The August 2024 Maiden Winners

 

BADIANA (f2), FRA by City Light ex Boscastle (Sea the Stars)

Prix de la Cascade (Unraced 2-years-old Fillies, 1,600m/1m), August 29, 2024, ParisLongchamp

Owner: Écurie des Charmes

Trainer: Christophe Ferland

Breeder: Haras de Beauvoir

Rider: Cristian Demuro

Held up along the rail behind the leading fillies, Janayen (Mehmas) and the favourite Lady Diora (Medaglia d'Oro), Badiana (City Light) had to shoulder her way out at the furlong marker. However, she managed to rally and get up in the final strides to win by a nose from Lady Diora, with Janayen a length further back in third after a game effort. Blown by the Wind (Waldgeist), who had made an early challenge, finished fourth, ahead of La Bonne Étoile (Sea the Moon), hampered by the winner's move at a crucial point in the race.

Badiana is the second foal out of Boscastle, a maiden twice placed on the all-weather in Britain. The filly was sold for €115,000 at the Arqana v2 yearling sales to Meridian. Her third dam, Media Nox (Lycius), produced the Prix de Diane (Gr1) winner, Nebraska Tornado (Storm Cat), and Mirabilis (Lear Fan), the dam of the Classic winner Westover (Frankel).

 

LORD WOOTTON CEN (c2), (IRE) by Wootton Bassett ex Barleysugar (Kyllachy)

Prix de Fontenoy (Unraced 2-year-old Colts and geldings, 1,600m/1m), August 29, 2024, ParisLongchamp

Owner: Yeguada Centurion

Trainer: Victoria Head

Breeder: Yeguada Centurion

Rider: Christophe Soumillon

Two colts pulled clear in the closing stages of this €50,000 race for unraced juveniles. The pacesetter, Dropshot (New Bay), long held the favourite, Lord Wootton Cen (Wootton Bassett), who mounted his challenge after moving by the rail from midfield. The pair crossed the line with nearly a length between them.

Further back, Best Secret (Persian King) finished strongly, five lengths adrift, after a slow start and some hesitation in the final straight. The fifth-placed Think Giant (Lope de Vega) ran creditably after being forced wide without a lead.

Entered in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (Gr1), Lord Wootton Cen is the third foal out of Barleysugar (Kyllachy), winner of one race on the all-weather surface at Kempton Park and two further races in the USA, where she also placed at Group 3 level. Her first filly, Always Sweet (No Nay Never), was sold as an unraced mare and retired from training at Deauville in February 2023 for €52,000 to Écurie d'Haspel. Barleysugar's second dam, Only Royale (Caerleon), won the Yorkshire Oaks (Gr1) and finished third in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Gr1).

Barleysugar has a 2023 filly by Teofilo, also bred by Yeguada Centurion.

 

DONEGAL (g2), FRA by Dariyan ex Desire to Win (Lawman)

Prix d’Argentan (Maiden 2-year-olds, 1,500m/7.5f AWT), August 22, 2024, Deauville

Owner: Paul Harley

Trainer: Jérôme Reynier

Breeder: Paul Harley

Rider: Cristian Demuro

Following two fifth-place finishes over six furlongs at Deauville in July and then over seven furlongs two weeks before this first victory, Donegal (Dariyan) was the favourite for his debut on the all-weather surface. After travelling in sixth, he moved halfway down the straight, easily taking the lead. He then held on, perhaps more comfortably than it appeared, to fend off the strong late challenge of Lovely Dream (Le Brivido), who had been held up in traffic behind the leaders on the rail.

The newcomer Codya (City Light) finished nearly two lengths further back in third, running a creditable race.

Donegal was bred by his owner, Paul Harley. He is out of Desire to Win (Lawman), a filly who won her third and final start at three years old at Saint-Malo before being sold at Arqana in December for €42,000, half her yearling price at the same venue.

Since then, she has produced two winners of one race each, and now Donegal. She is a sister to the talented miler Don Bosco (Barathea) and hails from the family of Enable and Flintshire, whose third dam is the fourth dam of today's winner. She has a 2023 colt by Zarak.

 

BETTER TOGETHER (f2), IRE by Oasis Dream ex Shared Account (Dansili)

Prix de Fierville (Maiden 2-years-old Fillies, 1,200m/6f), August 20, 2024, Deauville

Owner: Juddmonte Farms

Trainer: André Fabre

Breeder: Juddmonte Farms Ireland

Rider: Mickaël Barzalona

After a clear defeat by the experienced Corey Beach on her debut, Better Together (Oasis Dream) was the obvious favourite for her second start, again over six furlongs. She quickly took up a prominent position on the stands' side in the larger group. In the centre of the course, Star of Brittany (Starspangledbanner) was leading a group of three followed by Reality Cen (Justify).

