€130,000 Sumbe Kergorlay (Gr2): Sober, so cool

Sunday, 20th August 2023, Deauville La Touques Racecourse (Calvados). – A traditional Deauville meeting two-miler, the €130,000 Sumbe Prix Kergorlay (Gr2) showcased a thrilling finish, with the favourite, Sober (Camelot) - already the victor of the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (Gr2) at this level in May - emerging triumphant as anticipated.

Positioned just behind the leading group, alongside the pack, Wertheimer & Frère's homebred trailed his old foe, The Good Man (Manduro), as they surged forward at the start of the final straight. He soon overtook him and managed to fend off the spirited challenge of the English raider, Grand Alliance (Churchill), winning by a solid length. The Good Man held onto third, a length behind Grand Alliance and just a short neck ahead of Diva Donna (Cima de Triomphe) who delivered a blistering finish after travelling at the rear.

Sober is the third foal out of Burma Sea (Lope de Vega), who won once at 2, racing for her breeder, Gestüt Ammerland. She was listed for the spring classics but didn't race post-July. She was later sold privately at the Arqana sales to the Wertheimers for €350,000, given her credentials as a sister to an Italian classic winner. Furthermore, her dam is a full sister to the champion mare, Borgia (Acatenango).

Burma Sea is also the dam of Devil (Siyouni), a gelding who won the Prix Eclipse (Gr3) at 2. Following Sober, she gave Delire (Siyouni), a 2-year-old colt still in training under Carlos Laffon-Parias, a Dubawi filly, and a Dark Angel colt.