€80,000 Allez France Longines (Gr3): American Sonja, to be continued...

Sunday, 28 April 2024, Hippodrome ParisLongchamp (Paris) – Nine fillies lined up for the €80,000 Prix Allez France Longines (Gr3), a year after the victory of the 5-year-old German mare, India. This year, another German-trained runner, Quantamera (Lope de Vega), led the 1m2f race, followed closely by the Irish filly American Sonja (Tasleet), flanked by the favourite, Ottery (Dubawi) from stall eight, with Tygress (Kingman) and Sea the Lady (Sea the Moon) also in contention just behind.

In the final straight, American Sonja pulled away along the rail from the field while Sea the Lady launched a solo chase. However, she couldn't catch the statuesque filly and faltered at the end, allowing the returning Pensée du Jour (Camelot) to snatch second place at the post.

American Sonja has been sold three times already: as a foal at Tattersalls for £22,000, as a yearling for £30,000, and at two, when Peter Trainor bought her for £95,000 just two years ago ate the Craven Breeze-up in Newmarket.

She raced four times at two, winning her maiden at the end of the season. Last year, she won her second race of the season at ParisLongchamp in the Prix Volterra (L) in June over one mile. After placing second in three Group 3 races over the summer, she appears to have taken a step up here, as she won this highly competitive Group 3 race with ease.

She comes from an American family.

The younger sister of American Sonja by Mohaather was bought back for £65,000 last year as a yearling, after being sold for €50,000 as a foal to Brian Grassick Bloodstock.