With three furlongs to go, Star of Brittany was still leading, while Better Together was shadowed by the unraced Rayevka (Blue Point). At the furlong pole, Star of Brittany began to fade and Better Together took over, but she was challenged all the way to the line by a promising Rayevka, who finished a close second, just a short neck behind. Star of Brittany held on for third, nearly two lengths adrift, with Morena Queen (Too Darn Hot) finishing well a length further back in fourth.

Better Together is out of Shared Account (Dansili), a sister to Zambezi Sun (Dansili), winner of the Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1), and Kalabar (Kahyasi), winner of the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano (Gr2). Shared Account won one race and has produced Pocket Square (Night of Thunder), winner of the Prix des Réservoirs (Gr3).

 

BURHAN (c2), GB by Siyouni ex Jousi (Dubawi)

Prix de Saint-Hymer (Maiden 2-years-old Colts and geldings, 1,200m/6f), August 20, 2024, Deauville

Owner: Imad Alsagar

Trainer: André Fabre

Breeder: Blue Diamond Stud Farm

Rider: Mickaël Barzalona

A beaten favourite for his debuts in the Prix de Crèvecœur, over 7.5f, Burhan (Siyouni) was once again the punters' choice as he was shortened to 6 furlongs. Too keen after a sluggish start 23 days prior, he hadn't been able to sustain his effort in the last furlong despite a nice bit 2 out. Once again held up early here, he still easily overcame his rivals in the last furlong and won by a good length over Ironico (Gift Box), 3rd three weeks earlier on this trip. Both are in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (Gr1), run over 7 furlongs.

Burhan was bought back for £120,000 as a yearling at the Tattersalls sales. He is the first foal out of Jousi (Dubawi), a winner at Ascot on her second start as a 2-year-old over seven furlongs. She failed to win again in six subsequent attempts over distances ranging from seven furlongs to a mile and a half.

Josi is herself out of Soon (Galileo), a daughter of the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Classic Park (Robellino), who won a Listed race and was placed six times.

 

SELEMIAH (f3), (IRE) by Golden Horn ex Shendeliya (Pivotal)

Prix Freddy Palmer (Maiden 3-year-olds, 2,000m/1m2f), August 13, 2024, Deauville

Owner: S. A. Aga Khan

Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard

Breeder: S. A. Aga Khan

Rider: Mickaël Barzalona

The favourite, Selemiah (Golden Horn), comfortably won this maiden race, finishing four lengths ahead of Villa Castello (Frankel) without being pushed. After trailing slightly early on, Selemiah dominated the final stages. Dschingis Punk (Dschingis Secret) led initially but faded, while Lord Sinclair (Almanzor) lost third place to the fast-finishing Mr L’Apothicaire (Kodiac).

This was Selemiah's fourth race. She started her career with a fifth-place finish over 1m4f at Saint-Cloud in May, followed by a third-place finish at Dieppe over the same distance in June, and then a runner-up spot over 1m3f at Clairefontaine in July before securing her first victory here.

Selemiah is the first foal out of Shendeliya (Pivotal), who won two races, including a handicap rated 77 pounds. Shendeliya is a sister to Sheraz (Sea the Stars), a Listed winner in France and Group 1-placed in Australia. Selemiah's fourth dam is Shemaka (Nishapour), a winner of Prix de Diane (French Oaks, Gr1). A yearling sister to Shendeliya by Ghayyath will be offered at the Newmarket sales in October, and a brother to Selemiah by Zarak was born in 2023.

 

SHANDANA (f2), IRE by Sea the Moon ex Shanndara (Mizzen Mast)

Prix de la Reboursière (Unraced 2-year-old Fillies, 1,600m/1m), August 10, 2024, Deauville

Owner: S. A. Aga Khan

Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard

Breeder: S. A. Aga Khan

Rider: Mickaël Barzalona

Entered in the Prix d’Aumale (Gr3) and favourite in a race also featuring well-bred fillies, Shandana (Sea the Moon) allowed the supplemented Ruchbah (City Light) to take the lead, travelling behind her along the rail with Garamante (Omaha Beach) on her side. The leader attempted an early move, but after briefly waiting, Shandana took control, winning by nearly a length. Blue Lilas (Blue Point) finished well to take third, a length back, with Mistress (Lope de Vega) two lengths behind.

Shandana is the first foal out of Shanndara (Mizzen Mast), a 15f-winner in September of her 3-year-old season. Shanndara is a daughter of Shankardeh (Azamour), who won the Chaudenay (Gr2), also a two-miler. Shanndara was sold in foal to Gleneagles at Goffs last November for €32,000 to Oakley Stud.

