€80,000 Aumale (Gr3): Fréville always better

Thursday, 7th September 2023, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris) – Held at the rear in a €80,000 Prix d'Aumale (Gr3) led by the visiting fillies Alshinfarah (Noble Mission) and Kalispera (Ten Sovereigns), Freville (Gleneagles) initially seemed a bit keen but eventually surged past these front-runners to claim an easy victory, though by just a neck. However, she seemed to have passed them at full speed. She ultimately defeated a gutsy Kalispera, who remains a maiden but is already Gr2-placed, and Alshinfarah, who suffered her first defeat while stepping up to Group level for the first time. The fillies went 5 seconds faster tahn the Prix des Chenes' colts but they were only three so it was always going to be slower. Yet, Freville covered the last 3 furlongs in 33''51, gainst Zabiari's 33''56 after a much softer trip...

Beaten twice on her debut in May at Chantilly and then at Lyon-Parilly, Freville nevertheless always ran in an encouraging manner. She subsequently broke her maiden in the Prix des Naiades at Clairefontaine, defeating Teeran, who is much more than just a pacemaker. Adopting a more forward position for her first test in a Listed, last time out, she was held up longer this time, and her notable turn of foot at the finish proved decisive.

Homebred by Gérard Augustin-Normand, Freville is the first foal out of the unraced Freauville (Le Havre), who was unsold at €10,000, in foal to Goken, last February at Deauville. A filly has since been born. Freville belongs to the Lagardère family that traces back to Lunadix (Breton), the dam of Linamix, Luna Wells, and Long Mick, and also the fifth dam of this promising and willing Freville.