La Rochette: Acer Alley on the way up

Sunday, September 5, 2021, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). - The outsider Acer Alley (Siyouni) was the best finisher in the Prix La Rochette (Gr3), a race for 2-year-olds contested over 7 furlongs which was won over the last two years by Kenway and Go Athletico.
Trained by Francis Graffard for her breeder-owner Merry Fox Stud (Craig Bennett), the winner got the better of Making Moovies (Dabirsim), thus completing a French exacta facing an always intriguing British raiding party of three.
Ridden by Olivier Peslier, the winner travelled at the rear of the small field of six for a long time, as El Bodegon (Kodiac) was leading with Making Moovies at his side. The two leaders kept going all the way but couldn't hold the winner in the end, they were beaten a half-length.
Fourth for her debut at Compiègne over the same distance in June, Acer Alley had won her first race ten days later at Saint-Cloud and had not been seen for 78 days. She is entered in the Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr1).
Acer Alley was unsold at 180,000 guineas at the October 2020 yearling sales. Her older brother Digital Age (Invincible Spirit) is a Group 2 winner in the USA, and a Group 1-placed at Saratoga.
The second dam foaled a Group 1 winner at the Curragh in Ireland, Cursory Glance (Distorted Humor). Her own dam Time Away (Darshaan), a Prix de Diane-3rd, gave Time On (Sadler's Wells), winner of the Prix de Malleret (Gr.3), which brings us back to Saint-Cloud.
Acer Alley's dam, Willow View (Lemon Drop Kid), however, did not race. This is her fourth foal.