The 2024 February Maiden winners

24 February 2024

Tortisambert à Deauville

Photo: scoopdyga.com

Focus on the maiden winners of the month, updated weekly, on the France Galop racecourses. Here's an opportunity to discover some of the champions of tomorrow...

 

IDAMANTE (g4), IRE by Holy Roman Emperor ex Near Big (Big Bad Bob)

Prix de la Route Bourbon (Maiden 4-year-olds, 1,400m/7f AWT), February 24, 2024, Chantilly

Owner: Gestüt Fahrhof

Trainer: Henry-Alex Pantall

Breeder: Alex. Pereira

Rider: Tony Piccone

After finishing fourth on his debut at two in August 2022 in Hanover and taking an 18-month hiatus, Idamante (Holy Roman Emperor) made a notable return at Cagnes-sur-Mer on the turf, securing a brave third place behind French Defense. A month later, he almost led from start to finish here, not sparing any effort, while racing wide of the leaders. Launching an early attack allowed him to secure a position safe from the strong finish of Le Rockeur (Siyouni) and Big Drift (Brazen Beau), who had taken the lead at the distance but then weakened.

Only a nose separated the first two finishers, with a short neck ahead of Sunlike (De Treville), who briefly threatened at the entrance straight down the centre of the track.

Idamante was unsold as a yearling at Baden-Baden at €19,000, then sold for €14,000 the next year at two, again at Baden-Baden, to the Suborics stable. He was later listed by Andreas Suborics a year later but did not enter the ring. His dam, Near Big (Big Bad Bob), is a sister to the notable Near England (Lord of England), winner of the German St. Leger (Gr3), belonging to a family that also includes the German Derby-winner Next Desert (Desert Style).

 

 

SYMMETRIC POWER (c3), IRE by Dark Angel ex Evening Time (Keltos)

Prix du Parc Laversin (Maiden 3-year-old Colts & Geldings, 1,300m/6.5f AWT), February 23, 2024, Chantilly

Owner: Hisaaki Saito

Trainer: Christopher Head

Breeder: Owenstown Bloodstock

Rider: Pierre Bazire

Finishing fifth on debut three weeks earlier after leading away on his own, Symmetric Power (Dark Angel) was this time held back following a sluggish start. At the front, Wild City (City Light) had taken the lead over Fortunate Son (Dream Ahead), Antico (War Front), and the returning Thomas Shelby (Profitable). In the home straight, the early leader was soon challenged by Thomas Shelby, who moved out to make his effort and was quickly joined by Vibrato (Dabirsim) in the middle of the track. After having to weave through their wake, Symmetric Power finished the strongest, making up more than a length in a few strides near the post.

Vibrato secured second place by a head over Thomas Shelby. Further back, the returning Yoken (Goken) finished pleasingly in fifth.

Symmetric Power is the tenth foal out of Evening Time (Keltos), a double Listed winner, and was sold for £72,000 by his breeder at Tattersalls before being resold by Yeomanstown Stud for €135,000 to Chauvigny Global Equine at Arqana last May.

His best sibling is the sprinter Art Power (Dark Angel), after whom the mating was repeated following several Group 3 wins in the UK and competitive finishes in some of UK’s top sprint races.

 

PARISIAN LEAH (f3), FRA par Bated Breath et Leah Hannah (Iffraaj)

Prix du Carrefour de Constantine (Maiden 3-year-old Fillies, 1,300m/6.5f AWT), February 23, 2024, Chantilly

Owner: Craig Mather

Trainer: Christophe Ferland

Breeder: Craig Mather

Rider: Enzo Corallo

The second least experienced in a field of seven fillies, Parisian Leah (Bated Breath) had made her debut four weeks before this event, securing a fourth place at Deauville over a shortened all-weather mile, where she finished ahead of since-winner Goa. After racing close to the leader Panay (Soldier Hollow), she took the lead entering the straight and easily held off the closing One Mistress (Lope de Vega), who moved up alongside her and finished second, nearly two lengths adrift. A similar gap was maintained to Spezial (Inns of Court) in third, who came from too far back and appeared uncomfortable behind Concertation (Churchill), who was way too keen as she was held up at the rear.

