The August 2023 Maiden winners

 

BAUHINIA (f2), IRE by Too Darn Hot ex Desert Blossom (Shamardal)

Prix de la Cascade (Unraced 2-year-old Fillies, 1,600m/1m), August 31, 2023, ParisLongchamp

Owner: Godolphin

Trainer: André Fabre

Breeder: Godolphin

Rider: Bauyrzhan Murzabayev

The fillies clocked faster than the colts in the "Fontenoy," posting 1’43’’4 against 1’44’’5. This was primarily due to a more animated start, as the fillies took approximately one second less to cover the initial 3 furlongs. Bauhinia (Too Darn Hot) asserted herself in a few strides to win by two lengths. She had been racing in fourth behind the early leaders Cetera (Nathaniel), who held on in second, and Way to Marbella (Acclamation), who faded after making an effort to take the lead despite her 9 draw.

The noteworthy performance came from the third-placed Candala (Frankel) and especially the fourth-placed Silham (Wootton Bassett), who made up a lot of ground to finish within a length after covering the penultimate furlong in 10’’68, nearly the exact time posted by Lord Sinclair and Cabernet Franc half an hour earlier (10’’69).

Bauhinia is the sixth foal out of Desert Blossom (Shamardal), a Gr2 winner for Godolphin and the dam of Gr3-placed Duneflower (Dubawi). The mare has also produced Kalahari Prince (New Approach), a 4-year-old gelding sold last July at Tattersalls for £18,000 to Torki al-Lamy.

 

 

LORD SINCLAIR (c2), FRA by Almanzor ex Mary’s Precedent (Storming Home)

Prix de Fontenoy (Unraced 2-year-old Colts and Geldings, 1,600m/1m), August 31, 2023, ParisLongchamp

Owners: F&O Hinderze Racing, Écurie JML Racing, NBB Racing

Trainers: Yann et Carlos Lerner

Breeders: Écurie Haras du Cadran, SCEA Bissons

Rider: Christophe Soumillon

Finishing first but veering markedly to his left in the home straight, Cabernet Franc (Zarak) likely impeded his rival Lord Sinclair (Almanzor), who had come by at the top of the straight after following in third position. As a result, the stewards reversed the finishing order. However, both colts easily outpaced Ride the Skies (City Light), who had enjoyed a favourable position along the rails and finished well.

Lord Sinclair was purchased as a yearling for €55,000 at the Arqana sales by his trainers, who have already doubled down by acquiring his half-sister by Hello Youmzain this summer for €80,000. They also trained his older sister Mary’s France (Acclamation), who was sold to the USA after winning her maiden race at Chantilly.

The dam, Mary's Precedent (Storming Home), also trained by the Lerners, is a winner of the Prix de Bagatelle (L) in France. She shares her second dam, Allwaki, with the dams of Sistercharlie, My Sister Nat, and the classic Sottsass.

 

 

BABETTE (f2), FRA by Attendu ex Alinade (Poliglote)

Prix d’Argentan (Maiden 2-year-olds, 1,500m/7.5f AWT), August 24, 2023, Deauville

Owner: Marie-Pierre Salmon

Trainer: Romain Le Dren Doleuze

Breeder: Romain Le Dren Doleuze

Rider: Arthur Mossé

One of the five newcomers in the line-up for this maiden run on a "slow" all-weather, Babette (Attendu) managed to best three other first-timers at the finish, holding off Release Me (Reliable Man) after pacing up front with the favourite, Burgundy Real (City Light). The winner prevailed by half a length, while about a length behind the runner-up, Indie Bright (City Light), who didn't get a clear run in the final stages, and Prince à Rio (Rio de la Plata) finished strongly together.

Babette is the fifth foal out of Alinade (Attendu), a winner of five races from 43 starts, achieved between the ages of 3 and 6 at weights ranging from 7st 5lbs to 7st 2lbs, from handicaps to claimers, over distances from 1 mile 2 furlongs to 1 mile 4 furlongs. The winner's trainer Romain Le Dren Doleuze was her only rider in her final racing year. Babette is her third winner, and her 4-year-old sister, Canavaggia (Spanish Moon), was unsold at €15,000 at the February 2022 sales in Deauville. She was unraced then and ran four times over hurdles last year without a win.