 

NESTHORN (c2), GB by Expert Eye ex Swiss Range (Zamindar)

Prix de Montaigu (Unraced 2-year-old Colts and geldings, 1,600m/1m), August 10, 2024, Deauville

Owner: Juddmonte Farms

Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard

Breeder: Juddmonte Farms Ireland

Rider: Maxime Guyon

Before the race, more attention was given to the supplemented Just (Justify), who was unsold at €220,000 at the Arqana breeze-ups, and Opus One (Sea the Stars), a £150,000 yearling purchase, even after Just unseated his rider going down the post. However, Nesthorn (Expert Eye) quickly took over from the fastest at the start, Tommy Boy (Intello), and held off a strong challenge from Opus One in the final stages. The Juddmonte Farms homebred ultimately won by nearly a length, extending his lead at the finish, while Al Aali (City Light) secured third place, five lengths behind.

Nesthorn is the third foal out of Swiss Range (Zamindar), who won the Pretty Polly Stakes (Gr3) before finishing 8th in the Prix de Diane (Gr1) and 4th in the Nassau Stakes (Gr1). She later had two unsuccessful runs in North America. Swiss Range is a daughter of Spanish Sun (El Prado), who won the Ribblesdale Stakes (Gr2) and is a full sister to the sire Spanish Moon. The fourth dam is the renowned classic producer Bourbon Girl (Ile de Bourbon).

Nesthorn’s full sister, Bernese, was purchased as a maiden last year in England by Charlie Gordon-Watson for just £5,000. Stuart Williams bought their elder Exceed and Excel all-weather winning sister at the same venue for £12,000.

 

LIBYAN PHAROAH (c2), FRA by American Pharoah ex Kenlova (Kendargent)

Prix de Tour-en-Bessin (Maiden 2-year-old Colts & Gedlings, 1,400m/7f), August 6, 2024, Deauville

Owner: Mohamed Eldubeda

Trainer: Yann Barberot

Breeder: Haras Saint-James

Rider: Christophe Soumillon

Partnered for the first time with Christophe Soumillon after finishing 10th on debut at Craon in June over 6.5 furlongs and then securing two second places at Chantilly over 7 furlongs and Saint-Malo over 1 mile, Libyan Pharoah (American Pharoah) benefited from an inspired ride to lead from start to finish, winning by a length over Golden Brown (Persian King). Golden Brown finished well yet again, indicating promise for future races. Highly regarded, the third-placed Cacofonix (Lope de Vega) did not have an ideal run, while the favourite Green Cape (Lope de Vega), coming from behind, finished strongly but only managed fourth place.

Libyan Pharoah is the first foal out of Kenlova (Kendargent), a maiden winner and placed in the Prix du Bois (Gr3). Kenlova is out of Ice Love (Three Valleys), who won the Prix Ronde de Nuit (L) on Chantilly's all-weather track at three. She has also produced another placed runner in the Prix du Bois (Gr3) and a Prix Eclipse (Gr3) placer, both juveniles' contests. Libyan Pharoah was purchased for €76,000 as a yearling at the Arqana October Sale.

 

REINE DE MEDICIS (f2), (IRE) by Romanised ex Bianca de Medici (Medicean)

Prix de Falaise (Maiden 2-year-old Fillies, 1,400m/7f), August 6, 2024, Deauville

Owner: Édouard de Rothschild

Trainer: André Fabre

Breeder: SCEA du Grand Chêne

Rider: Alexis Pouchin

Favoured after finishing second to the classic hopeful Zarigana on debut at Chantilly 23 days prior, Reine de Medicis (Romanised) confirmed her promise with a comfortable victory at Deauville. Haviung travelled behind the leaders along the rail, she stayed close to the inside entering the home straight and overcame Victory Folie (City Light) and Spring Lily (Intello), who had taken the lead early on, before confidently fending off the strong late challenge from Khadidja (Study of Man) coming from the back.

In the end, Édouard de Rothschild's filly left Kirsten Rausing's runner-up from England a length behind, with Spring Lily another two lengths back.

Reine de Medicis, out of the English winner Bianca de Medici (Medicean), was bought as a foal for €38,000 by Broadhurst and Equos at Arqana and then sold for €170,000 the following August to Meautry. In December last year at Deauville, her sister by Waldgeist fetched €115,000, purchased by Meridian.

It's worth noting that Reine de Medicis' dam's brother, Alcantor (New Bay), had just won the Prix Thomas Bryon (Gr3) for Rothschild before finishing second in the Critérium de Saint-Cloud (Gr1). This family also includes the champion Treve (Motivator).