9 April 2023
Photo scoopdyga.com
Sunday, April 9, 2023, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). - The consistent Simca Mille (Tamayuz) completely reassured his connections in the €130,000 Prix d'Harcourt (Gr2), 133 days after he failed in the Japan Cup (Gr1) in Tokyo, where he suddenly gave in as he was still near the leaders going into the final straight. The Haras de la Pérelle-bred horse this time travelled in fourth position behind the leader Calgary (Olympic Glory) and Haya Zark (Zarak), who looked more nervous than before his latest Exbury (Gr3) win. Simca Mille was slightly behind Alter Adler (Adlerflug) on a second line. At the same time, at the rear of the field, the favourite Al Hakeem (Siyouni) was over-reached by another runner at the time of a sudden slowdown, which was to deprive him of giving his best here.
In the final straight, Simca Mille could move early and take the lead two furlongs out while gently moving towards the middle of the course, Iresine (Manduro) gradually found his bearings and started pursuing its two-year younger opponent. Finally, Simca Mille releasing all his potential this time, Iresine had to settle for second at nearly a length. Kertez (Intello) finished well third at a good length ahead of Al Hakeem and Haya Zark together.
Simca Mille's dam is Swertia (Pivotal), who won twice over 1m1/2 for Haras de la Pérelle. Simca Mille is her first foal, followed by Sadia, a 3-year-old by Kodiac, who missed her debut in November at Deauville, a 2-year-old by Invincible Spirit and a Sea the Moon yearling colt.
Simca Mille was unsold at 68,000 euros at Arqana. More recently, in December 2021, at the Tattersalls breeding sales, Flight to Fancy (Galileo), a winning sister of Swertia in foal to Cracksman, was sold for 10,000 pounds to Westgate Stud.
Swertia comes from an Aga Khan-managed bloodline. Haras de La Perelle had acquired her dam Sanjida (Polish Precedent), a Group-placed mare and sister of the champion racing mare Sarafina (double Prix Saint-Alary and Prix de Diane, before winning the following year the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud), before selling her at the Arqana breeding sales in 2013 for 320,000 euros to Eliza Park International.