Back in 2019 : The best maiden winners in April 2019

ALWAAB (C3), FRA by Toronado ex Lady Gorgeous (Compton Place)

Prix des Fontaines (Unraced 3yo colts & geldings, 1,600m/1m), April 24, Chantilly

Owner: Al Shaqab Racing
Trainer: André Fabre
Breeders: Écurie Haras du Cadran, Enrico Ciampi, Écurie La Boëtie & SAS IEI
Rider: Eddy Hardouin

Supplemented to take part in this 6 unraced horses race, Alwaab (Toronado) was the favourite and he proved to be quite serious to overcome Diyani (Rock of Gibraltar), who had easily taken over the leading Momtathil (Oasis Dream) one furlong out.

The winner was paid € 70,000 as a yearling at the October Arqana sales. His younger Lawman sister was sold for € 55,000 as a weanling last December at the Deauville breeding sales, where his dam fetched € 40,000, in foal to Shalaa. Both were bought by Irish agent Margaret O'Toole. Lady Gorgeous' Rainbow Quest sister is the dam of Qemah (Danehill Dancer), winner of the Coronation Stakes (Gr1) and the Prix Rothschild (Gr1).

And then ...

Fourth in a class 1 race won by Singstreet after this first victory, Alwaab finished second to the same rival in the Prix Pelleas (L) over 10 furlongs at Compiègne. Winner of the Prix Nureyev (L) in August at Deauville on the same distance, then fifth in the Prix Prince d'Orange (Gr3), he was sold € 230,000 at the Arqana Arc sale and was sent to Fabrice Chappet. He ran twice, without success, this winter in Doha, Qatar.

However, Alwaab's Lawman sister was sold for £ 525,000 last October at Tattersalls' yearling sales in England. The Shaala colt, for his part, reached £ 90,000 as a weanling at the same venue.

REAL APPEAL (C2), (GER) by Sidestep ex Runaway Sparkle (Sin Kiang)

Prix du Soleil de Bretagne (Unraced 2yos, 1,100m/5 1/2f), April 24, Chantilly

Owner: Theresa Marnane
Trainer: Matthieu Palussière
Breeder: Gestüt Kussaburg
Rider: Antoine Hamelin

Supplemented to run here, Real Appeal (Sidestep) was one of the two colts at the start and if he wasn't too keen in the end, leading the pack against the stands' rail, he nonetheless held off  every challenger, namely that of Calle Nevada (Style Vendome), then Enchanting (Invincible Spirit), to finally cross the wire with a short neck to spare over the good finisher It's A Heartache (Holy Roman Emperor), Panda Queen (Exceed and Excel), also supplemented and good finisher, and finally Enchanting.

Con Marnane, whose wife Theresa is the owner of the winner, bought him as a weanling for € 7,500 at Arqana. He's by the Australian sire Sidestep (Exceed and Excel), second in the Golden Slipper (Gr1) in Sydney, the biggest race for 2 year-year-olds in Australia. Sidestep has sired in France but this colt was bred in Germany by Gestüt Kussaburg.

His dam is a winner at Marseilles. She was claimed after a second place in Deauville, in February on the AWT, for € 12,000, that is € 2,000 more than her claiming tag, by Isabelle Corbani.

Before this foal, she gave Miami Sunny (Alhebayeb), beaten twice for the moment.

And then ...

Real Appeal was kept busy as he went to Marseille-Borély to confirm this first success, over 6 furlongs in a Class 2 race, then finished second at the same level and distance at Angers. After that, he won La Flèche (L) over 5 furlongs, narrowly beating the tough Jolie and the talented My Love's Passion. With this appealing form, he reached £ 265,000 at the London Goffs sale, just before his failure at Royal Ascot. He is now trained by Jim Bolger in Ireland, and was unplaced twice, including one this year, for his new connections.

FOUNT (F3), GB by Frankel ex Ventura (Chester House)

Prix des Grés (Unraced 3yo fillies, 1,600m/1m), April 24, Chantilly

Owner: Khalid Abdullah
Trainer: André Fabre
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms
Rider: Pierre-Charles Boudot

Outside the leading Fonthill Abbey (Dubawi) all the way, Fount (Frankel) found herself struggling with her stablemate from 2 furlongs out and the two fillies fought each other to the end, Fount keeping a head over the Godolphin filly. Mashael (Dubawi) finished well two lengths behind to deny Roseya (Invincible Spirit) the 3rd place.

Fount was entered in the Prix du Louvre, the class 1 race won two days earlier at ParisLongchamp by classic hope Siyarafina. She is also in the Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) and the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1).