Withdrawn from the Arqana yearling sales, Parisian Leah races for her breeder. Her younger brother by Galiway, however, was sold for €85,000 last October. Her dam is unraced but is a sister to the speedy Dibajj (Iffraaj), winner of the Prix du Petit-Couvert (Gr3) among others. The second dam is the sister of the good sprinter Chineur (Fasliyev), victor of the King’s Stand Stakes (Gr1) at Royal Ascot, now known as the King Charles III Stakes, contested over five furlongs.

A son by Hello Youmzain was born last year.

 

CHASUBLE (f3), FRA par Cloth of Stars et Coiffure (King’s Best)

Prix de la Grange Glacière (Maiden 3-year-old Fillies, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), February 23, 2024, Chantilly

Owner: Peter-Robert Spiller

Trainer: Éric Libaud

Breeder: Peter-Robert Spiller

Rider: Alexis Pouchin

Chasuble (Cloth of Stars) had started off with a second place over 1m1f over Lyon-La Soie’s all-weather in December. After tracking the front two, she opened her account here in the most convincing fashion by taking the lead over one of the front-runners, Nevercry (Almanzor). Her rider moved her out at the start of the straight to avoid being boxed in, simultaneously with Dymka (De Treville) to her outside. This move allowed her to challenge Nevercry straight ahead and win quite comfortably by nearly a length, with Dymka securing the same margin for third, one and a half lengths ahead of a resolute Breathtaking. The beginner Floraison (Intello) finished well in fifth, while one of the favourites, Patricia (Sea the Moon), faltered after showing promise early in the straight.

Chasuble’s dam, the unraced Juddmonte-bred Coiffure (King’s Best), was sold three times in three years: first out of training for £75,000, then in foal to Raven’s Pass for £80,000, and finally in Deauville for €30,000, in foal to Elusive City. These figures are modest for a daughter of Yorkshire Oaks (Gr1) winner and St Leger (Gr1) runner-up Quiff (Sadler’s Wells), herself out of the One Thousand Guineas (Gr1) winner Wince (Selkirk).

At stud, Coiffure produced eight foals before Chasuble, including Combermere (Makfi), now an 8-year-old gelding still racing after 42 starts and 7 wins, achieving a highest rating 87lbs. Four of her foals are still in training, and she produced a filly by Doctor Dino last year.

 

GEORGIAN STAR (c3), FRA by Cloth of Stars ex Maharana (Iffraaj)

Prix du Four à Tuile (Maiden 3-year-old Colts & Geldings, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), February 23, 2024, Chantilly

Owner: Christophe Brun

Trainer: Christopher Head

Breeder: Christophe Brun

Rider: Pierre Bazire

Highly promising when second on debut over the same distance early in February at Deauville, Georgian Star (Cloth of Stars) started as the favourite here and lived up to expectations. Leading from the start, Christophe Brun’s homebred gradually increased the pace in the final straight to then hold off the strong challenge of Gattopardo (Dariyan), who left his trail only at the crucial moment to finish a close neck behind, more than two lengths ahead of the third-placed Honey Badger (Recoletos). Noteworthy was a solid mid-track effort from the race’s sole newcomer, Orfeo (Le Havre), whose effort waned. He initially had taken time to enter the starting stalls.

Georgian Star is the second foal out of the unraced mare Maharana (Iffraaj), following the talented Tigrais (Outstrip), winner of the Prix La Rochette (Gr3), who failed in her subsequent three-year-old season. Since then, Maharana has produced a colt and a filly by Cloth of Stars. She herself was sold twice at auction, first as a yearling for €47,000, then as a two-year-old in training, again at Arqana, where she fetched €50,000 to Christopher Head.

Her 2nd dam is a sister to Miss Satamixa (Linamix) and Miss d’Ouilly (Bikala) by Sicyos, a mare who won a race at Erbray at four.

 

GOA (f3), IRE by No Nay Never ex Music in My Heart (Galileo)

Prix du Rond Fille de l’Air (Maiden 3-years-old Fillies, 1,600m/1m AWT), February 16, 2024, Chantilly

Owners: Écurie Francky Defosse, Frédéric Sauque

Trainer: Nicolas Clément

Breeder: Lynch-Bages Ltd

Rider: Stéphane Pasquier

Noticed for her debut at Deauville in December, where she finished 2nd, Goa (No Nay Never) had not lived up to expectations as the favourite in the same course afterwards, failing to sustain her effort. This time, positioned closely behind the leaders, she made a clear and early statement to win by four lengths effortlessly. She outpaced the returning Avenue Montaigne (Ondoyante), who came from far behind to narrowly take 2nd place from the gallant front-runner L’Ardéchoise (El Kabeir), almost a length ahead of Iberia (Bated Breath) and the favourite, Exceeding Queen (Exceed and Excel), who made a promising debut after running outside and then in Goa’s wake until the start of the straight.

