugo Besnier

Godolphin had not won a Parisian or Deauville maiden since September 23. Oddly enough, the "blues" also fail to do so last year throughout October before resuming their success in November.

This time, it is in Midtown (Dubawi) that the International behemoth owes this resumption with a 9-length success at the expense of one of the leaders in the race, Crowdfunding (Siyouni).

The allowance of his apprentice was not really needed here!! Indeed, the colt completely demolished the field in the last 2 furlongs.

Midtown was paid £ 200,000 as a yearling at the Newmarket sales. His dam First City (Diktat) is a Group 2 winner in Meydan and dam of a Group 3 placed in Meydan. She also finished third in the Falmouth Stakes (Gr1) won by Timepiece and fourth shortly after in one of Goldikova’s Rothschild (Gr1) wins.