Fount is the fourth foal out of Ventura (Chester House), winner of four Group1s in the United States for Khalid Abdullah, and whose dam, Estala (Be My Guest) won the Prix Isola Bella (L) at Evry. Fount's older sister, At Your Pleasure (War Front) was sold last December at Tattersalls, England for £ 175,000 to Haras d'Etreham.

And then ...

Entered in the Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) and the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1), Fount went back to the mile after having confirmed in a Class 1 race at Saint-Cloud but failed over 10 furlongs in the Saint-Alary. Second behind an impressive Twist'N'Shake at Deauville in the Prix de Bagatelle (L) for her return over the mile in the Summer, she avenged herself over the same distance in the Arqana Prix de Lieurey (Gr3). She is no longer in training.

DARIYZA (F3), FRA by Dawn Approach ex Daryakana (Selkirk)

Prix de Chaillot (Unraced 3yo Fillies, 2,100m/10 1/2f), April 22nd, ParisLongchamp

Owner: S.A. Aga Khan
Trainer: Alain de Royer Dupré
Breeder: S. A. Aga Khan
Rider: Christophe Soumillon

First held in the rear trailing the field, Dariyza (Dawn Approach) came by two furlongs out and took over by the post to score by a head, but confidently, over the front-running Hawkamah (New Approach), Sister Midnight (Dark Angel) and Fedya (Mastercraftsman). The winner's connections seem very hopeful with this daughter of Group 1 winner Daryakana (Selkirk), with whom she seems to have some similarities.

Dariyza is the fifth foal out of Daryakana, winner of the Prix de Royallieu (Gr2) and the Hong Kong Vase (Gr1) at 3.

Her first foal is none other than the Prix Ganay (Gr1) and Prix Eugène Adam (Gr2) winner Dariyan (Shamardal), followed by Darabad (Dansili), exported to Australia after winning the Grand Prix de Clairefontaine (L).

After Dariyza, Daryakana gave a Golden Horn filly born in 2017. Her dam Daryaba (Night Shift) had won the Prix de Diane (Gr1) and the Prix Vermeille (Gr1) for the Aga Khan. This family includes the Group 1 winners Almanzor (Wootton Bassett) and Darjina (Zamindar).

And then...

Entered in the Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) and the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1), Dariyza did not take part in these championships. She went on to finish third to Channel - the future French Oaks winner - beating Wonderment, who'd won the Critérium de Saint-Cloud (Gr1) at 2. Seventh in the "Royaumont" over 1m1/2 then, she won again in a Class 1 race on all-weather at Deauville, by a small margin, before being beaten again in a Group 3. She finally got her first black-type victory in October over 9 furlongs in the Prix Casimir Delamarre (L). She is still in training with Alain de Royer Dupré.

Dariyza's sister by Golden Horn born in 2017 is in training with Alain de Royer Dupré, and a daughter of Frankel was born in 2019.

KICK UP (G3), FRA by Martaline ex Kilda (Night Shift)

Prix Wild Monarch – Poulains (3yo Colts and geldings unraced over obstacles, 3,000m/15f Hurdle race), April 17, Auteuil

Owner: Magalen Bryant
Trainer: David Cottin
Breeder: Magalen Bryant
Rider: Geoffrey Ré

Always in the leading group, Kick Up (Martaline) left Iowa Bay (Rip van Winkle) take over in the backstretch but he came back in the final bend to tackle the second last hurdle with Pacha Senam (Masked) Marvel) while Iowa Bay was veering outside despite his rider's efforts. Kick Up, and Pacha found themselves struggling between the last two hurdles, where the former made the difference to win by two and a half lengths on Botox Has (Dream Well), who finished well to take two lengths on Iowa Bay for second place finally.

Kick Up's dam, Kilda (Night Shift) ran for Elisabeth Fabre when she was claimed for € 25,002 after a fifth place in Chantilly. She then joined Tony Clout's yard for Magalen Bryant, ran a few times over hurdles in the Provinces, and debuted victorious chasing at Auteuil at 4, before entering stud. Her third dam was a sister to the great sire Kaldoun ...

Kilda then gave seven foals, of which Kick Up is the sixth, before a filly by Boris de Deauville named Borareigh. Her first foal, Kick On (Poliglote) should not be confused with his namesake, the Charm Spirit colt who won the Felden Stakes (L) the day before Kick Up at Newmarket. This Kick On is ten years old, he is still in training with David Cottin, and he has won nine cross-countries including one Anjou-Loire Challenge (L).

And then ...

