Muguet: Sibila Spain, a potential great lady in waiting

May 8, 2022, Saint-Cloud Racecourse (Hauts-de-Seine). - Fourth for her seasonal return in the Prix Edmond Blanc (Gr3) on the same course and distance as that of the Prix du Muguet (Gr2), 4-year-old mare Sibila Spain (Frankel) was this time held up at the rear of the 6-strong field led by the German raider Mythico (Adlerflug), followed by Hurricane Dream (Hurricane Cat) on the rail and Pao Alto (Intello) at their side. Ridden early in the bend, she was kept behind the returning Dilawar (Dubawi) until two out, and it long looked as if the latter would stay on and win, but he couldn't quite resist the mare's last jump: she won by a head. Hurricane Dream held on well in third at a good length, with the favourite and previous winner of this contest Duhail (Lope de Vega) an unlucky 4th.

Owned by Leopoldo Fernández Pujals's Yeguada Centurion and trained at Chantilly by Christopher Head, Sibila Spain easily won her first two races at 3. Then fourth in both the Saint-Alary (Gr1à) and the Prix de Diane Longines (French Oaks, Gr1), she came back three months later only to score in the Prix de Liancourt (L) before a disappointing 7th place in the Prix de l’Opéra Longines (Gr1), her last race in 2021.

Sibila Spain was bred by Coolmore and sold for €240,000 privately at the Deauville sales. Her gelding brother was sold for £35,000 in August 2021 at Tattersalls. They're both out of the classic-placed L’Ancresse (Darshaan), a full sister to the champion mare Cerulean Sky.

Sibila Spain is a full sister to the stayer Master of Reality, an Ascot Gold Cup (Gr1) third and Melbourne Cup (Gr1) 4th yet unsold at £145,000 last year at Tattersalls.