2 May 2021
Photo scoopdyga.com
April, ParisLongchamp
Prix Allez France
Group 3, 4-year-old and up mares, 2,000m / 1 1/4m, €80,000
Created in 2004
Last winner: Ebaiyra (f4 USA by Distorted Humor ex Ebiyza by Rock of Gibraltar), owned by Aga Khan, bred by Aga Khan, trained by Alain de Royer Dupré, ridden by Christophe Soumillon.
Record-time: 2'00''50 by Announce in 2011.
The race would be run for the 17th time in 2021
The 2021 edition
Sunday,May 2nd 2021, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). - Sixth last year in the Diane Longines (Gr1), over 2,100 metres, after winning the Royaumont (Gr3) over 1m4f, Ebaiyra (Distorted Humor) went back to the long-distance to win the Darley Prix de Pomone (Gr2) at Deauville and went on to finish 3rd in the Qatar Royallieu (Gr1), over 1m6f.
Yet this decisive win in the Allez France Longines (Gr3), for her seasonal comeback, clearly demonstrates that she can be as deadly overt this short distance as she is over longer trips. She was keen enough today, and literally jumped off when given a chance by her rider Christophe Soumillon, and caught the front-running Raabihah (Sea the Stars), who simply couldn't fight back and obliged in second, beaten a neck. Another mare coming back this season, All Rumours (Shamardal) ran well in third after waiting in a good spot.
Homebred by Aga Khan, Ebaiyra is out of Ebiyza (Rock of Gibraltar), a Qatar Royallieu (Gr2) winner, also dam of Edisa (Kitten’s Joy), a Prix du Conseil de Paris (Gr2) second. A More Than Ready filly and another one by Medaglia d’Oro were bred after Ebaiyra. The Aga Khan Studs team has deliberately chosen to send a staying mare to typical US sires, and here's the result!
History
This race was created in 2004 as part of the new programme for fillies aged 4 and over, in order to keep them in training in France and to prevent, if possible, them being exported to the United States or sent to stud prematurely. Allez France, one of the most famous mares to have graced French racing in recent decades, was chosen as a godparent of this race.
The race was not run in 2020 due to the Covid19 pandemic.
Allez France (1970-1989).
This bay filly was born in the USA on 24 May 1970 to Sea Bird and Priceless Gem (Hail to Reason). She was bred by the Bieber Jacob Stable, before being purchased privately as a foal by Daniel Wildenstein for $175,000, a high price for the time.
Allez France achieved the rare exploit of proving herself to be the preeminent filly at 2, 3, 4 and 5 years of age. Her career was managed by two trainers: Albert Klimscha at 2 and 3 years of age, and then by Angel Penna. Benefiting from a statuesque model, the daughter of the unforgettable Sea Bird was willing and generous, and therefore tense and difficult to ride. In Yves Saint-Martin, who became the Wildenstein stable’s top jockey in 1971, she possessed the ideal partner. Her honours list includes the Critérium des Pouliches as a 2-year-old, then at 3, the Triple Crown for fillies (Poule d'Essai, Prix de Diane and Prix Vermeille), plus second place in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe behind the English 5-year-old, Rheingold. At 4, her five outings produced as many victories, in the Prix d'Harcourt, Prix Ganay, Prix d'Ispahan, Prix Foy and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. At 5, she recorded three further successes in the Prix Ganay, Dollar and Foy, as well as fifth place in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Her two forays across the Channel brought her a pair of second places in the Champion Stakes, as a 3-year old and again at 5.
In total, Allez France recorded thirteen victories (including eight Group Is), five places and three failures in 21 races, all with Saint-Martin in the saddle. In his view, Allez France is the best horse he has ever ridden. To the public at Longchamp, where she won twelve of her thirteen victories, she is “the Queen”. In the entire history of the racecourse, only one filly has won more often than her: La Camargo, seventeen times a winner but born seventy-two years earlier.
N.B. This text is taken in its entirety from the book Un siècle de Galop par Guy Thibault (2001, Editions Filipacchi), available from France Galop racecourse gift shops.
Allez France’s career as a broodmare was disappointing. She produced five foals, four of which ran in races. Of these, the best performer was Action Française (1985), a winner of the Prix de Sandringham (Group III) and mother of Android (1993), a winner of the Prix de la Jonchère (Group III). She also became the grandmother of Argentina (2002), who came 2nd in the Prix de Diane and Saint-Alary. Allez France passed away on 11 December 1989, following a leg fracture caused by another broodmare in a pasture at Lanes End Farm in Kentucky.
Owners
- Aga Khan (3 wins): Shemima (2010), Shemiyla (2011), Ebaiyra (2021).
- Khaled Abdullah (2 wins): Announce (2011), Romantica (2013).
- Godolphin (2 wins): Kitesurf (2018), Morgan Le Faye (2019).
Trainers
- André Fabre (5 wins): Macleya (2007), Announce (2011), Romantica (2013), Kitesurf (2018), Morgan Le Faye (2019).
- Alain de Royer Dupré (4 wins): Pride (2004), Shemima (2010), Shemiyla (2011), Ebaiyra (2021).
Riders
- Stéphane Pasquier (2 wins): Macleya (2007), Mayhem (2015).
- Maxime Guyon (2 wins): Romantica (2013), Marypop (2016).
- Mickaël Barzalona (2 wins): Kitesurf (2018), Morgan Le Faye (2019).
- Christophe Soumillon (2 wins): Shemima (2010), Ebaiyra (2021).