Goa was acquired for €120,000 as a yearling by one of her owners, Frédéric Sauque, at the Arqana sales. Her sister Muzyka (Danehill Dancer) had already placed in a Group 2 in Australia, and her brother William (Fastnet Rock) had won 4 races there. The unraced dam, Music in My Heart (Galileo), is a full sister to Mahler, winner of the Queen’s Vase (Gr3), placed in the St Leger (Gr1) and the Melbourne Cup (Gr1). She was withdrawn from the Tattersalls sales twice, most recently in February. A No Nay Never colt was born to her in 2022.

 

KING PATH (c3), IRE by Kingman ex Stellar Path (Astronomer Royal)

Prix du Carrefour du Clos-la-Barre (Maiden 3-years-old Colts and geldings, 1,600m/1m AWT), February 16, 2024, Chantilly

Owner: Haras Assiro

Trainer: Christopher Head

Breeder: JF. Hanly, HA. Stroud, TC. Stewart

Rider: Ebbe Verhestraeten

Second to a stablemate three weeks prior at Pornichet-La Baule, King Path started here as the clear favourite against six rivals, including a beginner. Quickly well placed behind the front-runner Finimondo (Havana Grey), he easily took the lead one out and won unchallenged. En Plein Air (Due Diligence) continued his effort to the end, securing 2nd place two lengths behind, with Finimondo yielding 3rd place at the very end to the fast-finishing Mia Grande (Inns of Court), barely holding off the newcomer Americanlawyer (American Pharoah).

King Path sold for 140,000 GBP as a yearling and then 68,000 GBP as a 2-year-old to Marco Bozzi, both at Tattersalls. He is out of the good Stellar Path (Astronomer Royal), winner of the Prix des Réservoirs (Gr3) at two and again at 4 in the USA, after being sold for 380,000 euros at the Deauville December sales. Later reacquired for 750,000 USD at Keeneland, she has since produced five foals, including Lose Yourself (Lope de Vega), 2nd in a Group 3 at two and last in her only subsequent outing at 3. A Sea the Stars filly was born to her in 2022. King Path is entered in the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas, Gr1).

 

FANATIC (c3), (IRE) by No Nay Never ex High Quality (Invincible Spirit)

Prix de la Grange de Comelles (Unraced 3-years-old Colts and geldings, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), February 15, 2024, Chantilly

Owners: Wertheimer&Frère

Trainer: Christophe Ferland

Breeders: Wertheimer&Frère

Rider: Enzo Corallo

Fanatic (No Nay Never), the favourite, dominated shortly after going into the straight, having tracked the two front-runners, Nobleman (French Fifteen) and Inspirado (Intello). The latter found trouble mid-straight and ultimately lost by a short head at the post to Nobleman, who finished a gallant second, although nearly three lengths behind the winner, who significantly outpaced the fillies’ maiden top both over the course and in the final 3 furlongs.

Fanatic’s debut had been eagerly awaited since his early entries at Deauville in August and Clairefontaine nine days later, leading to a six-month hiatus. He is the third foal out of High Quality (Invincible Spirit), also bred by the Wertheimers, a winner of two races who repeatedly contested at the Listed and Group level up to a maximum distance of 1,600m (1 mile) and no avail.

A sister to Fanatic, Adeliade (Australia), was recently sold in Deauville for €57,000 to Nicolas Clément after winning her maiden at two and then placing 4th in a Listed race over 1m1/4 at Compiègne. High Quality, out of High Maintenance (Highest Honor), relates to the champion miler Solow (Singspiel). Following Fanatic, High Quality produced Vegetale (Lope de Vega), a 2-year-old filly trained by Yann Barberot, and High Note, a son of No Nay Never.

