€80,000 Lieurey (Gr3): Soprano holds high note

Thursday, 15 August 2024, Deauville-La Touques Racecourse (Calvados). – The €80,000 Prix de Lieurey (Gr3), supported by the European Breeders’ Fund, is a 1-mile race for 3-year-old fillies. This year, twelve runners lined up, with the favourites Bright Thunder (Night of Thunder) and Rose Bloom (Lope de Vega), who had recently finished in that order in the Prix de Bagatelle (L) at Chantilly over the same distance. Cetera (Nathaniel), the favorite on that day, had finished last without a valid explanation after placing second behind the classic winner Sparkling Plenty in the Prix de Sandringham (Gr2).

Unlike the previous encounter, which took place 47 days earlier, a strong British contingent challenged the French selection, led by Soprano (Starspangledbanner), winner of the Sandringham Stakes Handicap at Royal Ascot, and then fourth in a Group 2 race at Ascot less than three weeks before this new engagement.

Soprano dominated the Prix de Lieurey (Gr3). Held mid-pack during the race, she distanced her rivals to win by three lengths over Rose Bloom, who came from behind with the fastest split in the 2nd-last furlong, moving from tenth to fifth, and then from fifth to second in the final furlong, again posting the best time in this section.

See You Around (Siyouni), who finished fifth in the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Gr1) and in a Listed race over 7 furlongs in early July on this track, also bounced back, finishing a good length behind the second-placed filly after tracking the winner, ahead of Bluedrum (Blue Point) and Cetera, who finished strongly from a long way back in 5th.

Soprano was sold as a foal for €45,000 at Goffs and fetched £100,000 less than a year later when bought by Highclere at Newmarket. Her brother by Starman is entered in the same sales in October 2024. Soprano is the only foal out of Lealas Daughter (Excelebration), an unraced mare, from an unraced dam who nevertheless produced Obviously (Choisir), a triple Gr1 winner in the USA, including the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (Gr1).