€130,000 Calvados (Gr2): Les Pavots in full bloom

Saturday, 19th August 2023, Deauville Racecourse (Calvados). - Fresh from her UK maiden win on soft ground at Goodwood, Ornellaia (Night of Thunder) took the lead despite drawing gate 8 in the €130,000 Prix du Calvados (Gr2). She maintained the lead, keeping at bay the favourite, Laulne (Starspangledbanner), who had trailed her from the outset after being held back. However, the real threat came from the back with a burst of class from Les Pavots (No Nay Never), who overtook the leader in the final hundred metres to clinch victory by over a length. Laulne finished third, nearly two lengths behind, with a commendable Les Bleus (Blue Point) taking fourth.

The winner is the Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr1), which is her next natural target. After winning on her debut in May over 6 furlongs at Chantilly, she then finished second in the Prix des Rêves d'Or (L) at Vichy two weeks later. Despite being subsequently bested by Ramatuelle and Zorken in the Prix du Bois Longines (Gr3), she had recently secured a win at Vichy in the Prix des Jouvenceaux et des Jouvencelles Bernard Ferrand (L), now holding her ground over the same 7-furlong trip on Deauville's turf.

Les Pavots was bred by Coolmore and boasts an impeccable pedigree. She's out of the Group 3-placed Sparrow (Oasis Dream), who earlier gave the elegant Sir Dragonet (Camelot), victor of the Vase (Gr3) at Chester and the Cox Plate (Gr1) in Moonee Valley, Melbourne. Sparrow also has a Camelot yearling colt booked for the Orby sale at Goffs in Ireland.

Sparrow's dam is All Too Beautiful (Sadler's Wells), who placed in the Epsom Oaks (Gr1) and is a full sister to Galileo…