Fourth in a class 1 race won by Singstreet after this first victory, Alwaab finished second to the same rival in the Prix Pelleas (L) over 10 furlongs at Compiègne. Winner of the Prix Nureyev (L) in August at Deauville on the same distance, then fifth in the Prix Prince d'Orange (Gr3), he was sold € 230,000 at the Arqana Arc sale and was sent to Fabrice Chappet. He ran twice, without success, this winter in Doha, Qatar.

Kilda foaled a Great Pretender colt in 2019.

KING OF TWIST (C3), FRA by Kingsalsa ex Twisting (Pivotal)

Prix de la Nouvelle Piste (Unraced 3yos, nine 1/2f AWT), April 13, Chantilly

Owners: Mrs Christian Wingtans & Nicolas Caullery
Trainer: Nicolas Caullery
Breeder: Mme Christian Wingtans
Rider: Eddy Hardouin

King of Twist (Kingsalsa) fell in the lead soon enough and although he has also been challenged early in the last straight, he never let go to prevail bravely, a short head in front of Fort Templier (Champs Elysees), who didn't start well and returned outside the field to fight to the end.
King of Twist is out of Twisting (Pivotal), winner at Vire and Saint-Malo after failing in 10th for his debut at Chantilly. She was then bought € 16,000 at Arqana sales, in foal to Gold Away. The foal born the following year is Golden Wood (Gold Away), winner of the Grand Prix de la Région Alsace (L) and placed in several Provincial Listed.
Twisting herself is out of Anysheba (Alysheba), who won a single race, a handicap. None of her nine foals got any black-type but her dam Animatrice (Alleged), sister of the great sire Poliglote (Sadler's Wells), won the Prix Malleret (Gr2) after finishing third in the Epsom Oaks (Gr1), before giving birth to Sadler's Flag (Sadler's Wells), winner of the Prix de Royaumont (Gr3) and second in the Prix Malleret (Gr2), and the excellent sire jumping Saddler Maker (Sadler's Wells).
There is no referenced foal for Twisting since the birth of King of Twist.

And then ...

King of Twist did not become a champion but he won his handicap in October in Deauville, reaching a rating of 88lbs. He got some cash on each of his eight outings in 2019 and ended the season with more than € 88,000 in earnings and premiums, shared between his trainer and his breeder, Mrs Christian Wingtans, who also received more than € 10,000 in breeder's premiums. The horse is still in training with Nicolas Caullery.

A product by Myboycharlie was born in 2018, bought for € 10,000 at Osarus yearling sales in September 2019.

MATEMATICA (F3), (GER) by Rock of Gibraltar ex Mathématicienne (Galileo)

Prix de la Prairie (Maiden 3yo fillies, 1m), April 8, Chantilly

Owners: Wertheimer&Frère
Trainer: Carlos Laffon-Parias
Breeders:  Wertheimer&Frère
Rider: Pierre-Charles Boudot

Beaten by another Wertheimer representative for her debut last year on this course, Matematica (Rock of Gibraltar) then went to take the second place in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac - Fillies Mile (Gr1), only beaten a short neck by Lily's Candle (Style Vendome).

For her return, the Carlos Laffon-Parias-trained filly dominated from one end to the other and left Morning Dew (Dabirsim) take the second place a further three lengths down.

She is in all the big races. She belongs to the family of Arc winner Solemia (Poliglote). Her sister Guerrière (Invincible Spirit) was sold for € 420,000 at the Arqana breeding sales in December 2017 to White Birch Farm. She had just had another sister by Maxios, and again a sister by Manduro was born last year.

And then ...

Matematica was already a prominent filly before winning this maiden race for her come back at 3. She naturally returned to the classic circuit after this formality. However, we still had to wait until October before seeing her win again! Fifth in a messy The Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas, Gr1), she stuck to the mile, to no avail until she was shortened to 7 furlongs in the Prix Matchem (L), which she won. She was, however, taken out of training in November.

She has now a Lope de Vega brother born in 2019. Her Maxios sister, trained by Christophe Ferland, won by four lengths for her debut last March in Toulouse. The 2-year-old is training with Carlos Laffon-Parias.

Her older sister Guerrière once again made an impression at the sales: she was sold £ 825,000 at Tattersalls at the end of last year, in foal of Lope de Vega.

MY LOVE’S PASSION (F2), FRA by Elvstroem ex Amber Two (Cadeaux Genereux)

Prix du Premier Pas (Unraced 2yos, 5f), April 8, Chantilly

Owner: Passion Racing Club
Trainer: Yann Barberot
Breeder: Patrick Chédeville
Rider: Christophe Soumillon

An ideal trip on the frontline for My Love’s Passion (Elstroem) who quickly overcame Crew Dragon (Poet’s Voice), who didn't start well and had to stay out of the field, Ammobaby (Planteur) and a nicely closing Run Like Hell (Holy Roman Emperor).

