€130,000 Pomone (Gr2): Aventure, the hard way

Deauville, Saturday, August 17th, 2024 – The €130,000 Prix de Pomone (Gr2), an extended mile-and-a-half fillies and mares contest, was all but given to the heavily favoured Aventure (Sea the Stars), two months after her fourth-place finish in the Prix de Diane Longines (French Oaks, Gr1). Indeed, the Wertheimer & Frère homebred lived up to expectations, but the outcome remained uncertain until the very end. The suspense intensified as she moved from the rear, sweeping past a cluster of rivals in the centre of the track to take command. The Irish filly Trevaunance (Muhaarar), winner of the Prix de Psyché (Gr3) and Prix de la Nonette (Gr2) in the summer of 2022, sustained her challenge after racing alongside the pacesetter Angel Guidance (Mastercraftsman) and was narrowly denied, finishing a short neck behind Aventure, with a short head back to the consistently well-placed One Evening (Galileo). However, the fourth-placed Iznik (Zarak) couldn't quite maintain her momentum after making an early move in the straight and finished fourth, a length and a half adrift.

Aventure made a winning debut in the Prix de Toutevoie at Chantilly in September, defeating Siyandra (Medaglia d'Oro). She subsequently placed second in the Prix des Réservoirs (Gr3) and the Prix de la Seine (L) on her seasonal reappearance this year. She then secured her first Group victory impressively over 1 1/2 miles in the Prix de Royaumont (Gr3) before being brought back in trip for the "Diane." She currently holds an entry in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Aventure is the tenth foal out of the talented mare Balladeuse (Singspiel), winner of the Prix de Royallieu (Gr2) and dam of the Classic winner Left Hand (Dubawi), who triumphed in the Prix Vermeille (Gr1) after finishing second in the Prix de Diane (Gr1).

The winner's sister Nohand (Dansili), also a full sister to Romancière, was sold for €500,000, in foal to Camelot, at the Arqana 2022 Breeding sales, where Stroud Coleman Bloodstock secured her.

Balladeuse is out of the exceptional mare Featherquest (Rainbow Quest), dam of notable performers, including Plumania (Anabaa).

Aventure has a 2-year-old full brother in training with André Fabre and a yearling sister by Night of Thunder named Maine.