 

VALDIVARA (f2), IRE by Blue Point ex Etruria (Invincible Spirit)

Prix de Fierville (Maiden 2-year-old Fillies, 1,200m/6f), August 22, 2023, Deauville

Owner: Godolphin

Trainer: André Fabre

Breeder: Godolphin

Rider: Bauyrzhan Murzabayev

Having run a commendable third on her debut three weeks before this race on a softer turf, Valdivara (Blue Point) markedly turned the tables on Concertation (Churchill), who had previously beaten her to second behind Macu. Also showing improvement from her first race, Batesca (Bated Breath) stormed home to narrowly miss 2nd place to Concertation, two lengths behind the superior winner. The colts of the Prix de Saint-Hymer completed their race quicker in 1’12’’23 as opposed to 1’12’’95, yet Valdivara covered the last three furlongs in 34’’27, almost half a second faster than Mount Vernon...

Valdivara's dam, Etruria (Invincible Spirit), won on her debut over 7 furlongs at age 3 in April and was twice defeated at Listed level. She was sold for £50,000 last year at Tattersalls, in foal to Earthlight, to Mohamed and Maha Sedrati's Fal Stud... the owners of third-placed Batesca! She was carrying a colt now named Eruri Fal.

Etruria is a full sister to the classic sire Territories (Invincible Spirit), hailing from a lineage managed by Sheikh Mohammed, who had got it from the Irish stud Ballymacoll Stud, the renowned breeding establishment of Dorothy Paget, Michael Sobell, and Arnold Weinstock, the birthplace of numerous champions.

 

MOUNT VERNON (g2), FRA by Night of Thunder ex My Rosie (Redoute’s Choice)

Prix de Saint-Hymer (Unraced 2-year-old Colts and Gedlings, 1,200m/6f), August 22, 2023, Deauville

Owners: Stamford Bloodstock, Écurie des Monceaux, Pan Sutong Racing Bloodstock

Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard

Breeder: Écurie des Monceaux, Pan Sutong Racing Bloodstock

Rider: Maxime Guyon

Mount Vernon (Night of Thunder) had previously faded for his debut with cheekpieces on, having raced prominently in the middle of the course, three weeks before this second attempt. Following a similar trajectory here but without the initial equipment, he held on bravely to fend off the challenge of hot favourite Adore Blue (Blue Point), who had previously beaten him, and Retort (Frankel), who was a non-runner that day.

Another change: the track was no longer yielding, with the going described as Good to Soft (Goingstick reading "good to firm, good in places") this time around.

A neck and a short head separated the top three finishers, indicating that the pecking order in this group isn't firmly established yet.

Unsold at €28,000 as a yearling at the October 2022 Arqana sales, Mount Vernon remains in the ownership of his breeders, Écurie des Monceaux and Pan Sutong Racing Bloodstock, now joined by Stamford Bloodstock, that is the trainer Francis-Henri Graffard's racing corporation.

The colt's dam, My Rosie (Redoute’s Choice), a maiden bred by Andrew Lloyd-Webber, was purchased for £600,000 at Tattersalls by Écurie des Monceaux, in foal to Frankel. Yet, Mount Vernon is her first winner. Nonetheless, she is out of My Branch (Distant Relative), placed in the Cheveley Park Stakes (Gr1) and the Irish 1000 Guineas (Gr1), also dam of a Gr1 winner and the 2nd dam of Dubawi Heights (Dubawi), a two-time Gr1 winner in America, and of the classic champion Make Believe (Makfi), victor in the French 2000 Guineas and a sire in Ireland.

 

UKRAINE (f3), FRA by Siyouni and Zarakiysha (Kendor)

Prix Freddy Palmer (Maiden 3-year-olds, 2,000m/1m2f), Thursday 17th August 2023, Deauville

Owners: Billon Stable, Hubert Guy

Trainer: Yann Barberot

Breeder: Breeders Group

Rider: Clément Lecœuvre

Second on her debut in April over a mile at Saint-Cloud, then third upon returning after a near three-month absence, Ukraine (Siyouni) this time led from start to finish, with relative ease, to claim this late-season maiden. With her one draw, she kept her advantage effortlessly, especially as most of her rivals had opted for the centre of the course. Gelding Mirzann (Camelot), the favourite, had started next to the winner and made a late surge to narrowly seize second place, ahead of the brave Arcon (Soldier Hollow) – mirroring his debut performance at Dieppe.

