La Coupe: Iresine, litterally from nowhere

Sunday, June 13, 2021, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). - The victorious Parisian debut of Iresine (Manduro) over the Coupe (Gr3)'s 10-furlong trip enhanced again the status of that lonely Group 3 race whose roll of honours begins to take a pretty outstanding shape. Trained in the Loire by Jean-Pierre Gauvin, ridden by Marie Velon, Iresine has indeed added a touch of suspense for his seventh consecutive victory, his first at this level after success in the Prix Bedel (L) at Lyon-Parilly. Well started, yet soon taken over by Magny Cours (Medaglia d'Oro), then by the other Godolphin graduate Algiers (Shamardal), the 4-year-old gelding found himself stuck behind a curtain of horses in the straight and his rider seemed lost for options to find a gap. It was finally done between the two Godolphin chargers whom she passed in a dash to win by less than a length on a good Magny Cours and a closing Grand Glory (Olympic Glory), the only runner to have passed under the 11 seconds bar in any furlong, namely between 2 and 1 out.

It was the first win at this level for Marie Velon, who started as the favourite with this spotty horse bred by Pierre Joyaux and Marie-Louise van Dedem. Jean-Pierre Gauvin, his trainer, bought him for only € 6,000 as a yearling in Deauville. He's owned by Bertrand Millière, whose colours he wears, Christian Goutelle, the écurie Jean-Paul Gauvin and Jean-Pierre Gauvin.

Iresine is Inanga (Oasis Dream)’s second foal and her only winner to date. She has since given a maiden gelding by Style Vendôme, a Joshua Tree filly and a Chemical Charge colt.

Regarding La Coupe's reputation, we can mention the names of Stacelita (2010), Cirrus des Aigles (2011), No Risk At All (2012), Danceteria (2019) and Telecaster (2020) as previous outstanding winners. Quite amazing for a race whose conditions are similar to those of the Prince of Wales's Stakes (Gr1), scheduled next week at Royal Ascot!