My Love’s Passion is the 5th foal out of Amber Two (Cadeaux Genereux), a Maisons-Laffitte winner sold last February for € 8,500 to Zied Romdhane, in foal to Bow Creek.

Before her, the dam gave a few winners including three still in training.

And then …

My Love’s Passion confirmed as she was placed second to Brand New Day in a class 1 race before taking the third place in the Prix La Flèche (L). Above all that, she finished second in the Prix Robert Papin (Gr2) at Maisons-Laffitte behind the Godolphin-Appleby raider A’Ali, again a Group 2 winner in September at Doncaster in the Flying Childers Stakes (Gr2).

Away from July to March, My Love's Passion has just come back in the Prix Ronde de Nuit (L) over 5 1/2 furlongs.

Her dam Amber Two also gave birth to a Prince Gibraltar filly, now 2, who was entered in the Osarus breeze-up sale, consigned by Ecurie Prevost Baratte.

SIYARAFINA (F3), FRA by Pivotal ex Siyenica (Azamour)

Prix Parade d’Amour (Unraced 3yo fillies, 1m), April 4, Saint-Cloud

Owner: H. H. Aga Khan
Trainer: Alain de Royer Dupré
Breeder: Haras de S. A. Aga Khan
Rider: Christophe Soumillon

After two defeats, the Aga Khan stable took brilliant revenge with the flash of class produced by Siyarafina (Pivotal), who sprang in the last furlong to woosh by Wishfully (Invincible Spirit) and Entaumry (Dawn Approach), involved in a long duel. Finally, there were two lengths between the gifted daughter of Siyenica (Azamour) and her pursuers, while Villa Marina (Le Havre) finished well to pip the third place at the expense of Entaumry.

The dam of the winner is a sister of the champion sire Siyouni (Pivotal). She won the Prix de Bagatelle (L), also finished third in a Prix Daniel Wildenstein (Gr2). A 2-year-old Invincible Spirit filly is also reported to be in training with Alain de Royer Dupré, and a colt by Golden Horn is to follow.

And then …

A very impressive winner here, Siyarafina went on to beat Commes in the Prix du Louvre (Class 1) and became one the hot candidates for the French 1,000 Guineas, even though she would have to be supplemented to get in there. A setback forced her connections to review the plans, however, and aimed the Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1), which she narrowly won before failing in the Prix de Diane Longines (French Oaks, Gr1), her last race. The filly was exported to the USA in January.

Her Invincible Spirit sister won her first race in the fall in Compiègne for the same connections, and her Golden Horn 2yo brother is also in training with Alain de Royer Dupré.

KHAGAN (C3), (IRE) by Le Havre ex Knyazhna (Dubawi)

Prix Amour Drake (3yo maiden colts and geldings, 1m4f), April 4, Saint-Cloud

Owner: Godolphin
Trainer: André Fabre
Breeders: Natalia Timoshenko & Yuliya Milovanova
Rider: Mickaël Barzalona

As in the previous race, the Aga Khan representative, in this case, the returning Rayapour (Mastercraftsman), seemed to have done the hardest before being overtaken by the Godolphin team, namely the beginner Khagan (Le Havre), who dominated at the end of this very French sprinting race. Khagan left his rival at three lengths, succeeding an imposing chestnut son of Frankel, Rabdan, who had made a good impression in this maiden last year and ended up winning a Listed at the end of the season.

Khagan is the second foal out of the unraced Knyazhna (Montjeu), who first gave Sacred Life (Siyouni), winner of the Prix Thomas Bryon (Gr3) and a classic feature the next year. The dam was sold by Haras de Montaigu € 700,000 last year at Arqana to the Ecurie des Monceaux. Khagan himself was sold as a yearling in Deauville for € 97,000. Two fillies by Sea the Stars are to follow, including a 2-year-old, declared in training with Saeed bin Suroor, who was bought £ 400,000 in Newmarket in October 2018.

And then …

Entered in the QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, Gr1), the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1), then in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr1), Khagan soon joined the classics' trail as he was in the Prix de l'Avre (L) a month later. Third to Godolphin's Jalmoud on this occasion, he then took the second place in the Prix du Lys (Gr3) behind Quest the Moon, future favourite and eventual 4th in the German Derby. However, Khagan's connections did not aim him towards the French Derby as Khagan continued on the classic distance of 2,400m with a third place in the Prix Hocquart (Gr2) won by Al Hilalee. Also derailed from a tilt in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris, he came back with an unsuccessful attempt in the fall and was exported for good in March 2020.

