Maiden winners in May

FLAT RACING

SNAKELESS (F3), USA by Animal Kingdom ex Gypsy’s Warning (Mogok)
Prix de la Michodière (Unraced 3yo Fillies, 1,600m), May 31, Chantilly

Owner : Flaxman Stables
Trainer :  Pascal Bary
Breeder : Flaxman Stables
Rider : Stéphane Pasquier

Snakeless (Animal Kingdom) sneaked inside at the open stretch and easily held off La Medicis (Medicis), beaten less than a length but quite handssomely.

Snakeless is out of Gypsy’s Warning (Mogok), a Gr1 winner in South Africa at 2, then in the USA at 5. The Niarchos familyu bought her for more than a million $ at Keeneland when she entered stud, possibly partly because she's by the unraced Mogok (Storm Cat), exported to South Africa and a full brother to Niarchos sire Machiavellian.

Main entries : Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1)

OBELOS (G3), GB by New Approach ex Dahama (Green Desert)
Prix du Dragon (Unraced 3yo C&G, 1,600m), May 31, Chantilly

Owner : Al Asayl Bloodstock
Trainer :  Francis-Henri Graffard
Breeder : Al Asayl Bloodstock
Rider : Pierre-Charles Boudot

An other easy win, for Obelos (New Approach) this time, as he won from pillar to post in this 5-horses field. Obelos passed the post on the bit, slowing down, and he was purchased for £70,000 at the Tattersalls yearling sales. He's out of Dahama (Green Desert), bred by Qatar Bloodstock whio couldn't get a win out of her but got Al Thakhira (Dubawi), a Group2 winner at 2 in England over 7 furlongs.

Obelos' 2yo sister Dragoness (Frankel) is also trained by Francis-Henri Graffard.

SPIRIT OF BRITTANY (F2), FRA by Invincible Spirit ex Ysandre (Zamindar)
Prix La Belle II (Unraced 2yo Fillies, 1,200m), May 28, Saint-Cloud

Owner : Al Shaqab Racing
Trainer :  Jean-Claude Rouget
Breeder : Al Shaqab Racing
Rider : Grégory Benoist

Fast out of the gate, Spirit of Brittany (Invincible Spirit) won in a canter, beating Kiwi Kiss (Dabirsim) by 2 1/2 lengths. The winning filly was homebred by Al Shaqab Racing, who bought the mare Ysandre (Zamindar) €240,000 at the Arqana Breeding sale in 2013 when in foal to Holy Roman Emperor, which resulted in a filly that's still a amiden at 4.

Ysandre herself did not run but she's a sistezr to the good Keltos (Danehill) and Krataios (Sabrehill).

After Spirit of Brittany, Ysandre gave a filly by Olympic Glory.

PIZZICATO (C2), ITY by Dabirsim ex Resaca (Touch Down)
Prix Hunyade (Unraced 2yo C&G, 1,200m), May 28, Saint-Cloud

Owner : Antoine Gilibert, Écurie Vivaldi, Fabrice Chappet
Trainer : Fabrice Chappet
Breeder : Allevamento Si. Fra. SRL
Rider : Christophe Soumillon

Pizzicato (Dabirsim) resisted up until the end even though he ended all out to keep a neck ahead of We Go (No Nay Never), one of the 1st European colts by No Nay Never (Scatt Daddy), a winner of the Darley Prix Morny (Gr1) 2013.

Pizzicato wearsd the colours of Antoine Gilibert, Ecurie Vivaldi, and his trainer Fabrice Chappet. The colkt was bred in Italy by Allevamento Si. Fra. but was assimilated French. He was sold €62,000 as a yearling at Arqana to bloodstock agent Hubert Guy. His dam Resaca (Touch Down) was unraced. She's a full sister to Ravenel, Gr3 winner in Italy. Their dam is a sister to the jumps stallion Califet (Freedom Cry).

