July 2024 Maiden winners

COREY BEACH (f2), (IRE) by Blue Point ex Front Contender (Teofilo)

Prix de la Mère Mathilde (Maiden 2-year-old Fillies≤Pouliches, 1,200m/6f), July 30, 2024, Deauville

Owners: Al Shaqab Racing/Solomon Kumin

Trainer: Yann Barberot

Breeder: Haras du Mont Dit Mont

Rider: Christophe Soumillon

Fourth on her debut after setting too fast a pace, Corey Beach (Blue Point) had been beaten by the favourite Iron Bird (Showcasing) and Victory Call (Hello Youmzain), second and third to Epson Blue Cen over the same course. She faced these two fillies again; this time, Iron Bird finished third behind Corey Beach and newcomer Better Together (Oasis Dream). Held up behind Better Together, who raced outside the leaders La Flaminia (Wooded) and Something Blue (Goken), Corey Beach moved up 2 1/2 furlongs out and quickly drew clear to win by 3 1/2 lengths from the excellent Better Together, who was a good length ahead of Iron Bird, who encountered traffic problems after racing along the rail.

Corey Beach was purchased for €320,000 at the Deauville sales by Al Shaqab from her breeder. Her sister by Mehmas will be offered at the Arqana sales next August.

WOODY (c2), FRA by Wooded ex Elabela (Tamayuz)

Prix de Granville (Miaden 2-year-old Colts and Geldings, 1,200m/6f), July 30, 2024, Deauville

Owners: Xavier Malaviolle, Éric Chevrier

Trainer: Ludovic Gadbin

Breeders: Xavier Malaviolle, Éric Chevrier

Rider: Alexis Pouchin

A good second on his debut over 7f at Lion d’Angers, Woody (Wooded) upset the favourites over this shorter distance after tracking the leaders. He overtook the front-runner Hemevez (Threat), who put up a strong fight, unlike the favourite Jawwal (Wooded), who ran too keenly in the lead by the rail. The newcomer Ironico (Gift Box) finished third, a neck ahead of Mahjong (Galiway), who couldn't quicken after following Jawwal.

Woody was withdrawn as a foal from the Arqana breeding sale. His dam, the accomplished sprinter Elabela (Tamayuz), was purchased by Caballis agency in December 2016, out of training, for €42,000. Woody is her third foal and second winner to date. She also produced a filly by Persian King in 2023.

Elabela is a granddaughter of the excellent Pharatta (Fairy King), fourth in the French 1,000 and a Group 2 winner for the Hinojosa family, breeder of Elabela through Darpat France. Pharatta is also the second dam of the stallion Recoletos (Whipper), a dual Group 1 winner, and Castellar (American Post), winner of the Prix de la Nonette (Gr2).

ULTRAFRAGOLA (f2), IRE by Sottsass ex Toinette (Scat Daddy)

Prix des Marettes (Unraced 2-year-old Fillies, 1 500m), July 28, 2024, Deauville

Owner: White Birch Farm

Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget

Breeder: White Birch Farm

Rider: Christophe Soumillon

The strong favourite in this race of seven unraced fillies, Ultrafragola (Sottsass) won by over five lengths from Bella India (Goken), who herself finished nearly three lengths ahead of third-placed Marques (Le Havre). The winner raced in third position behind Marques and Lantana (Camelot), who was on her inside. She quickly took the lead entering the straight, and without this potential champion, Bella India would have been considered a very promising winner. Both posted nearly identical times for the 2nd last section at 10.9 seconds, but Ultrafragola finished in 11.2 seconds compared to Bella India's 11.5 seconds, who wasn’t pushed either.

Ultrafragola is the first foal out of Toinette (Scat Daddy), a winner of the Goldikova Stakes (Gr2) on the California turf and several Group 3 races. White Birch Farm acquired her for $800,000 at Keeneland in 2020.

MISUNDERSTOOD (c2), FRA by Hello Youmzain ex Waldjagd (Observatory)

Prix de Crèvecœur (Unraced 2-year-old Colts & Geldings, 1,500m), July 28, 2024, Deauville

Owners: Haras d’Étreham, Mustapha Bekhti

Trainer: Mario Baratti

Breeders: Écurie de Cachène, Patrick Charel

Rider: Alexis Pouchin

Offered at nearly 6/1 in this €50,000 beginners' race, dominated in the betting by Burhan (Siyouni), Misunderstood (Hello Youmzain) took the lead right from the start despite his draw in stall 6, just inside Burhan, who did not start well. The representative of Haras d’Étreham and Mustapha Bekhti set his own pace ahead of Lifelong (Zelzal) and Chauncey Gardner (Sottsass). After a slight swerve entering the straight, he surged again under Chauncey Gardner's attack to win by a short neck, while Lifelong stayed third, nearly three lengths behind and two lengths ahead of Burhan, who will likely rebound from this defeat.

Misunderstood was bought back for £190,000 as a yearling at Tattersalls and then for £95,000 at 2-years-old, also at Newmarket, in April. His dam Waldjagd (Observatory) was purchased in foal to this colt at the 2021 breeding stock sales in Deauville for €160,000, then sold to Trotting Bloodstock. Misunderstood's Frankel sibling is entered in the Arqana August sale, consigned by Les Capucines.

At 3 years old, Waldjagd was placed in a Group 2 contest in Germany. She also produced Prix du Pont-Neuf (L) winner Urwald (Le Havre) and Group 2 winner Waldbiene (Intello). She is herself out of a German St Leger (Gr2) winner, the second dam of the stallion Masked Marvel (Montjeu), a St Leger (Gr1) winner, and the third dam of Waldgeist (Galileo), an Arc winner.

