The November 2024 Maiden Winners

ASHIKIDAH (f2), FRA by Belardo ex Ashtaneh (More Than Ready)

Prix de la Croix Saint-Rieuil (Maiden 2-year-old Fillies, 1,600 m/8f AWT), November 19, 2024, Chantilly

Owner: S. A. Aga Khan

Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard

Breeder: S. A. Aga Khan

Rider: Mickaël Barzalona

Third on her debut a month earlier at Longchamp, behind Fornali, who has since been beaten (see below), Ashikidah (Belardo) nevertheless dominated this maiden after being held up in last place and taking her time to pick off the field. She eventually finished nearly a length clear of the promising Alsaba (Pinatubo), who also came through the middle of the track.

The rest of the field finished more than two lengths further back.

The winner's dam, Ashtaneh (More Than Ready), won just one race. Her first foal, Ashghar (Wootton Bassett), is now 5, and is still in training. He races off a mark of 74. The 3-year-old by Dariyan won her second race in October. A daughter of Sea The Moon followed.

RIDARI (c2), FRA by Churchill ex Ridasiyna (Motivator)

Prix de la Croix Marquet (Maiden 2-year-old Colts and geldings, 1,600m/8f AWT), November 19, 2024, Chantilly

Owner: S. A. Aga Khan

Trainer: Mikel Delzangles

Breeder: S. A. Aga Khan

Rider: Mickaël Barzalona

Second on his debut forty days earlier at Saint-Cloud, where he raced prominently and showed plenty of courage, Ridari (Churchill) made a strong impression here. After being held up, he sliced through the field to win easily. A length behind was the newcomer Caromb (Showcasing), who ran very promisingly after tracking the leaders. He finished half a length in front of Batal Youmzain (Hello Youmzain), who closed strongly after racing wide with stall 9.

Ridari's brother, the 4-year-old Ridpour (Siyouni), was sold for €30,000 at the November sales in Deauville. His 3-year-old sister, the unraced Ridala (Dubawi), is entered in the Arqana breeding stock sales in December. Their dam, Ridasiyna (Motivator), won the Prix de l'Opéra (Gr1).

ESSEX (f2), FRA by Kendargent ex Esson (Le Havre)

Prix Pharsale (Maiden 2-year-old Fillies, 1,800m/9f), November 15, 2024, Saint-Cloud

Owners: Patrick Barbe, Mikel Delzangles

Trainer: Mikel Delzangles

Breeder: Patrick Barbe

Rider: David Breux

One of the biggest outsiders in the race, Essex (Kendargent), who made her debut over 1,800m with a 7th place a month earlier, raced in the wake of the leaders, and when the field moved towards the outside, she took the lead quite early and was not really troubled by her stablemate Badiane (Motivator), who came through the middle of the track. The latter, for her part, held off the favourite, Fornali (Zarak), who had made her challenge quite early in the straight but took a long time to reach her top speed. The three fillies finished within a length of each other, three lengths ahead of Berra (Wooded), who finished well in the distance.

Essex was entered in the Deauville yearling sales in October 2023 but was absent. On the other hand, her brother by The Grey Gatsby, sold as a foal last December for €8,000, was bought back for €15,000 a few days after Essex's victory at Deauville.

PERCIVAL (c2), FRA by Camelot ex Bella Bolide (Rock of Gibraltar)

Prix Kantar (Maiden 2-year-old Colts and geldings, 2,000m/1m2f), November 15, 2024, Saint-Cloud

Owner: Juddmonte Farms

Trainer: André Fabre

Breeder: Élevage Haras de Bourgeauville

Rider: Alexis Pouchin

Fifth on his debut two months earlier at Lyon-Parilly over 1,600 meters, Percival (Camelot) was able to race in midfield along the rail and take over from the favourite Arabian Fever (Showcasing), who was stuck along the outside rail. Percival gradually pulled clear to win by four lengths from Aidan's Phone (Prince Gibraltar), who came through the middle of the track after racing on the inside, and he finished ahead of Grand Terroir, who finished well to beat the favourite.