MY SISTER NAT (F3), FRA by Acclamation ex Starlet’s Sister (Galileo)
Prix de Verneuil (Maiden 3yo Fillies, 2,000m), May 27, ParisLongchamp

Owner : Gemini Stud
Trainer :  Francis-Henri Graffard
Breeder : Écurie des Monceaux
Rider : Pierre-Charles Boudot

An impressive winner on Coolmore Prix de Saint-Alary (Gr1) day, My Sister Nat (Acclamation) left her closest rival Msaikah (Galileo) at 5 lengths at the end of the ten furlongs trip. Trained in Chantilly by Francis-Henri Graffard for Francis Teboul's Gemini Stud, the Ecurie des Monceaux-bred filly is not entered in the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1). She would have to be supplemented for € 66,000 on June 13. Plenty of time to sleep on it!

Her trainer however was adamant plenty of easier options were still available.

My Sister Nat is a aisster to the good Sistercharlie (Myboycharlie), a recent Gr1-winner Stateside, where she was sent over after her French Oaks second last season. Both fillies were purchased by bloodstock agent Paul Nataf for €12,000 and then €20,000, but their Siyouni brother was sold €340,000 after his big sister made a splash last year.

The colt is now with Jean-Claude Rouget for White Birch Farm, and a Charm Spirit follows.

Their dam Starlet’s Sister (Galileo) is out of Première Création (Green Tune), a good filly in France and in America over 8 to 9f, and she's also quite successful at stud.

HUSH WRITER (C3), JAP by Rulership ex Star of Sapphire (Tapit)
Prix de Viroflay (Maiden, 3yo C&G, 2,000m), May 27, ParisLongchamp

Owner : Craig Thomson
Trainer :  Francis-Henri Graffard
Breeder : Chiyoda Farm Shizunai
Rider : Pierre-Charles Boudot

Trainer of My Sister Nat, Francis-Henri Graffard also saddled the winner of the male version of that great day's maiden with Japanese-bred Hush Writer (Rulership), representing Australia's own Craig Thompson. Just like My Sister Nat, he had finished 2nd for his debut, beten by Bugle Major, who won again nicealyn beating Mahoe (Doctor Dino), 2nd on that same Sunday in the Prix du Lys (Gr3), A Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1) prep.

Hush Writer was favourite  and his rider, PC Boudot once again, took the easy route outside the leader Tino Jelois (High Rock), who came out 4th. He kept the other favourite Folamour (Intello) at bay all the way.

The winner was bred in Japan and bought there as a weanling for about €180,367. His dam Star of Sapphire (Tapit) comes from an American family. His 2nd dam gave Zazu (Tapit), a dual Gr1 winner in the States on dirt. Star of Sapphire never won but she was still bought for $350,000 at the Keeneland sales in foial to Giant’s Causeway.

Main entries : Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr1)

JON SNOW (C3), FRA by Le Havre ex Saroushka (Westerner)
Prix Goodly (Maiden, 3yo C&G, 2,400m), May 22, Maisons-Laffitte

Owners : Sarah Lellouche et Brigitte Dublanchet
Trainer : Fabrice Chappet
Breeders : Elie et Sarah Lellouche
Rider : Tony Piccone

Eighth for his debut tghis season over 10f, then 4th for his first attept on 1m1/2, Jon Snow (Le Havre) led the field trailing a runaway leader and as he accelerated first going out of the bend,n he had made most of it and lived on that effort.

He's bred by ex-trainer Elie Lellouche and his daughter Sarah, a probable Game of Thrones fan whose colours are supported by Jon Snow.

Jon Snow is the 2nd foal out of maiden Saroushka (Westerner), who first gave En Souplesse (Air Chief Marshall), 6th in a low handocap a few days before that . There's also a Rajsaman filly and an Air Chief Marshall colt.

Bleu Ciel et Blanc (Pistolet Bleu), Jon Snow's 2nd dam, was 2nd in the valuable Prix Finot 3yo beginners' Hurdle (L)  at Auteuil and she became the dam of champion hurdler Binocular (Enrique), who had before scored in the early skirmishes on the way to the Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1), the French Derby..

Maion entries : Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1)

VILLA ROSA  (F3), FRA by Doctor Dino ex Villa Joyeuse (Kahyasi)
Prix Mirska (Maiden 3yo Fillies, 2,400m), May 22, Maisons-Laffitte

Owner : Mme Henri Devin
Trainer :  Henri-François Devin
Breeder : Mme Henri Devin
Rider : Alexis Badel

4th for her debut over 2,100m at ParisLongchamp (beaten by Enchanting Skies and My Sister Nat, who both confirmed outstandingly after that), Villa Rosa (Doctor Dino) avenged herselkf over 1m1/2 by coming along outside the field to take over the leaders entering the last straightand then resist fiercely to good closers Waheebah (Camelot) and Gipsy Song (Makfi).