 

THE WHITE LADY (f3), FRA by The Grey Gatsby ex Three French Hens (Elnadim)

Prix du Château de la Reine Blanche (Unraced 3-years-old Fillies, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), February 15, 2024, Chantilly

Owner: Haras de Saint-Julien

Trainer: Fabrice Chappet

Breeder: Haras de Saint-Julien

Rider: Ioritz Mendizabal

In a somewhat chaotic race with nine debutantes, some obviously lacking maturity, The White Lady (The Grey Gatsby) travelled well behind the leaders, including the front-runner and favourite Better Tomorrow (No Nay Never). She made her move in the straight, soon easily taking the lead while Lilly Lux (Free Port Lux) managed to stand up to the favourite Raybiya (Almanzor), who came wide to finish but couldn’t quite overtake Lilly Lux for second. The two fillies finished just a neck behind the winner, who had to be ridden out to the line as she eased up once in front. Better Tomorrow held on for fourth 1.5 lengths behind, followed by Warmy Sun (City Light), finishing strongly.

The White Lady is the tenth foal out of Three French Hens (Elnadim), a Listed winner over the mile in Munich who has already produced three winners, then a Highland Reel son sold as a weanling for €4,000 to Écurie de Montfort last December in Deauville. This lineage hails from the Wildensteins, with the dam being a sister to the accomplished stayer Vendageur (Galileo), winner of the Prix Chaudenay (Gr2), and through the unraced dam Vahine (Alysheba), descends from the classic performer Virunga (Sodium), victorious in the Malleret (Gr3) and placed in the Prix Saint-Alary, Yorkshire Oaks, and Prix de Diane (Gr1s). Three French Hens herself was offered for sale in 2020, in foal to Elvstroem, and was bought back for €2,500 by Saint-Julien, the breeder and owner of The White Lady.

 

DARK ZEL (f4), FRA by Zelzal ex Hathfa (Dark Angel)

Prix de Balme (Maiden 4-year-olds, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), February 10, 2024, Deauville

Owners: Jean-François Senet, Adrien-Meyer Chiche, Jean-Laurent Ngo, Nicolas Caullery, Stéphane Dumont

Trainer: Nicolas Caullery

Breeders: Nasser Al Mesned, Ali Al Mehshadi

Rider: Théo Bachelot

The sixteenth attempt proved to be the charm for Dark Zel (Zelzal), who led from the front in a slow-paced race, enabling her to fend off a strong challenge from Zuma (Cloth of Stars), always well placed and threatened late by a closing Sea Salinas (Sea the Stars), who started from too far back.

A year after her debut in a claiming race, from which she was purchased for €18,107, and following a third place in a handicap on the AWT at Chantilly off a rating of 68.3lbs, Dark Zel finally secured victory, taking her earnings and premiums over €37,000. She was bought back as a yearling at Deauville for €20,000. Last November, her two-year-old sister by Al Wukair was also unsold at €2,500 at Deauville. Her second dam is a sister to the excellent Group 1 winner and sire Shalaa. A filly by Van Beethoven was born in 2022 and bred by Sabine Perron and Winning Bloodstock Agency.

Dark Zel is also the sibling of a successful Hong Kong racer, Toronado Phantom (Toronado), who has won six races and over a million euros after being sold for £50,000 at the two-year-olds in training sales.

 

SPOTLIGHT (g4), GER by Showcasing ex Sequilla (Siyouni))

Prix du Poteau des Vignes (Maiden 4-year-olds, 1,500m/7.5f AWT), February 9, 2024, Chantilly

Owner: Abdulmagid A. Alyoufsi

Trainer: Carmen Bocskai

Breeder: Gestüt Fahrhof

Rider: Hugo Besnier

A wire-to-wire victory for the jumpy Spotlight (Showcasing), who held off a strong finish from the less experienced Presomption (Lawman) in a field of 4-year-olds comprising only geldings against fillies. Furi de la Houssay (Goken) finished third ahead of the strong closer Milad (Dabirsim).

This was the seventh outing for the German-born Spotlight, who started his career in August ’22 at Baden-Baden but hadn’t placed until his attempts last autumn at Lyon la Soie, culminating here after over three months’ break. His owner purchased the colt for €52,000 at the Baden-Baden sales. More recently, in April 2023, his two-year-old brother by Sea the Stars was sold for £185,000 to Tattersalls to Avenue Bloodstock.

Sequilla (Siyouni), his dam, won the Prix Amandine (L) in France for Gestüt Fahrhof and was also entered in the Prix de Diane... and Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp by André Fabre. Spotlight is her only foal registered at France Galop.