Percival was bought for €520,000 at the Arqana sales. His sister by Australia was absent from the last October sales. The third dam Bellarida (Bellypha) is also the dam of In Clover, whence Call The Wind, With You, We Are and Bellona (Bering), the second dam of Percival and of Dominant, winner of the Hong Kong Vase (Gr1).

MANDANABA (f2), FRA by Ghaiyyath ex Mandesha (Desert Style)

Prix de la Voie de Garde (Unraced 2-year-old Fillies, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), November 12, 2024, Chantilly

Owner: Princess Zahra Aga Khan

Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard

Breeder: Princess Zahra Aga Khan

Rider: Mickaël Barzalona

Quickly in the lead, the favourite Mandalaba (Ghaiyyath) completely dominated this race as she won by six lengths over Day Dreaming (Hello Youmzain), who had raced in her slipstream until the final straight. The winner is a daughter of the champion Mandesha (Desert Style), winner of three Group 1 races, like the Group 2 winner Mandour (Smart Strike), and like Marindja (Zarak), a winner and in foal to Native Trail, who will go through the ring at Tattersalls in December.

UTHER (c2), (GB) by Camelot ex Sosia (Shamardal)

Prix du Mont César (Unraced 2-year-old Colts and geldings, 1,900m/9.5f PSF), November 12, 2024, Chantilly

Owners: Wertheimer&Frère

Trainer: Christophe Ferland

Breeder: Wertheimer&Frère

Rider: Maxime Guyon

The favourite and breaking well from stall 1, Uther (Camelot) let Bogdann (Attendu) make the running, and the race closed up until the entrance to the straight. Uther then made headway along the rail and kept the lead to the line. He beat the promising Zatsgood (Frankel), who finished with a flourish by a length. He finished ahead of Surabad (Bated Breath), who raced in midfield without cover after having raced in last place. When trying to come between horses, Richard Feynman (Into Mischief) did not get a clear run. He will make amends for this defeat.

Sosia (Shamardal), the winner's dam, is out of a full-sister to Schiaparelli, Samum and Salve Regina, all Group 1 winners in Germany. She has already produced Sosie, 3rd in the Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1), winner of the Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1) and 4th in the Arc. A son of Sea The Stars was born this year.

AL UQDA (f2), (IRE) by Ghaiyyath ex Tampa Dream (Champs Élysées)

Prix Douve (Unraced 2-year-old Fillies, 1,500m/7.5f), November 10, 2024, Saint-Cloud

Owner: Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani

Trainer: Henri-Alex Pantall

Breeder: Haras d’Haspel

Rider: Tony Piccone

Breaking well and then settling in behind the leaders in a field of fourteen fillies, Al Uqda (Ghaiyyath) quickened at the top of the straight and made a big impression as she gradually drew clear of her pursuers. Coming from further back, No Nay Cen (No Nay Never) finished nicely more than two lengths adrift, a further two lengths in front of Princesse Mandel (Showcasing). The promising finish of Princesse Trezy (Goken) should be noted, just behind. This is undoubtedly a good batch, almost two seconds faster than the Colts just before.

Henri-Alex Pantall bought this filly for €85,000 at the Arqana October Sale last year. She is part of the first crop of Ghaiyyath. The dam, Tampa Dream (Champs Élysées), had to go all the way to Hyères to win her race. She was then placed with a rating of 33 at Le Bouscat. But she was a sister to Equilateral (Equiano), who was 2nd in the King's Stand Stakes (Gr1) at Ascot, and, like him, out of an unraced sister to the stallion Bated Breath and the Group 1 winner Cityscape, also close relatives of Logician, who won... the St Leger! An eclectic family, then.

