Palais-Royal: Marianafoot scores for in-form Seroul

Sunday May 30, 2021, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). - Contested over the 7-furlong « new course » this year on a good to soft, yet drying ground, the Prix du Palais-Royal (Gr3) went to its front-runner Marianafoot (Footstepsinthesand). Ridden by Mickaël Barzalona for breeder-owner Jean-Claude Seroul and trainer Jérôme Reynier, the leader handily kept the favourite Duhail (Lope de Vega) at bay to score by 1 12/2 length. His rival having just won the Prix du Muguet (Gr2), he had to carry two kilos which may have helped to make the difference. However, the winner passed the post on the bit, slowing down.

Handled with care by Jérôme Reynier, Marianafoot signed his sixth consecutive victory since December. At 6 years old, he is approaching € 500,000 in earnings without ever having won at Group level until then, while winning three Listed races! On the other hand, he was twice in Qatar, where he won before finishing second in rich local Group races.

Marianafoot is the second foal out of Marianabaa (Anabaa), a winner at Marseille-Vivaux who ran a claimer under the colours of her breeder Jean-Claude Seroul before entering stud. She was nevertheless sent to Kendargent and then to Footstepsinthesand. The mare gave six foals including the good Padron (Gris de Gris), a Listed-winner and Gr3-placed in Germany for the same connections. More recently, the mare gave a full sister to Marianafoot who won at Marseille-Borély at 2, then a 2-year-old by Authorized in training with Jérôme Reynier, and finally another filly by Footstepsinthesand born in 2020.