Qatar Chaudenay Report: Valia's brilliant redemption

3 October 2020

Qatar Chaudenay Report: Valia's brilliant redemption

Photo scoopdyga.com

Saturday, October 3, 2020, ParisLongchamp. - The only filly at the start of the Qatar Prix Chaudenay (Gr2), a 3-year-old race contested over 1m7f, Valia (Sea the Stars) nevertheless won easily, by two lengths, after waiting in last for the homestretch to make her decisive move. The Aga Khan homebred took over about 300 yards out and beat Nemean Lion (Golden Horn), who for his part kept a short neck after struggling to overcome Step By Step (Sidestep), always pointed in front alongside Mykiss (Makfi).

Winner of her first two races this year, Valia then took second place in the Prix Minerve (Gr3) at Deauville behind Wonderful Tonight, a contender in the Qatar Prix de Royallieu (Gr1) this time. On the other hand, she was then clearly disappointed in the Qatar Prix Vermeille (Gr1), finishing eighth after a bad run.

Valia is the first filly out of Veda (Dansili), a Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas-Gr1) and Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein (Gr2) second, and herself out of Vadapolina (Trempolino), winner of the Prix de Psyché ( Gr3) and Cleopatre (Gr3)


What they said

  • Alain de Royer Dupré (trainer of Valia, 1re)

“Today was her first attempt at both the ground and the trip but she has had an excellent run there. She is a classy filly. After she suffered some interference in the Vermeille, we couldn’t take the risk in running her in a race as high standard as the Arc. She has done that easily, even if the distance was a shade long. She will be better over 2,400m but we didn’t have much of a choice with our program and we will continue to aim towards the Prix Royal-Oak (Group 1). Realistically, there are no other opportunities this year for her at Group 1 level.”

  • Christophe Soumillon (jockey of Valia, 1re)

“Today was the perfect entry for her. She is a quality filly and acts well on the heavy ground. We didn’t have to cover too much extra ground there and that has enabled us to win comfortably. We have gone a normal gallop, but I have rarely seen the track as heavy as that”

  • Lisa-Jane Graffard, representative of Godolphin in France (owner of Nemean Lion, 2nd)

“We are delighted. He has just run in a Quinte and now he is placed at Group level. Mr Fabre picked the perfect race. He has really progressed and will be very interesting over the longer distances next season. He managed the ground conditions well. Mickaël Barzalona said that is was extremely heavy. Nemean Lion has always been a nice horse. Last year he was slightly disappointing but never ran a bad race really. He continues to change physically and is getting stronger all the time.”

  • Yann Barberot (trainer of Step by Step, 3rd)

“I am pleased with that. He has shown there that he is amongst the best stayers in France. He was very close to taking the second place, he didn’t get it but wasn’t beaten very far and showed great courage. He really is a good horse over these types of distances. Today everything was in his favour. He loves the soft ground. He goes to the sales tonight and if he isn’t sold we will have a lovely stayer for next year. He could run in the Prix du Cadran (Group 1) in 2021.”