Ukraine was bought for €125,000 at the Deauville sales by Hubert Guy, who is now a co-owner. She's out of an unraced sister to Zarkava, Zarakiysha (Kendor), who was sold in-foal to this filly to Stallion Group two years prior for €60,000.

A Zelzal filly was born this year.

 

MIRADOR (g2), FRA by Almanzor and Abraxa (Verglas)

Arqana Series des Poulains (2yo unraced colts and geldings, 1,400m/7f), Thursday 17th August 2023, Deauville

Owners: Martin Hughes & Partner

Trainer: Brian Meehan

Breeder: Manfred Wurtenberger

Rider: Mickaël Barzalona

Reserved exclusively for unraced colts presented at either the Arqana yearling sales or the Arqana breeze-up, this maiden race carries a purse of €200,000, with an additional €22,000 distributed among the breeders of the placed horses.

Following the fillies' event, gelding Mirador (Almanzor) emerged victorious, besting four other international contestants, three of whom hailed from the UK. Initially auctioned for €24,000 as a weanling, Mirador later fetched €35,000 as a yearling when sold to Sam Sangster Bloodstock. In contrast, his elder sibling, a three-time winning son of Kodiac, was acquired by Adrien Theyssier last February for a modest sum of €11,000.

Mirador's dam, Abraxa (Verglas), achieved success with a Listed victory in Germany. Mirador is noted as her most recent registered foal. Mirador kept to the rail in this esteemed maiden race as the field dispersed widely across the last straight. Holding his line, he only truly showcased his superiority in the final furlong. Elsewhere near the rail, the frontrunner Inside Matters (Lope de Vega) encountered challenges from both Black Run (Nathaniel) and Louis Quatorze (New Bay). Positioned centrally, the favoured National Interest (Kingman), having initially tracked the leading group, held his ground. Though surpassing his counterparts, Black Run ultimately settled for third, trailing National Interest by a clear length, who was similarly bested. Saint Aquilin (Le Havre) secured a commendable sixth place by racing off the field.

 

ROSE BLOOM (f2), IRE by Lope de Vega and Xaarienne (Xaar)

Arqana Series des Pouliches (1,400m/7f), Thursday, 17th August 2023, Deauville

Owner: China Horse Club International

Trainer: Nicolas Clément

Breeder: John O’Connor

Rider: Stéphane Pasquier

This maiden, quite specific, has a purse of €200,000 plus an additional €22,000 split among the breeders of the top finishers. Only fillies presented at Arqana's yearling sales or breeze-up can participate. Rose Bloom (Lope de Vega), purchased for €320,000 by her owner China Horse Club International, at last year's August sale, won the first of these Arqana Series. Her full sister goes under the hammer at Arqana the day after this race.

However, 100m from the finish, it seemed she'd settle for a placing as Atlantic Ways (Ulysses) appeared to take the lead. But with a final push, Rose Bloom surged ahead to win by a length, while Atlantic Ways stayed on in second, almost two lengths ahead of Liberté (Too Darn Hot). The latter looked promising 2 furlongs out, and Rose Bloom, for a moment, tried to follow her but faced with Liberté’s rider's overconfidence, Stéphane Pasquier chose a different route. Atlantic Ways had already moved to the centre of the course after racing with the eventual winner in midfield.

Rose Bloom is the seventh foal out of Xaarienne (Xaar), twice Listed-placed at 2yo. Xaarienne later produced See the Rose (Kendargent), winner of the Prix Six Perfections (Gr3). Xaarienne herself was bred by Chryss O’Reilly, as were her dam, 2nd, 3rd and 4th dams up to Suprina, born in 1970 in the US.

 

METROPOLITAN (c2), FRA by Zarak and Alianza (Halling)

Prix de Montaigu (Unraced 2-year-old colts and geldings, 1 mile), Saturday 12th August 2023, Deauville

Owner: Scuderia Scolari

Trainer: Mario Baratti

Breeder: Stuart McPhee

Rider: Alexis Pouchin

Remaining at the rear of the field, which turned in the middle of the course behind the favourite Retouch (Demarchelier), while closer to the rail Ouro Preto (Wootton Bassett) was leading Lovers Day (Recorder), Metropolitan (Zarak) had to come all the way outside as Ouro Preto leaned outwards whilst battling with Calandagan (Gleneagles), already pushed in the bend. Nevertheless, Metropolitan easily dominated, winning by three lengths over a gallant Ouro Preto, who held off Calandagan until the end for second place. After mounting a bit of a challenge midstretch following a soft run, Safwan (Wootton Bassett) only stayed to take fourth place over two lengths behind.

