Grotte: Rosacea dazzles

April 17, 2022, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). - Deauville training centre, represented by Stéphane Wattel with Rosacea (Soldier Hollow) and Yann Barberot with Daisy Maisy (Wootton Bassett), took over the favourites in the 71st renewal of the Prix de la Grotte (Gr3), an Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas, Gr1) trial, run four weeks before the first French Classic.

The odds-on unbeaten Raclette (Frankel) and Mangoustine (Dark Angel), who had won her three races to date, finished respectively 8th and 3rd, the former having never given any hope to her backers while the second only produced a short-lived effort about one furlong out, only to stay on after that.

Mangoustine, at least, made a move early in the straight after travelling on the 3rd rank by the rail, but she was unable to keep up with Daisy Maisy, who had trailed the leading Batz (Bated Breath) after a good start, and she was also unable to resist Rosacea in the end, as she rushed from the rear to score an easy half-length victory with Mickaël Barzalona on board. Mangoustine is beaten by a length for third place.

Rosacea finished 5th for her debut, early in August last year at Clairefontaine. Then when went on to win three consecutive races, ending her first campaign with an easy win in the Prix des Réservoirs (Gr3).

Bred in Ireland, Rosacea is owned by her breeder, Jurgen Winter's Haras de la Pérelle. She was never taken to the sales but her Tamayuz sister was consigned a day after her Reservoirs win at Deauville and made €125,000, paid by John Hammond for Sumbe. She's now named Retrouvaille and is partly owned by Gérard Augustin-Normand. Rosacea is the third foal but she was the first winner out of Relizane (Zamindar), a winner at Clairefontaine and a sister to the E P Taylor Stakes (Gr1) winner Reggane (Red Ransom).