 

TARNAC (f3), FRA by Toronado ex Jarnac (Siyouni)

Prix des Gazons de Coye (Unraced 3-years-old Fillies, 1,600m/1m AWT), February 9, 2024, Chantilly

Owners: Henri de Pracomtal, Haras d’Écouves

Trainer: Fabrice Chappet

Breeders: Henri de Pracomtal, Haras d’Écouves

Rider: Christophe Soumillon

Once in the lead, the pace-setter Vera Cao (Sea the Moon) slowed significantly, turning the race into a sprint in which she battled to the end with Tarnac (Toronado), the other filly at the front throughout the race, who ultimately won quite comfortably by nearly a length, with Around the World (Almanzor) missing out on second by a neck... Gabriella (Blue Point) finished well from too far back in this slow-paced race.

Tarnac is the first foal out of Jarnac (Siyouni), a filly purchased as a yearling for €115,000 at Arqana’s V2 sale by François Doumen. The mare, a winner off a rating of 80.5lbs in a handicap on the Longchamp 7-furlong dash, descends from Gallanta (Nureyev), bred by the Niarchos family and placed in Group 1 races at two and three years old.

 

SUCHET (c3), FRA by Cloth of Stars ex Decize (Kentucky Dynamite)

Prix du Rond du Manège (Unraced 3-years-old Colts and Geldings, 1,600m/1m AWT), February 9, 2024, Chantilly

Owner: Mrs Frédéric Head

Trainer: Victoria Head

Breeder: EURL Freddy Head

Rider: Ludovic Boisseau

Leading from the start in this field of nine beginners, Suchet (Cloth of Stars) broke away in the final 300 meters to win on the bit, more than four lengths ahead... Second, after tracking the pace-setters and making a move at the start of the straight, Eldio (Siyouni) held on bravely for a narrow neck 2nd over a closing Marharry (Harry Angel). The favourite Gretzky (Medaglia d’Oro) finished well in fourth place, two lengths behind.

Suchet is a sibling to the excellent Anodor (Anodin), who sparked classic hopes by winning the Prix de Crévecœur and then the Prix des Chênes (Gr3) before finishing third in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (Gr1). The mare, a three-time winner including a handicap off a rating of 50.7lbs, has produced other winners but none as successful. She was bought back in foal to Le Havre for €45,000 at the breeding sales in 2021 at Deauville. Victoria Head also trains the filly she was carrying. Decize has also produced a colt by Anodin, a full brother to Anodor, since.

 

KEEN APPROACH (f3), FRA by Herald the Dawn ex Keen Glance (Sakhee)

Prix de Villiers (Maiden 3-year-old Fillies, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), February 3, 2024, Deauville

Owners: Patrick Bonnifait, Lucie Pontoir, Véronique Fitoussi

Trainer: Lucie Pontoir

Breeders: Patrick Bonnifait, Lucie Pontoir, Paul Gourraud

Rider: Cristian Demuro

Finishing seventh on her debut in September at Chantilly, followed by a 5th and then a 4th in the subsequent two months, Keen Approach (Herald the Dawn) was coming back off an 81-day layoff, previously showing some bravery as she had kept going to the wire despite a testing trip…

After travelling in fifth on the outside, Keen Approach was soon led by Nevercry (Almanzor), who moved outwards in the final turn. She launched her challenge going into the straight down the middle of the track to overtake a brave Wedgewood Pearl (Hunter’s Light), who only yielded in the final hundred meters. She secured a solid second place, more than a length behind the winner, narrowly holding off the impressive debutante Nevercry, who got hold of herself in the final stages.

Keen Approach is the third foal out of Keen Glance (Sakhee), who ran 36 times over six seasons, claiming five wins, all but one for Patrick Bonnifait, who had claimed her early in her career after her first victory at Salon-de-Provence (ahead of future Listed winner Kenbella).

At stud, Keen Glance first produced Shanghai Spirit (Ectot), a winner of two handicaps at ratings of 52lbs and 58lbs. She’s still in training with Lucie Pontoir. The mare has recently given a Recorder filly who has just turned two.