Metropolitan was purchased for 78,000€ at the Deauville sales by Alessandro Marconi. His elder brother Mister Charlie (Myboycharlie), having passed through the same sales ring, had already won his two races but had recently secured the second spot twice at Longchamp with a rating of 53 lbs. A 3-year-old colt by Myboycharlie is still unraced, and an Elarqam colt was born in 2022.

 

DARE TO DREAM (f2), FRA by Camelot and Débutante (Gold Away)

Prix de la Reboursière (Unraced 2-year-old fillies, 1 mile), Saturday 12th August 2023, Deauville

Owner: Dun Shing Lee

Trainer: Gavin Hernon

Breeders: Écurie des Monceaux, Meridian International, Scuderia Waldeck

Rider: Tony Piccone

The two first fillies home were outsiders, posting odds of 15/1 and 42/1, respectively, with the favourite Alakai (Sea the Stars) having to settle for fourth after briefly impeding third-placed Fakarava (Le Havre), who rallied near the end.

The victory, however, went to the imposing Dare to Dream (Camelot), who had travelled three-wide, facing the wind, but managed to overcome Orlhena (Attendu), who had run next to the early leader, Rocket Rise (Bucchero). In the end, only a short neck separated the top two, but the outcome of the race was always going to go to the eventual winner. Fakarava finished less than a length behind.

Dare to Dream was purchased for 67,000€ at the Deauville sales by her trainer, Gavin Hernon. Her dam, Debutante (Gold Away), is a sister to the champion mare Danedream (Lomitas), winner of an Arc de Triomphe. Although only placed in a Listed race, she has produced two winners and was sold, in foal to Zelzal, for 34,000€ at Deauville last December to A-Turf. A filly was born this year.

A Sea the Stars filly was born in 2022.

 

STANGHELI (c2), FRA by Shalaa ex Bhageerathi (Motivator)

Prix de Tour-en-Bessin (Maiden 2-year-old colts and geldings, 1,400m/7f), August 8, 2023, Deauville

Owner: Yves Burrus

Trainer: André Fabre

Breeder: Écurie Peregrine

Rider: Bauyrzhan Murzabayev

Favoured for his debut in June over 7 furlongs at Chantilly, Stangheli (Shalaa) had taken the lead before losing it to finish nearly two lengths behind Palazzo, who had had a run before. Well beaten fourth subsequently over the same distance at Compiègne, he was  returning here only two weeks later with a professional rider rather than an apprentice.

It turned out to be a winning move as this time, after travelling alongside the front-runner Ali (Kingman), he took the lead and then held off the favourite Keshapour (Oasis Dream), beaten by a short head, while an outpaced Nope Never (No Nay Never) finished a good third, two lengths and more behind.

Bred by Peregrine, who sold him for €82,000 to Yves Burrus via Broadhurst Agency at the Deauville sales, Stangheli is the second foal out of Bhageerathi (Motivator), a Listed-placed mare who raced for the Fabre family. Bhageerathi is a sister to Laxlova (Linamix), a Lagardère produce and a dual Listed winner. An Almanzor colt was born in 2022.

 

OPERA MUNDI (f2), IRE by Kingman ex Solage (Galileo)

Prix de Falaise (Maidens 2-year-old Fillies, 1,400m/7f), August 8, 2023, Deauville

Owner: Écurie des Charmes

Trainer: Carlos & Yann Lerner

Breeders: Ballylinch Stud, Écurie des Charmes

Rider: Ronan Thomas

Beaten, despite having led to the post for her debut 23 days prior over the same 7-furlong trip but at Chantilly, Opera Mundi (Kingman) managed to hold on this time. However, it was a close call as Partir (Zarak), coming from behind, once again almost snatched the victory away from her. She missed by a head, with the third-placed Monteille (Cable Bay) also finishing strongly, just a short neck away, after taking a while to reach momentum. The good debut of the fourth-placed Fast Flowing (Starspangledbanner) is noteworthy, as she travelled outside the leaders without cover to end up two lengths late.