DYNAMITIC (c2), (GB) by Hello Youmzain ex Sorcière (Orpen)

Prix Antivari (Unraced 2-year-old Colts and geldings, 1,500m/7.5f), November 10, 2024, Saint-Cloud

Owner: Haras Assiro

Trainer: Manon Scandella-Lacaille

Breeder: Petra Bloodstock Agency

Rider: Christophe Soumillon

There were eleven runners on a heavy track for this debutants' race, and it was two colts who came from Callas who fought for victory ahead of the Chantilly-based favourite, Cualificar (Lope De Vega), who therefore completed the podium a head behind the first two. The front-running Light Mood (City Light) looked for a long time like he would keep the advantage on a chopped-up track that seemed to favour those up with the pace. Still, Dynamitic, who challenged towards the stands' side, eventually had the last word, by a nose, over his rival, who stayed near the rail 20 meters away.

Marco Bozzi Bloodstock bought Dynamitic for €90,000 at the Deauville sales. His 3-year-old sister Sunny Angel (Harry Angel) is entered in the breeding stock sales, in training, already a winner of two races. She cost €150,000 as a yearling. Their dam Sorcière (Orpen) is the winner of the Prix d'Arenberg (Gr3), and her best produce, Witch Hunter (Siyouni), won at Group 3 and Group 2 levels across the Channel this summer.

AMABATI (f3), FRA by Sommerabend ex Amacali (Danehill Dancer)

Prix de la Pigeonnière (Maiden 3-year-olds, 1,400m/7f AWT), November 8, 2024, Deauville

Owner: Sparkling Star

Trainer: Jean-Marie Béguigné

Breeder: Sparkling Star

Rider: Malone Favriaux

Making her second career start after finishing second a month ago at Compiègne, Amabati broke well from post three and was able to save ground throughout. Midway down the stretch, as one of the pacesetters, Spring Heart (Scissor Kick), battled to maintain her lead in the centre of the course, Amabati shot through along the rail to win easily. A beginner, Speedster (Wootton Bassett) missed the start and closed strongly in the centre of the track, as did the fourth-place finisher, Riyabovka (Saxon Warrior), who had raced wide throughout.

Amabati was bought back for €3,000 in September 2022. Her dam is a winner at Chantilly and has already produced a Group 3 winner over jumps at Compiègne, Chaptal (Le Havre). She herself was purchased for €77,000 by Carlos Lerner at the Deauville August Sale.

Amabati has a 2-year-old gelded brother by Romanised and a yearling sister by Victor Ludorum.

ZIA AGNESE (f2), FRA by Romanised ex Little Sister (Le Havre)

Prix de la Rocque (Maiden 2-years-old Fillies, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), November 3, 2024, Deauville

Owners: Gina d’Amato, Richard Marini

Trainer: Gianluca Bietolini

Breeder: Team Hogdala

Rider: Ronan Thomas

The only filly with a handicap rating after four starts, including a second-place finish last time out, Zia Agnese (Romanised) dominated the race in the closing stages. Rated 77, she raced prominently throughout and drew off to win easily.

The favourite, Mahasen (Night Of Thunder), led until the entrance to the final straight but quickly faded. The debutante Végétale (Lope De Vega) finished strongly, coming from a long way back, to snatch third place from Mahasen.

Zia Agnese was purchased for €27,000 as a yearling at the Deauville sales. Her sister by Victor Ludorum was sold for €30,000, again to Marco Bozzi, last October.

RAFALE DESIGN (c2), FRA by Starspangledbanner ex Fashion Design (Montjeu)

Prix de l’Épinay (Maiden 2-yers-old Colts and geldings, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), November 3, 2024, Deauville

Owners: Laurent Dassault, Cormac Farrell, Jean-Noël Bocahut, LTN Racing, Meridian International, Franck Dhooghe

Trainer: Yann Barberot

Breeder: Newstead Breeding

Rider: Maxime Guyon

Sixth on his debut on heavy ground two weeks earlier, Rafale Design (Starspangledbanner) dominated here in the last hundred meters after racing on the outside in the wake of Anzor (Almanzor), who was positioned outside the leaders, including the favourite Starlord (Too Darn Hot). Coming out of the final turn, these three found themselves battling for the lead, and Anzor was the first to give way. Rafale Design maintained his effort to the line to prevail over Starlord, who narrowly held off the late charge of Best Secret (Persian King).

