€80,000 Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jockey Club (Gr3): Place du Carrousel way better

Sunday 13th August 2023, Deauville-La Touques Racecourse (Calvados). – A 1m2f race for older horses, the €80,000 Prix Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jockey Club (Gr3) was claimed by the overwhelming favourite, Place du Carrousel (Lope de Vega). The 2022 Prix de l’Opéra (Gr1) victor then took a winter break and only managed a fifth-place finish on her return in the Prix Ganay (Gr1). After an absence of over a hundred days, the representative of Al Shaqab Racing and Ballylinch Stud utterly dominated the competition here. She effortlessly took the lead around halfway down the straight, then held her own against the charging Bolthole (Free Eagle), showcasing her clear superiority in this field.

Bolthole finally secured the second spot, less than a length behind and a good length ahead of a commendable Monty (Motivator).

Homebred in Ireland by Ballylinch Stud, Alexis and Fan Adamian, Place du Carrousel is the first foal out of Traffic Jam (Duke of Marmalade). A multiple Listed and Group placegetter, this Nicolas Clément trainee capped her career with a win in the Prix du Conseil de Paris (Gr2). Nicolas Clément currently trains Place du Carrousel's half-sister by Dubawi, the 3-year-old Nariman Point, who faltered on her debut in June.

Both foals fetched high prices at the sales. Place du Carrousel was purchased for €260,000 by Mandore International Agency on behalf of Al Shaqab Racing at the Arqana yearling sales. The following year at the Goffs sales, Tina Rau Bloodstock paid €200,000 for her half-sister.

This bloodline is laden with black-typed performers, the fourth dam being Hiwaayati (Shadeed), who gave a black-type filly and, notably, Hoity Toity (Darshaan), who in turn gave Lillie Langtry (Danehill), a double Group 1 winner. Lillie Langtry then became the dam of super champion Minding (Galileo) and Empress Josephine (Galileo).

Place du Carrousel's Kingman yearling sister fetched over a million pounds at Tattersalls last year. The upcoming Sea the Stars filly will undoubtedly generate much buzz at the same venue this autumn.