Villa Rosa is out of Villa Joyeuse (Kahyasi), winner over the falt and 8 times over hurdles and fences, also dam of Zemindari (Zanzibari), a Listed-placed, and Soldiers Fortune (Soldier of Fortune), whom brteeder-owner Henri Devin  bought back for €26,000 at Deauville last winter in foal to Doctor Dino, Villa Rosa's sire, that iis the same mating.

That same family blood runs in the veins of champion Ange Gabriel.

MYHOLYDREAM (C3), FRA by Holy Roman Emperor ex Milena’s Dream (Authorized)
Prix Brûleur (Maiden, C&G 3, 1,600m), may 21, Saint-Cloud

Owners : Scuderia dei Dupei, A&G Botti, Carlo Pellegatti
Trainers : A&G Botti
Breeders : Succession Michel Henochsberg, Mme Patrick Ades-Hazan, Patrick Fellous
Rider : Cristian Demuro

In a fast mile, the best finisher was Myholydream (Holy Roman Emperor) who finally overcame a tough Vanbrugh (First  Defence), although he seemed to lean on El Manifico (High Chaparral) and 4th-placed Banoush (Mizzen Mast), who came in the center of the course inside the eventual winner.

It was Myholydream's fourth race, all of them this season, and he made the frame every time. The colt was sold €67,000 at the Arqana yearling sale to Grove Stud, who consigned him on the same venue a year later in the Arqana Summer sale, when Alessandro Botti bought him for €74,000.

Myholydream is the first foal out of Milena’s Dream (Authorized), who foaled a Siyouni filly in training with Jean-Claude Rouget, who bought her €160,000 last year in Deauville, and another one by Olympic Glory.

JUKEBOX STAR (F3), FRA by Jukebox Jury ex Étoile du Sud (Linngari)
Prix Basse Pointe (Maiden 3yo Fillies, 1,600m), May 21, Saint-Cloud

Owner : Plersch Breeding
Trainer : Mario Hofer
Breeder : Plersch Breeding
Rider : Antoine Hamelin

Beaten six times before this, but four times in the frame, including last time out for her seasonal bow, the grey Jukebox Star (Jukebox Jury) was fast out of the gate and let Vernie (Kendargent) took over. The latter tried to fly away two furlongs out but although she took some time to reach momentum, Jukebox Star proved too strong for Vernie and scored by 2 lengths.

Jukebox Star was bred by Plersch Breeding at Haras du Petit Tellier but she wasn't sent to the sales. She the first foal out of Etoile du Sud (Linngari), who failed to win in her two races for Jukebox's connections but is nevertheless a daughter of Peaceful Love (Dashing Blade), 4th to Satwa Queen in the Prix de Psyche (Gr3).

ROLLING KING (C2), USA by More Than Ready ex Grandacious (Grand Slam)
Prix d’Orgemont (Unraced 2yo C&G, 1,000m), May 18, Chantilly

Owner : Theresa Marnane
Trainer : Matthieu Palussière
Breeder : Forging Oaks LLC
Rider : Antoine Hamelin

A public gallop for Con Marnane's juveniles as the famous Irish consignor had three of the four runners there racing in Theresa marnane's yellow and black colours… American-bred Rolling King (More Than Ready) easily beat Irishbred Pardon My French (Kodiac, and you're welcome) and Frenchbred Zorro Cass (Elusive City).

Bought $70,000 as a yearling at Keeneland in the USA, Rolling King didn't raeach his tag in April a the Craven breeze-up sales at Newmarket, where Con Marnane bought him back for £77,000.

He's out of the good Grandacious (Grand Slam), winner of four races in a family where the latest Group winner under the 3rd dam..