Opera Mundi is the first foal out of Solage (Galileo), a Listed winner in Ireland, first purchased for €700,000 by Mayfair Speculators as a yearling. Solage began with a second-place finish as a 2-year-old in France and was then resold for €1 million, again at Arqana, to Meridian. Trained by Jim Bolger in Ireland, she won her maiden race and ended her career with a Listed victory at Naas and a third-place finish on the same course, both times on heavy ground.

Her first foal, Opera Mundi, was bought back for €200,000 at Goffs, and the second, a Dubawi colt, is in the same Orby sales in September. Solage is a sister to the good Rumi (Frankel), both of them being out of a sister to Plumania (Anabaa).

 

MACU (f2), (IRE) by Siyouni ex Macarella (Shamardal)

Prix de la Mère Mathilde (Maiden 2-year-old Fillies, 1,200m/6f), August 1er, 2023, Deauville

Owner: Cuadra Mediterraneo

Trainer: Mauricio Delcher-Sanchez

Breeder: Cuadra Mediterraneo

Rider: Maxime Guyon

Second for her debut in the Prix de Lisieux 23 days ago behind Jasna’s Secret and withdrawn from the Critérium du Bèquet (L) in the meantime, Macu (Siyouni) started as the favourite here against six opponents, including three beginners. Fast out of the stalls and well positioned behind the leading Gentileschi (Bated Breath), the Cuadra Mediterraneo homebred dominated effortlessly, passing the post over two lengths ahead of Concertation (Churchill), who ran more professionally for this third attempt, ahead of debutante Valdivara (Blue Point), who pleasingly held on, and another filly making her debut, Zeplacetobe (Iffraaj), who finished well after a moderate start.

Macu is the sixth foal out of Macarella (Shamardal), a winner at Fontainebleau early at 3, who also gave the excellent Marieta (Siyouni), winner of one race only but also second in the Shadwell Prix du Calvados (Gr2) and the Qatar Marcel Boussac (Gr1)!

Macu is her fifth winner, and she has since given birth to a Kodiac colt and another filly by Siyouni.

 

MR FLEURANT (c2), (IRE) by Invincible Spirit ex Andalouserie (Poet’s Voice)

Prix de Granville (Maiden 2-year-old colts and geldings, 1,200m/6f), August 1st, 2023, Deauville

Owner: Édouard de Rothschild

Trainer: André Fabre

Breeder: Écurie de Meautry

Rider: Alexis Pouchin

Two colts emerged as the joint-favourites in this maiden race of six runners after the withdrawal of two, leaving a field of six, including one beginner, the gelding Mount Vernon (Night of Thunder), who couldn't keep up in the final two furlongs. The main contenders were Mr Fleurant (Invincible Spirit) and Follow Me (Shalaa), both coming off a second place, with the former having previously started with a third.

On a yielding track, these two colts battled it out in the final stages, with Adore Blue (Blue Point) trailing behind and unable to close the gap. Initially, Follow Me seemed to gain the upper hand, but in the last one hundred metres, the tide turned, and the Rothschild homebred ultimately prevailed quite comfortably, winning by nearly a length, while Adore Blue finished one and a half lengths behind.

Mr Fleurant is the third foal out of Andalouserie (Poet’s Voice), a filly purchased for €120,000 as a yearling by Suprina (Patricia Boutin) for Édouard de Rothschild, who is also the breeder of Mr Fleurant. Andalouserie raced only seven times and secured one victory over 1,500 metres, a short mile, at Vannes at 3.

Prior to Mr Fleurant, she gave Avenue Niel (Helmet), the winner of Prix des Épinettes 3-year-olds' Heritage Handicap and a 14-furlong Listed-placed. She was initially sold for a mere €17,000 as a yearling by Meautry, the Rothschild's stud farm near Deauville, but later fetched €150,000 at last year's Arc Sale, where she was presented by Mikel Delzangles and purchased by trainer Nicolas Clément.

After Mr Fleurant, Andalouserie gave birth to a colt by Kodiac and then a filly by Nathaniel.

Andalouserie is also a sister to National Defense (Invincible Spirit), the winner of Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (Gr1), in a family that traces back, under the third dam, to the Epsom Derby victor Adayar (Frankel).