The filly by Sea the Stars bought £ 400,000 started at the end of the season last year with a third place on the Kempton's All-weather for Godolphin. Her full sister, a year younger, was sold for £ 240,000 at the same Tattersalls sales in October 2019. A daughter of Siyouni, hence Sacred Life's full sister, was born in 2019.

SIMPLICITY (F3), FRA by Casamento ex Sleek Gold (Dansili)

Prix Play It Safe (3yo maiden fillies, 7f), April 2, Maisons-Laffitte

Owners: Alain Jathière & Khalifa Mohammed Al Attiyah
Trainer: Fabrice Chappet
Breeder: Khalifa Mohammed Al Attiyah
Rider: Cristian Demuro

4th last year of the competitive beginners' Prix des Marettes at Deauville, then twice second at Compiègne and Lyon-Parilly, second again for his comeback this term at Chantilly, Simplicity (Casamento) was then 2nd between Tel Aviv, who won again at an upper level since, and Villa d’Amore, who won the day before this maiden at Chantilly (see below).

Blinkered for the first time after a try with cheekpieces, Simplicity took the lead at the start and never let go. She won by a good length, beating Dream With You (George Vancouver), who left 3rd-placed Morning Basma (Born to Sea) two and a half lengths behind.

Bred by Khalifa Mohammed Al Attiyah, who owns him now with Alain Jathière, Simplicity never went to the sales. Her dam Sleek Gold (Dansili) won in the UK for Jabeer Abdullah. She then gave an Atlantic Waves colt that's still maiden, and Simplicity, and finally a No Nay Never yearling filly.

And then …

Simplicity did not race much after that but was exported to the United States at the end of the season after being sold for € 150,000 at the Arqana Arc sale. After her first success, she didn't succeed at Listed level to finally take a third place in this category in July in Deauville in a hot renewal of the Prix de Bagatelle (L), over the mile. The race was won by the promising Twist ‘n’ Shake in front of Fount, who were to meet in the Arqana Prix de Lieurey (Gr3), of which they would form the pair but in reverse order.

The No Nay Never filly, named Complication, was sold £ 100,000 to Chauvigny Bloodstock at Tattersalls' yearling sales but is training with Fabrice Chappet under for her breeder, Khalifa Mohammed Al Attiyah. A sister by Zelzal was born in 2019.

VILLA D’AMORE (F3), IRE by Mastercraftsman ex Highest Ever (Galileo)

Prix de Brunehaut (3yo maiden fillies, 1m2f), April 1st, Chantilly

Owners: Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith & Michael Tabor
Trainer:  André Fabre
Breeder: Highest Ever Syndicate
Rider: Pierre-Charles Boudot

A straightforward win for the favourite Villa d’Amore (Mastercraftsman) who took off in the last straight after going along the front-running Happy Ending (Rajsaman). She finally left two lengths between her and the 2nd-placed Queen (Kingman), who was coming back after one race last year and took some time to get her stride right, while Ni Chaud Ni Froid (Norse Dancer) finished 3rd another length down the field. Beginner Place Pasdeloup (Motivator) finished quite pleasantly and shared 4th place with Tundra (Nathaniel).

Villa d’Amore had begun her career in a maiden, facing more experienced foes, and still finished 3rd to Platane and Simplicity, who had already run. She must have gained a lot from that first experience.

Highest Ever (Galileo), Villa d’Amore's dam, cost €1m as a yearling at Arqana August 2013, where haras des Monceaux sold her to Michael-Vincent Magnier. She never raced, and Villa d’Amore is her first foal. Highest Ever is very well bred, by Galileo and Alpine Rose (Linamix), a Prix Jean Romanet (Gr1) winner and a sister -amongst others- to the sire Fragrant Mix (Linamix). She also bred a Charm Spirit colt for sale at Deauville Arqana Breeze-Up sale in May.

André Fabre trains Villa d’Amore's Zoffanny sister bred by Coolmore Stud.

And then …

Fourth in the Prix de la Seine (L), then second in the Prix Cléopâtre (Gr3) less than two lengths from Etoile, Villa d'Amore was finally trained for the improved staying fillies' program, flirting several times with the podium without managing to climb it. She was exported at the end of the year.

André Fabre still trains the Zoffanny sister, but also the daughter of Fastnet Rock born in 2018.