LOVELY MISS (F2), FRA by Excelebration ex I Should Care (Loup Solitaire)
Prix de la Reine Blanche (Unraced 2yo Fillies, 1,000m), May 18, Chantilly

Owners : Écurie de Villeneuve, Gilles Pélisson, Gautier Vignau, Quentin d’Epenoux, Hubert de Nicolaÿ
Trainer : Hubert de Nicolaÿ
Breeder : Thierry Storme
Rider : Maxime Guyon

Lovely Miss (Excelebration) didn't have to leave the outside rail as the frontrunners verred right in the latter stages. In fact, the leading Primeravez (Dark Angel) interfered with She’s A Babe (Kodiac), who was placed 2nd by the stewards.

The Hubert de Nicolaÿ-bred filly cost €30,000 at the Arqana yearling sale in October. He's the latest foal out of I Should Care (Loup Solitaire), winner of three races and 3rd in the Prix La Camargo (L) mile for a Spanish trainer. I Should Care is a sister to Howard le Canard (Hamas), winner of the Grand Prix de la Riviera (L) at Cagnes, and also Amarantine (King’s Best), Group -placed over Auteuil's hurdles.

TIME TO FLY (C3), FRA by Wootton Bassett ex Alpinette (Pyramus)
Prix Dangor (Maiden 3yos, 1,200m), May 16, Maisons-Laffitte

Owner : Écurie Haras de Quietteville
Trainer : Henri-Alex Pantall
Breeder : Écurie Haras de Quietteville
Rider : Pierre-Charles Boudot

Favourite in this maiden race after a narrow defeat, Time to Fly (Wootton Bassett) was busy early on to prevent any sniper attack but he only held off a beginning Sequilla (Siyouni), a German filly sent by Gestüt Farhof to André Fabre, who fought bravely to the end. Marvellous Night (Captain Marvelous) finished well along the outside rail to fail by a neck. Last year, this Hubert de Nicolaÿ-trained filly finished 3rd on this course and distance in the Listed-Prix Zedaan behind Cœur de Beauté, unlucky 2nd in the French Guineas one week earlier, and Rioticism.

Time to Fly, however, was racing for the 3rd time. He's out of Alpinette (Pyramus), who herself ended up winless after three races for Haras de Quietteville, who also bred her. Time to Fly is her first foal. She's a full sister to All Speedy (Pyramus), winner of the Prix Saraca (L) over 1,300m at Maisons-Laffitte, and gave birth since then to a filly and a colt by American Devil.

Main entries: QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1)

NOCTURNAL FOX (C3), IRE by Farhh ex Nabati (Rahy)
Prix Empery (Maiden 3C&G, 2,100m), May 16, Maisons-Laffitte

Owner : Godolphin
Trainer : André Fabre
Breeder : Godolphin
Rider : Mickaël Barzalona

Fast out of the gate behind Celtic Raider (Siyouni), Nocturnal Fox (Farhh) stuck to the rail in the sharp left-handed bend and accelerated swiftly to keep a fast finishing Lennox (Maxios) at bay as Beat Generation (Sixties Icon) held on nicely to the end.

Homebred by Godolphin and trained by André Fabre, Nocturnal Fox had finished twice 5th until then over the mile. His dam Nabati (Rahy) won three times in the Provinces over ten furlongs and more before entering stud. Nocturnal Fox is her 5th and last foal to date. She's out of Wajd (Northern Dancer), bref rom teh best sire of the post war era, and Dahlia (Vaguely Noble), a legend of the 70s…

Main entries : Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1).

WIND TEST (c2, Main picture), GB by Epaulette ex Elbow Beach (Choisir)
Prix Kefalin (Maiden 2yos, 1,000m), May 16, Maisons-Laffitte

Owners : Pietro Sinistri, Attilio Giorgi
Trainer : Attilio Giorgi
Breeder : David Brockelhurst
Rider : Cristian Demuro

Wind Test (Epaulette) led all the way and held off Barreg (Lope de Vega), but he raced green as well. Both flew from the field early on. It was a 3rd attempt for Wind Test, a 2nd over the 5 furlongs straight at Maisons-Laffitte. He'd just got beat by Pedrostar, who failed in a class 2 race over 6 furlongs, possibly because he couldn't stay that long.

Wind Test cost Marco Bozzi £7,000 at Tattersalls as a yearling. He's out of a versatile French family bred twice to Australian speedsters which ends up in a fast and precocious type.

