€130,000 Sumbe Nonette (Gr2): Jannah Rose shows true colours again

Sunday, 20th August 2023, Deauville La Touques Racecourse (Calvados). – Entering as the odds-on favourite in the €130,000 Sumbe Prix Alec Head (Gr2), formerly known as Prix de la Nonette, and making her return following her misstep in the Prix de Diane Longines (French Oaks, Gr1), the Saint-Alary (Gr1) victress Jannah Rose (Frankel) found herself hard-pressed to overcome and just hold the pace-setter Lumiere Rock (Saxon Warrior). The representative of Al Shira’aa Farms had to stay alert after a two-month hiatus.

This is a commendable outcome just five weeks ahead of the Qatar Arc de Triomphe weekend and the Prix de l’Opéra Longines (Gr1), her obvious next step over the same distance.

Previously fourth in the Irish Oaks (Gr1), Lumiere Rock produced the same form as her second-place performance in the Ribblesdale Stakes (Gr2) at Ascot. She was edged out by a mere head, this time, a length and a half clear of Eternal Hope (Teofilo), the first to challenge Lumiere Rock as they exited the final bend. Another Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1) disappointing runner, Pensée du Jour (Camelot), was making her debut under the banner of Wertheimer & Frère, having acquired the Wildenstein family's racing estate. Held in the rear for most of the race, she lagged at the decisive moment but ran commendably, finishing fourth out of five, two lengths behind the first three home.

Jannah Rose fetched €650,000 as a yearling at Goffs. Last year at Goffs, her elder 6-year-old sister, In My Business (Roderic O’Connor), went for €46,000, in-foal to Starspangledbanner. Ballyhane purchased her. Their unraced dam, Sophie Germain (Indian Ridge), also produced Gr2 winner Creggs Pipes (Rip Van Winkle). The second dam notably clinched the Oaks d'Italia (Gr1).

A 2-year-old daughter of Invincible Spirit recently exchanged hands for €280,000 to David Redvers as a yearling.