30 April 2023
Photo scoopdyga.com
Sunday, April 30, 2023, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). - 6-year-old gelding Iresine (Manduro) made a promising seasonal return by finishing second in the Prix d'Harcourt (Gr2) and took brilliant revenge on his junior Simca Mille (Tamayuz) in the final stretch of the Prix Ganay (Gr1) over 2,100 metres. Representing Betrand Millière, Christian Gatelle and the Gauvin family, Iresine and his regular rider Marie Velon secured their second victory at the highest level, six months after their win in the Prix Royal-Oak (Gr1) over 3,100 metres.
Iresine was long at the rear, with Sabio Cen (Zarak) leading the race. The horse trained by Jean-Paul Gauvin waited until the final stretch to make his move, in a race that only really started down the hill when the English raider Bay Bridge (New Bay) tried to make up ground after running in fourth behind Simca Mille. The favourite Vadeni (Churchill), who was coming back from a Winter lay-off, stayed on in their wake along with Place du Carrousel (Lope de Vega) and Iresine.
Turning into the final stretch, Simca Mille and Bay Bridge took over and they fought until the end, but they could not keep up with Iresine when he came by in the middle of the course. Iresine finally won by a good length ahead of a brave Simca Mille, who faced Iresine at equal weight this time after receiving a kilo three weeks prior, with Bay Bridge a head behind in third. Vadeni performed well for his return to competition, finishing a promising fourth a length and a half behind the leading trio.
Bred by Pierre Joyaux and Marie-Louise van Dedem in Normandy, Iresine was sold for only 6,000 € as a yearling at Deauville to Jean-Pierre Gauvin, his trainer and co-owner.
Iresine is the second foal out of Inanga (Oasis Dream), a direct descendant of Riverqueen (Luthier), winner of the Poule d'Essai and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud for the Head family. The horse trained by Jean-Pierre Gauvin is her only winner to date. She has a 3-year-old daughter by Joshua Tree, also trained by the professional from the Centre-Loire region. Next, there is a 2-year-old by Chemical Charge, also in training with Jean-Pierre Gauvin, and a yearling colt by Mondialiste.
Iresine's sister by Joshua Tree, Purple Lady, was unsold at 6,000 € at the iwantthewinner.com online sales in November and Inanga herself was also unsold at the same session for 80,000 €.