AGATHE SAINTE (c3), (GB) by Holy Roman Emperor ex Agathe Rare (Sadler’s Wells)
Prix Nobiliary (Maiden 3yo fillies, 2,100m), May 16, Maisons-Laffitte

Owner : Ballymore Thoroughbred
Trainer : Freddy Head
Breeder : Dayton Investments
Rider : Jérôme Moutard

Nice finish after 2,100m in a crowded race and the winner is the first to take her chance, AgatheSainte (Holy Roman Emperor), racing for the 5th time already -a 3rd this season-, beating a brave Allotria (Soldier Hollow) and Kalahana (Dawn Approach), who came wide but inside Cover Version (Medaglia d’Oro).

Hard to assess this maiden race, only slightly faster than the male version (2’14’’4 vs. 2’14’’6). Bred by the Wildensteins through Dayton, the winner is out of Agathe Rare (Sadler’s Wells), a sister to Prix de Diane (Gr1) winner Aquarelliste, amongst many champions in the family.

FIERTÉ D’AMOUR (F3), FRA by Siyouni ex Alexandrina (Monsun)
Prix Producer (Unraced 3yo fillies, 2,100m), May 14, Saint-Cloud

Owner : Écurie du Précieux
Trainer : Francis Graffard
Breeders : Emmanuel Trussardi, Écurie du Précieux
Rider : Pierre-Charles Boudot

14 fillies over the Prix de Diane Longines distance and a decisive victory by Fierté d’Amour (Siyouni), who only waited for the last 2 furlongs to nail it. The winner was fast out and outside the front running Mascha (Le Havre), from Germany, who fought bravely to keep the 2nd place against Shadow Puppet (New Approach), who had trailed the leaders.

Bred in France by her owners, Fierté d’Amour is out of Alexandrina (Monsun), a maiden who gave Mango Tango (Siyouni), her own sister, sold €400,000 after she finished twoce second to Highlands Queen in the Prix Cléopâtre (Gr3) and the Shadwell Prix de Pomone (Gr2).

Alexandrina foaled a Makfi colt last year.

THE GAUCH (c3), FRA by Intello ex Selkis (Darshaan)
Prix Mississipian (Unraced 3yo C&G, 2,100m), May 14, Saint-Cloud

Owner : Paolo Ferrario
Trainer : Andrea Marcialis
Breeders : Framont Ltd, SCEA des Prairies, Henri Devin
Rider : Cristian Demuro

The Gauch (Intello) found his way inside to take over the early leader Shining Dawn (Frankel) entering the last bend. Trained by Andrea Marcialis, he kept them all away to win by a length over Shining Dawn (Frankel) and N’Golo (Galileo), who finished well.

Bought by her trainer €40,000 € from La Motteraye Consignment at the Arqana August sale in 2016, The Gauch is the 7th foal out of Selkis (Darshaan), bought €14,000 bred to Ivawood in December 2016 at Arqana. Maiden after two races, she was sold in foal of The Gauch for €55,000, by haras du Mézeray to Pacific Bloodstock.

The dam of two other winners by Barathea and Authorized, hence a son and grandson to Sadler’s Wells, like Intello, Selkis isn out of Irish Order (Irish River), Listed winner at 2 for the Moussac family, 2nd in Prix de la Grotte (Gr3) the following season before a complete failure in the French 1,000. This is the same family than that of Classic winner Entrepreneur (Sadler’s Wells).

After The Gauch, she gave a colt by Ivawood owned by SCEA des Prairies, Thomas and Benoît Jeffroy, then a Manatee filly at the SCEA des Prairies.

BYRON BAY (F2), FRA by Showcasing ex Guerande (Diesis)
Prix du Jardin Anglais (Maiden 2yo, 1,200m), May 11, Chantilly

Owners : Patrice Détré, Anne Hoyeau, Franck Amar, Arthur Hoyeau, Vincent Cox et Nicolas Girot.
Trainer : Yan Durepaire
Breeders : Écurie Haras du Cadran, Écurie JML Racing
Rider : Mickaël Barzalona

Very easy win for débutante Byron Bay (Showcasing) who left her opponents 2 1/2 lengths behind as 2nd placed Primela (Orpen), also a beginner here, stayed on ahead of Eleven O Two (Rio de la Plata), 2nd for her debut 9 days earlier.

