1 July 2022
Photo scoopdyga.com
June 30, 2022, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). - The Prix de la Porte Maillot (Gr3) has been won by Moonlight Cloud (Invincible Spirit) and a few other 3-year-olds before older horses took over with the likes of Polydream (Oasis Dream) in 2019, Space Blues (Dubawi) in 2020, also at 4, Marianafoot (Footstepsinthesand) at 6 last season.
In a race led by Manjeer (Footstepsinthesand), Amilcar (Wootton Bassett) was held on a second line alongside the favourite and titleholder Marianafoot. Breizh Eagle (Bow Creek) challenged them but failed to pose a real threat, while Namos (Medicean) came form the last place to finish 3rd very close to Marianafoot. Amilcar won by almost a length.
Amilcar races for Emadadein Alhtoushi. His trainer Alessandro Botti won his second Group race in France on that occasion. Like previous winners of this contest, Amilcar could be aimed at the Prix Maurice de Gheest (Gr1) in Deauville.
The consistent Amilcar had finished 5th in April in the All-Weather Mile Championships, at Newcastle. Such an ambition was probably raised by his all-weather win in the Prix Luthier (Listed), last Winter at Deauville.
On the other hand, Amilcar had won the Grand Handicap de la Nouvelle Piste on the same course and distance, beating another horse owned by Jean-Claude Seroul, Elusive Foot (Footstepsinthesand).
Out of Drosia (King’s Best), a Prix de la Cochère (Listed) winner, Amilcar came back unsold twice from Arqana : once for €8,000 as a weanling and €32,000 at the October yearling sale. Amilcar is the best of the 4 winners foaled by his dam so far. The second dam Eriza (Distant Relative) is a sister to Needwood Epic (Midyan), who gave a Gr3 winner in Britain, Yasoodd (Inchinor), and the Listed winner Gript (First Trump).