€350,000 Sumbe Morny (Gr1): Vandeek goes further than Ramatuelle

Sunday, 20th August 2023, Deauville La Touques Racecourse (Calvados). – Favourite across the board heading into a fiercely contested €250,000 Sumbe Prix Morny (Gr1), the French filly Ramatuelle (Justify) looked poised for victory about one furlong out, but she met her match in the form of the undefeated English raider, Vandeek (Havana Grey). Having long bided his time amidst the field, he surged past her in the final strides.

The representative of KHK Racing ultimately crossed the post a narrow neck ahead of the French filly. Together, they left in their wake the much-touted Irish colt River Tiber (Wootton Bassett), victor of the Coventry Stakes (Gr2) at Royal Ascot, who had endeavoured to match the winner's blistering acceleration but could only stay on.

Winner for his debut over the same distance at Nottingham in July, Vandeek had subsequently made a splash, again over 6 furlongs, in the Richmond Stakes (Gr2) at Goodwood. Bred in Great Britain by Kelly Thomas' Maywood Stud, Vandeek was initially sold for £52,000 as a weanling and then for £42,000 as a yearling in December last year before being acquired by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for a significant £625,000 at the Tattersalls breeze-ups this past April.

His breeze must have made an impression! And interestingly, his third dam, Bamières, bred in France, is none other than the dam of the champion Balbonnella, also French and the dam of the legendary sprinter and sire Anabaa, among others...