The winning filly is a €100,000 purchase by trainer Yan Durepaire at the August 2017 Arqana yearlings sale. She's the 6th foal out of Guerande (Diesis), who won her debut for breeder Haras de la Pérelle but failed to 5 times to get black type in Listed events, even though she finished 4th in one of them over the mile.

She's the dam of Listed-placed Hyper Hyper (Fastnet Rock) and of Gwerann (Dansili), only 2nd latelyh in a Maisons-Laffitte maiden race (read below) won by Blue Valley. Guérande is a sister of Giofra (Dansili), winner of the Falmouth Stakes (Gr1) at Newmarket.

After Byron Bay, she gave a Makfi colt.

ORBAAN (C3), GB by Invincible Spirit ex Contradict (Raven’s Pass)
Prix Avenger (Maiden, 3C&G, 1,600m), May 9, Maisons-Laffitte

Owner : A. Faisal
Trainer : André Fabre
Breeder : Nawara Stud
Rider : Silvestre de Sousa

To score here on his 2nd attempt, Orbaan (Invincible Spirit) waited along the rail, then for a gap inside, which he just got two furlongs out, and he held off a fast Haudricourt (Reliable Man), who couldn't hold on after a great effort from behind, finishing still a remarkable 2nd in front of Hortzadar (Sepoy), who had settled behind the winner early on.

Orbaan is inbred 2x3 on the French Oaks winner Rafha (Kris). His dam Contradict (Raven's Pass) was unsold in foal top this very colt 200,000 Guineas at the Tattersalls Breeding sale in 2014. She won once, but she's out of Acts of Grace (Bahri), herself a sister to sire Invincible Spirit (Green Desert). Contradict won the Prix des Tourelles (L, Chantilly) over ten furlongs then the Princess Royal Stakes (Gr3, Ascot) on the same distance.

Main entries : Qipco Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1), St James's Palace Stakes (Gr1).

BLUE VALLEY (F3), IRE by Lope de Vega ex Bougainvillea (Acatenango)
Prix Double Rose (Maiden, 3F, 1,600m), May 9, Maisons-Laffitte.

Owner : Gestüt Ammerland
Trainer : André Fabre
Breeder : Gestüt Ammerland
Rider : Pierre-Charles Boudot

Blue Valley (Lope de vega) failed to mùake an impression one month ago at Saint-Cloud, where she didn't start well,  but that was a completely different proposition this time as Pierre-Charles Boudot pushed her ahead early on and the filly easily took over the leading Gwerann (Dansili) to score by 4 lengths, third-placed Hallucinante (Dubawi) confirming the 2nd place she'd taken the day Blue Valley started her career.

The filly is bred by the Gestüt Ammerland managed by Dietrich von Boetticher, who bought her back for €130,000 at the Arqana August 2016 yearling sale. She belongs to the briuloiant family of Borgia (Acatenango) who's a full sister to her dam Bougainvillea (Acatenango).

Before Blue Valley, the mare gave 11 foals including Burma Gold (Java Gold), winner of the Italian and German Legers. She also gave & 2yo colt by Dream Ahead trained by André Fabre.

Main entries : The Gurkha Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1), Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1).

FLOWRIDER (F3), USA by Street Cry ex Wavering (Refuse to Bend)
Prix Parade d’Amour (Unraced 3F, 1,600m), May 8, Saint-Cloud

Owner : Godolphin
Trainer : André Fabre
Breeder : Godolphin
Rider : Mickaël Barzalona

Twelve handsome fillies there as Flowrider (Street Cry) crushed the field after passing the leading French Riviera (Intello) to win by 2 1/2 lengths. Frankel Light (Frankel) finished well to easily beat French Riviera for 2nd place while Aumale (Dansili) only stayed on in 4th.

Flowrider is out of Wavering (Refuse to Bend), a Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) winner for the very same connections who proved unable to win again after that. At stud, her first foal is the Prix de Flore (Gr3) winner Switching (Street Cry).

Their full sister Rueing (Street Cry) was sold €115,000 to Broadhurst Agency (Laurent Benoît) at the Arqana Breeding sale after two wins, for aher debut and then in a Class 2 at Vichy. She never was able to make the frame in Listed races despite a few trials at that level.

