31 July 2017
photo scoopdyga.com
Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes winner Roly Poly bravely held on and prevailed in a red hot renewal of the Prix Rothschild, first Group 1 of the Lucien Barrière Summer meeting at Deauville...
Second to her stablemate Winter in the Irish One Thousand Guineas of Ireland (Gr1) and the Coronation Stakes (Gr1) at Royal Ascot, 3yo Roly Poly (War Front) finally took the helm in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes (Gr1) in Newmarket and she duly confirmed her leading position over Deauville's straight mile in the Prix Rothschild (Gr1). Positively ridden by Ryan Moore, Roly Poly just kept an edge up until the end, beating French 3yo filly Via Ravenna (Raven's Pass) by a short neck with 3rd-placed Siyoushake (Siyouni) only benten a sort head for 2nd place. The defending champion Qemah (Danehill Dancer) closed fast from the rear but failed to reach the podium in 4th.
Winner of the Prix Imprudence (Gr3) in the spring but completely dominated in the French One Thousand Guineas (Gr1), Haras de Saint-Pair's Via Ravenna only finished 4th ober six furlongs before this excellent come back. As for Siyoushake, she finished 3rd in one of the hottest Gr3s ever behind Taareef and Zelzal in the Prix Maurice de Nieuil (Gr2).
Roly Poly is a daughter of US sire War Front and Misty For Me (Galileo), winner of four Group1s for the same connections than those of the filly. She was unsold $575,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September sale.
Siyoushake's trainer, Freddy Head, enjoyed a rather fine Sunday since he also saddled the best 2yo on the card. Tantheem (Teofilo) won the 6 1/2 furlongs Prix de Cabourg (Gr3) by more than three lengths. Bred by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, the filly had just won her maiden over Chantilly's sand. The winner of the Prix de Lisieux, a highly regarded beginners' race, Polydream (Oasis Dream)is also trained by Head for breeders Wertheimer & Brother.