 

 

MONDO MAN (c3), GB by Mondialiste ex Moghrama (Harbour Watch)

Prix de Fervacques (Maiden 3-year-old Colts & Geldings, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), February 3, 2024, Deauville

Owners: Écuries Serge Stempniak, Pia Brandt, Nils-Petter Gill

Trainer: P&J Brandt

Breeder: Elwick Stud

Rider: Cristian Demuro

Starting slowly here, 111 days after his debut third place, Mondo Man (Mondialiste) moved from the back of the field at the start of the straight and strode to an easy victory, taking the lead over newcomer Georgian Star (Cloth of Stars), who put up a fight to finish second by four lengths, a length ahead of stablemate from Christopher Head’s yard, also making his debut, Talise (Cracksman). Fourth-placed Honey Badger (Recoletos) finished well in his debut.

Defeated by Map of Stars and Gamestars at Longchamp in October, Mondo Man was purchased for €30,000 by Pia Brandt at the Deauville sales. Last year at Tattersalls, his Iffraaj weanling brother was sold to Forge Bloodstock for £16,000. The unraced dam Moghrama (Harbour Watch) was bought for £240,000 as a yearling by Shadwell, who sold her three years later for £16,000 to Elwick Stud, breeder of all siblings. The dam comes from a lineage that includes, for example, Montcontour, winner of the Hardwicke Stakes (Gr2) in 1978…

 

SAXON GIRL (f3), FRA by Saxon Warrior ex Neris (Henrythenavigator)

Prix du Nice Havrais (Maiden 3-years-old Fillies, 1,300m/6.5f AWT), February 2, 2024, Deauville

Owners: Mark Edwards, Écurie JML Racing, Écurie SkyMarc, Mme Marc-Antoine Berghgracht, Hayley O’Connor

Trainer: Tim Donworth

Breeders: Christophe Mongin, Umberto Saini-Fasanotti

Rider: Guillaume Trolley de Prevaux

With just seven runners as opposed to nine in the Colts’ race, this event was unlikely to unfold similarly. However, the race was genuine enough, and Saxon Girl (Saxon Warrior) outperformed all her rivals in the final straight, winning by a solid length over second-place Ceberity Icon (Coati Glory), who had consistently shadowed the leader and favourite Zoe (Ten Sovereigns).

Bakhilova (Fas), always on the outside, secured a commendable third place.

This was a fourth attempt for the winner, returning after nearly six months off. The filly had debuted in June with a 5th place over 7 furlongs at Compiègne, followed by a 6th at Clairefontaine over the mile, and a 2nd place behind Hit It at Saint-Cloud in September - with 4th place Partir on that day, only recently reappearing to claim a pleasing victory at Cagnes-sur-Mer.

Saxon Girl is the third foal out of Neris (Henrythenavigator), a winner in Italy. The mare has also produced a now 5-year-old Myboycharlie mare, still unraced but reportedly in training, a 4-year-old Anodin filly, and a 2023 colt by Battle of Marengo, maintaining the family’s Italian racing heritage as seen in the winner of the day’s other maiden.

 

TORTISAMBERT (c3), FRA by Sioux Nation ex Top Chain (Acclimatation)

Prix de Sainte-Adresse (Maiden 3-years-old Colts & Geldings, 1,300m/6.5f AWT), February 2, 2024, Deauville

Owner: Gérard Augustin-Normand

Trainer: Fabrice Chappet

Breeder: Mathieu Daguzan-Garros

Rider: Stéphane Pasquier

After finishing fourth to Celestial in a strong debut over 7.5f on this track seven weeks prior, Tortisambert (Sioux Nation) started as the favourite on a one-furlong shorter distance this time. Gérard Augustin-Normand’s colt raced from behind while newcomer Symmetric Power (Dark Angel) led comfortably until the straight, where he attempted to break away. However, expertly geared by Stéphane Pasquier and undeniably superior, Tortisambert overtook the leader 250 meters out, cruising to an easy victory by two lengths over Vibrato (Dabirsim), with Southern Meteor (Zoustar) closing strongly for third at just half a length, ahead of Sabroso (Nathaniel), always near.

Tortisambert was purchased for €52,000 at the Deauville sales by John Hammond and Mandore, consigned by his breeder Mathieu Daguzan-Garros’ Haras des Granges. However, his younger sister by City Light did not sell last August at €20,000 and is now trained by Joséphine Soudan.

Tortisambert’s pedigree page lacks boldfaced achievements in the first two generations, but the earlier lines boast a bunch of able sprinters, some precocious, primarily from Italy.