Rafale Design was unsold at €195,000 at the Arqana breeze-up sale in May. He had previously been sold for €48,000 as a foal at Goffs in Ireland, where he fetched €75,000 in September last year. His Ten Sovereigns brother, born this year, will go through the ring at Goffs on November 19. Their dam is a full-sister to Only A Pleasure (Montjeu), winner of the Prix Michel Houyvet (L).

GATTOPARDO (c3), FRA by Dariyan ex Letizia Relco (Lucky Story)

Prix du Bessin (Maiden 3-year-olds, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), November 2, 2024, Deauville

Owners: Paolo Ferrario, Haras du Grand Lys

Trainer: Maurizio Guarnieri

Breeders: Haras du Grand Lys, Sem Moioli

Rider: Christophe Soumillon

Although a late bloomer, Gattopardo (Dariyan) was the favourite in this maiden, he was already well known to the public as this was his eighth start since December, and he had never finished further than fifth. He, therefore, thoroughly deserved this victory, which will allow his owners to reach €66,000 in earnings and premiums, an average, over eleven months, of €6,000.

However, he had to work hard to get the better of a tenacious Tamyz (Le Havre) after having to make up for a slow start quickly and then race wide of the pacesetter Pagan Sun (Waldgeist). The third-placed Reckhale (Cloth Of Stars) finished well, coming from a long way back.

Gattopardo is a brother to the useful Il Decamerone (Born To Sea), winner of the Prix André Baboin (L). Their dam was Listed-placed in Italy. The third dam is a sister to the champion Mill Reef and produced a winner of the Italian St Leger (Gr2).

STAR OF BRITTANY (f2), FRA by Starspangledbanner ex Spirit of Brittany (Invincible Spirit)

Prix La Bamba (Maiden 2-year-old Fillies, 1,300m/6.5f AWT), November 2, 2024, Deauville

Owner: Al Shaqab Racing

Trainer: Henri-François Devin

Breeder: Al Shaqab Racing

Rider: Maryline Eon

As in the colts' race, it was a filly also carrying the colours of Al Shaqab who came through the middle of the track to win, but Star Of Brittany (Starspangledbanner) had been prominent alongside the leader Westminster Fox (Areion). In the end, she found herself battling with the favourite Wewilldanceagain (Wooded), who had been held up behind the leaders and who went to the outside to challenge, without preventing the winner and her three-pound allowance from taking the lead and eventually winning by a good length.

Good final effort from the 3rd-placed Alsaba (Pinatubo) in the middle of the track, beaten by almost two lengths nonetheless. We also noted the good finish of the 4th-placed Fame (Hello Youmzain), who came from a long way back.

The winner was among the most experienced in the race, as it was her 5th start. She faced fifteen opponents here. Her dam Spirit Of Brittany (Invincible Spirit) finished 3rd in the Prix Six Perfections unbeaten in two outings. She won once at three but has not raced in a Listed or a Group race. The winner's yearling brother is in training with Jean-Claude Rouget, as was her dam. A son of Mehmas is one to follow.

WOODSHAUNA (c2) FRA by Wooded ex Tosen Shauna (Alhebayeb)

Prix Nonoalco (Maiden 2-year-old Colts and geldings, 1,300m/6.5f AWT), November 2, 2024, Deauville

Owner: Al Shaqab Racing

Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard

Breeder: Haras de Magouet

Rider: Christophe Soumillon

Held up in a race led by Monarch Hunza (Tornibush) and Precioso (Shalaa), who finished 4th and 3rd, respectively, indicating a moderately run race, the favourite Woodshauna (Wooded) made headway in the centre of the track to take the lead near the post. He was threatened to the line by Fearless Spirit (Mehmas), who had raced on the inside and, in extremis, got the better of the pacesetters. Prince Aubois (Motivator) finished well in 5th, having come from too far back.

The winner had raced once before, in July over 6f at Deauville, where he finished 3rd, a good length behind the promising Estepona.

Withdrawn from the Arqana August Sale, he was sold for €70,000 two months later, again at Deauville, where Al Shaqab purchased him. His Hello Youmzain yearling brother has just been sold at the same sale for €87,000 to Equos Racing.