Wavering's last foal is a Medaglia d’Oro filly in training with Saeed bin Suroor.

Main entries : The Gurkha Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1), Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1).

EMPERATOR (C3), FRA by Motivator ex Equity (Anabaa)
Prix Pas de deux (Unraced 3C&G, 1,600m), May 8, Saint-Cloud

Owners : Yolande Seydoux de Clausonne, José Bruneau de la salle, Fabrice Vermeulen et Laetitia Louis.
Trainer : Fabrice Vermeulen
Breeder : Yolande Seydoux de Clausonne.
Rider : Christohe Soumillon

Supplemented in this late blossoming milers, and picked by Christophe Soumillon despite the running of an Aga Khan in the race, Emperator (Motivator) won all the way at it was plainly obvious he was dominating two furlongs out as his rider was only waiting for a gap to materialize -he had trailed near the rail three lengths behind the leaders after a sluggish start. He finally beat the Godolphin colt Dramatic Device (Dansili), fast ahead, by almost 2 lengths.

Withdrawn at Arqana Auytmn Sale in 2016, Emperator is out of the maiden mare Equity (Anabaa), who now has foaled 4 individual winners and is herself out of Ensorcelles-Moi (Riverman), 2nd in Prix de Liancourt (L) over 8 furlongs and the Prix de Bagatelle (L) over 10 furlongs, also for Yolande Seydoux.

Her dam is no less than the Prix de Diane winner Escaline (Arctic Tern).

After Emperator, Equity gave birth to a 2yo filly by Muhtathir in training with Ludovic Gadbin.

Main entries : Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr1).

AL ADAID (C3), FRA by Zoffanny ex Diamond Fever (Fasliyev)
Prix de la Folie Saint-James (Maiden 3C&G, 2,000m), May 3, ParisLongchamp

Owner : Al Shaqab Racing
Trainer : André Fabre
Breeder : Sophie Boulin Redouly
Rider : Grégory Benoist

Al Adaid (Zoffanny) finished 3rd last time out on the same course but over the mile behind Baltic Baron (Shamardal), who won since then. For his 2nd race of the season, on one and a quarter mile, the André Fabre-traind colt really seemed to have improved as he dominated El Manifico (High Chaparral) rather convincingly.

Bred in France by Sophie Boulin Redouly, Al Adaid went twice to Arqana's Deauville ring. First as a yearling in October, when he made €55,000 €, then at last year's breeze up sales, where Mandore Agency (Nicolas de Watrigant) pais €400,000 to secure him in name of Al Shaqab.

It is the same family than Capri (Galileo), winner of the Irish Derby (Gr1) and the StLeger (Gr1) last year, whose 2nd dam is also Lagardere Elevage's Diamilina (Linamix).

VICTORINE (F3), FRA by Le Havre ex La Mezquita (Holy Roman Emperor)
Prix de Sèvres (Maiden 3F, 2,000m), May 3, ParisLongchamp

Owner : Édouard de Rothschild
Trainer : Henri-Alex Pantall
Breeder : Écurie de Meautry
Rider : Pierre-Charles Boudot

Victorine (Le Havre) was one of the most seasoned fillies in the race with already three places including a 3rd place for her seasonal bow on this very track on the opening day. It looked as if she was about to crush the field two out but she eventually struggled a bit to keep up in the end as Amazing Lips (Camelot) was finally finding momentum, only to fail by a length, just beating a tough Zalzalah (Dubawi) and Aleen (Mastercraftsman) on the photo.

Homebred by Édouard de Rothschild and trained by Henri-Alex Pantall, Victorine is out of La Mezquita (Holy Roman Emperor), who was sold €6,500 at the Arqana Summer Sale in 2016.

DROP DEAD GORGEOUS (F2), FRA by Sepoy ex Arabian Flight (Exceed and Excel)
Prix de la Verrerie (Unraced 2F, 1,000m), April 2, Chantilly

Owner : Theresa Marnane
Trainer : Matthieu Palussière
Breeders : Haras du Lieu des Champs, Leftnard Stud, FAP Syndicate, Leonard Powell
Rider : Antoine Hamelin

Drop Dead Gorgeous (Sepoy) went aside the leading Eleven O Two (Rio de la Plata) and overtook her to score by almost a length as 3rd-placed Moana (Ifraaj) finished 3rd two lengths behind.

