26 May 2024
Photo scoopdyga.com
Sunday, May 26, 2024, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris).** – Eight top-class contenders, including two classics winners, lined up for the €250,000 Prix d’Ispahan (Gr1), demonstrating the value of median distances in an international selection program.
Fresh from his victory in the Prix Ganay (Gr1), Haya Zark (Zarak) took the lead at the top of the hill in this 9.5f race, overtaking the returning Blue Rose Cen (Churchill) and the visitor Brave Emperor (Sioux Nation), who were the quickest out of the gates.
They were followed, two by two, from the rail to the centre of the track by Mqse de Sevigné (Siyouni) and Dolayli (Siyouni), then Checkandchallenge (Fast Company) and Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Muhaarar), and finally Horizon Doré (Dabirsim).
In the final straight, Dolayli challenged the leaders alongside Marhaba Ya Sanafi, who was hampered by the slow pace. Halfway down the straight, the jury was still very much out: Haya Zark continued his effort, Dolayli had reached his momentum with Mqse de Sevigné on his left, and Horizon Doré launched down the middle of the track. Blue Rose Cen was trapped behind a wall of horses, and Marhaba Ya Sanafi had thrown in the towel as, 100 yards out, the four pretenders were still battling it out. Mqse de Sevigné took the advantage by a head over Horizon Doré, who was once again remarkable, with Haya Zark showing extraordinary courage to reclaim third place from Dolayli, who passed an important and conclusive test at this level.
Ispahan (Gr1, 1850m) à #ParisLongchamp : Arrivée très serrée et 🥇 in extremis de Mqse de Sevigné (Siyouni) pour @EddeRothschild sur un formidable Horizon Doré (Dabirsim) @GousserieRacing pic.twitter.com/n4p8ircJgS
— France Galop (@francegalop) May 26, 2024
Winner of the Prix Vanteaux (Gr3) as a 3-year-old in 2022 after her first victory, ninth in the Poule d’Essai (French 1,000 Guineas) despite recording the fourth-best time over the final 3 furlongs of a messy race, Mqse de Sevigné was then exclusively aimed at races over 1m2f and above, finishing second five times in her last six outings... Supplemented for her return to the mile in the "Rothschild," she achieved an unprecedented double last year in this race’s 20th edition. She made headlines again by winning the Sumbe Prix Jean Romanet (Gr1). She later finished second to Inspiral in the Sun Chariot Stakes (Gr1) over one mile. She prepared for this new Group 1 by victoriously conceding weight to Skalleti in the Prix Jacques Laffitte (L).
Mqse de Sevigné is a sister to Méandre (Slickly), winner of a Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1). Their full sister, Ondoyante (Slickly), a maiden 13-year-old mare, was sold barren for €2,500 to Paul Nataf at the Arqana mixed sales in February 2022. A Saxon Warrior filly was born in 2020, followed by a Kodiac colt. Neither has debuted or been entered in races yet, but the 3-year-old colt is still in training.