ZARIGANA (f2), (GB) by Siyouni ex Zarkamiya (Frankel)

Prix de la Butte Blanche (Unraced 2-year-old Fillies, 1,400m/7f), July 14, 2024, Chantilly

Owner: S.A. Aga Khan

Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard

Breeder: S.A. Aga Khan

Rider: Mickaël Barzalona

An excellent filly lived up to her favourite status. Zarigana (Siyouni), whose second dam is Zarkava (Zamindar), effortlessly distanced her rivals in the stretch, winning by four lengths over Reine de Medicis (Romanised). The initial leaders, Hot and Beauty (Almanzor) and Khadidja (Study of Man), followed.

Zarigana's dam, Zarkamiya (Frankel), debuted with a win at 3, then won the Prix de Thiberville (L) over 1m1/2 and placed in the Prix Minerve (Gr3) and Prix Vermeille (Gr1). She is a sister to the sire Zarak (Dubawi). Zarkamiya previously produced a filly by Medaglia d’Oro, who won on her debut and only ran again once. A full sister to Zarigana is born in 2023.

SCANDALO (c2), GB by Siyouni ex Passing Parade (Cape Cross)

Prix du Fossé La Coque (Unraced 2-year-old Colts and geldings, 1,400m/7f), July 14, 2024, Chantilly

Owners: Javier Maldonado Trinchant, Novum Stables, Mauricio Delcher-Sanchez

Trainer: Mauricio Delcher-Sanchez

Breeder: Merrt Fox Ltd

Rider: Christophe Soumillon

Scandalo (Siyouni) secured an easy victory after breaking well, tracking favourites Green Cape (Lope de Vega) and Harvey (Le Havre), and then taking over in the straight to win by a length over a tenacious Harvey. Golden Brown (Persian King) finished third, less than a length behind, while Green Cape held on. The rest of the field finished over nine lengths back.

In April, Scandalo was purchased for £120,000 at the Goffs Breeze-Ups by trainer Mauricio Delcher-Sanchez. Out of an unraced mare, Scandalo is a brother to Cape Cannon (Siyouni), a winner in Lyon over the all-weather, and a winner in Orleans by New Approach.

EPSON BLUE CEN (f2), (IRE) by Blue Point ex Epsom Icon (Sixties Icon)

Prix de Lisieux (Unraced 2-year-old Fillies, 1,200m/6f), July 7 juillet, 2024, Deauville

Owner: Yeguada Centurion SLU

Trainer: Maurizio Guarnieri

Breeder: Yeguada Centurion SLU

Rider: Christophe Soumillon

There are numerous similarities between this unraced fillies' race and the colts' Prix de Tancarville (see below). The winner's breeder-owner is Spanish, and unlike the second-placed favourite, the winner is also entered in the Sumbe Prix Morny (Gr1).

Epson Blue Cen (Blue Point), racing from stall 9, recorded the same sections as Estepona over the first 3 furlongs but reached the halfway point in fourth position. She accelerated at the 2-furlong mark to take the lead and won by a good length over the favourite Iron Bird (Showcasing). Iron Bird finished well after a slow start, less than a length ahead of Victory Call (Hello Youmzain), who, along with the winner, recorded the fastest section of the race from 2 to 1 furlong out in 10.76 seconds.

Epson Blue Cen had been entered since the end of May and was declared a non-runner on the day of the Prix de Diane Longines over 5.5f.

She is the fourth foal out of the mare Epsom Icon (Sixties Icon), purchased for £250,000 in 2018 in England, in foal to Siyouni. The mare had won the Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Gr3) at Epsom, and her foal Missyouni (Siyouni) won three races and placed in Listed company at Tarbes for Yeguada Centurion.

The mare then produced Intoxicata (U.S. Navy Flag), a handicap performer in the UK, where she won five races and was withdrawn from a Goffs sale last December. A 3-year-old by Siyouni has recently been entered at Clairefontaine, and a colt by U.S. Navy Flag was born in 2023.

ESTEPONA (c2), FRA by Mehmas ex Cigalera (Elusive City)

Prix de Tancarville (Unraced 2-year-old Colts and Gedlings, 1,200m/6f), July 7, 2024, Deauville

Owner: Cuadra Mediterraneo

Trainer: Mauricio Delcher-Sanchez

Breeder: Cuadra Mediterraneo

Rider: Clément Lecœuvre

Unlike the favourite Timador (Blue Point), Estepona (Mehmas) was already entered in the Sumbe Prix Morny (Gr1) before this debut, showing his connections' confidence. He won this €50,000 maiden race, earning €43,750 with bonuses. From stall 5, he stayed on his course and fended off Timador's late challenge to win by a head. Woodshauna (Wooded) finished a good length behind by the stands' rail, leading the rest of the field by three lengths.

Estepona is the second foal out of Cigalera (Elusive City), a maiden winner at 3 and third in the Prix Texanita (Gr3). Bred by Cuadra Mediterraneo, Cigalera is out of Macarella (Shamardal), a €52,000 foal purchase at Goffs, whose dam is the Prix Roland de Chambure (L) winner Anbella (Common Grounds). This is also the family of champion mare Satwa Queen (Muhtathir), a Group 1 winner. Before Estepona, Cigalera produced Zaharo (Shalaa), a 3-year-old gelding who recently won his first race over 5.5f at Dieppe.