€80,000 Psyché Sky Sports Racing (Gr3): Almara back in front

Sunday, July 28, 2024, Deauville-Touques Racecourse (Calvados). – Quickly taking the lead in a field of five fillies in single file, Almara (Almanzor) was the first to enter the final straight in the €80,000 Prix de Psyché Sky Sports Racing (Gr3), a race for 3-year-old fillies over 1 mile and 2 furlongs. Zied ben M’rad's homebred then fended off all challengers to win comfortably by nearly a length over Uluru (Zoffany), who had raced from the back, and the favourite Rock’n Swing (Camelot), who finished a short head behind, just a head ahead of the brave Rose Jaipur (Doctor Dino).

Despite the good pace early on, the fillies finished closely grouped together.

Almara had run as the favourite in the Prix Mélisande (L), last time out, after finishing second in the Coolmore St Mark’s Basilica Saint-Alary (Gr1). Unplaced on her debut and then second, she had won her third start from start to finish on Deauville's all-weather track in January, by nearly five lengths. She was second on her return in March, then in the Prix Vanteaux - ahead of Survie - having already raced six times before her "disappointing" third place in the Mélisande. Seven weeks off likely allowed her to regain her form here, which was needed in such a competitive field with a selective pace.

Almara was sold for only €10,000 to Millenium Bloodstock at the Arqana October sales, after being withdrawn from the August session. Presented by L’Aumônerie, she is a sister to Ilanga (Penny’s Picnic), winner of the Prix Texanita (Gr3) and also out of a 2-year-old winner in her native Germany. Almara is the last recorded offspring of Molly Maria (Big Shuffle), who was absent from the 2021 breeding stock sales where she was entered in foal to Galiway.