Sold €3,500 as a weanling at Deauville by Haras du Lieu des Champs to haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard, she did not reach much more as a yearling as Con Marnane bought her for €3,500 at the Arqana October sale. Her dam Arabian Flight (Exceed and Excel) raced a lot (61 times from 2 to 6yo), mostly on all-weather tracks in Britain, and she won 6 races. Drop Dead Gorgeous is her first foal, whose 2nd dam is a sister to the good Godolphin stakes winner Mamool (In the Wings).

Both Drop Dead Gorgeous sire and dam's sire are from Australia.

I’M THE MAN (C2), IRE by Dandy Man ex Anthyllis (Night Shift)
Prix du Soleil de Bretagne (Unraced 2C&G, 1,000m), May 2, Chantilly

Owner : Theresa Marnane
Trainer : Matthieu Palussière
Breeder : Knocklong House Stud
Rider : Antoine Hamelin

Fast ahead and soon joined by Kilfrush Memories (Shakespearean), I’m the Man (Dandy Man) outstayed his rival and then just held off a fast closing Tudo Bem (Sommerabend), who failed by less than a length. The Marnane stable won both the beginners' races on the day. I'm the Man was for sale three weeks earlier but was undold £24,000 at the Doncaster breeze up sale. Con Marnane had bought the colt as a yearling at the same venue for £28,000.

I’m the Man is out of the maiden Anthyllis (Night Shift), dam of the dual German placed Topkapi Diamond (Acclamation), a sister to Plicck (Night Shift), a Gr2-winner in USA.

VAUTRIN (C3), GB by Bated Breath ex Lou Salomé (Giant’s Causeway)
Prix de Brichebay (Maiden 3yos, 1,200m), May 2, Chantilly

Owner : Famille Rothschild
Trainer : André Fabre
Breeder : Famille Rothschild
Rider : Pierre-Charles Boudot

One of the only two beginners in this maiden race, Vautrin (Bated Breath) still outclassed the field and scored by 4 lengths in style, beating a group of horses led by French Pegasus (French Fifteen).

Vautrin is the first foal out of Lou Salomé (Giant’s Causeway), whi never made it to the podium, not even at Cavaillon, before she went to stud. She's out of Cicerole (Barathea), a Listed winner at 3, Group-placed every season from 2 to 4 up to the mile, and second in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Gr2) over 9 furlongs. Cicérole is also a sister to Elliptique (New Approach), a Gr1-winner in Germany.

Since Vautrin, Lou Salome gave Calusot (Mastercraftsman), a 2yo in training with André Fabre, and a Makfi yearling filly.

JUMPS

ENJOY IT (F3), IRE by Jeremy ex Bilboa (Phantom Breeze)
Prix Wild Monarch des Pouliches (Beginners, 3F, 3,000m Hurdle race), May 7, Auteuil

Owner : Mme Patrick Papot
Trainer : Guillaume Macaire
Breeder : Kenilworth House Stud
Rider : Kevin Nabet

Six fillies were still in contention for the win as they were jumping the 2nd last hgurdle but only two emerged after the next jump, as Enjoy It (Jeremy) finally got the better of Hurkova (Hurricane Cat), with Luna Riska (No Risk at All) and French Bird (Cokoriko) finishing well a few lengths back.

Enjoy It runs for the Papot family but the filly is leased to them by Benoît Gabeur. She wa sbred in Ireland by Kenilworth House Stud, owner of the great hurdling mare Bilboa (Phantom Breeze), bred by the Pelat-Hosselet family, trained by François Doumen, dual-Gr2 winner in Britain, placed in the Champion Hurdle (Gr1) at Cheltenham and in the Prix Alain du Breil 4yo Hurdle (Gr1) at Auteuil. Bilboa's 2nd dam Association (Margouillat) folaed the great sire Mansonnien (Tip Moss), whose sister Maisonnaise (Labus) bred Bilboa.

Enjoy It cost €22,000 as a weanling at Tattersalls Ireland in 2015.