24 April 2020
Photo scoopdyga.com
After a winning return in the Prix Durban over the same extended 10 furlongs trip, Cartiem (Cape Cross) was the most resolute catch and beat Phoceenne (Olympic Glory) on the post in the Prix Pénélope (Gr3). With four fillies going to the start after Secret Walk (Dansili) was scratched, this classic prep race for the Prix de Diane Longines (French Oaks, Gr1) was led by Phocéenne, representing Kamel Chehboub's Haras de la Gousserie. Also a winner for her return at 3-year-old of the Prix Rose de Mai (L) on this course but over 2,000m rather than the day's longer 2,100m-trip, Phoceenne tried hard to steal the race but her challenger, owned by Jean-Louis Tepper, Écurie des Charmes and Gerard Augustin-Normand pulled herself together in time to deny Phocennee, while the favourite Romancière (Dansili), who was racing for the first time this season, finished very nicely in 3rd.
Cartiem was bred in France by Rashit Shaykhutdinov, the Haras du Mézeray and American trainer Christophe Clément. She was bought as a yearling by her trainer Jean-Claude Rouget for € 140,000 at the October Arqana sale. Her dam Mintaka (Zamindar) was bought € 90,000 at the 2014 breeding sales in Deauville to her breeder-owner Aga Khan, for which she had won a single race at Nancy. It is the family of Manighar (Linamix), triple Gr1 winner in Australia, and a brother of Mintaka.
The latter also has a 2-year-old by Charm Spirit, Parole et Musique, in training with Jean-Claude Rouget, who bought her € 70,000 in 2018.
Cartiem is entered in both the Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) and the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1).
And then ...
Cartiem has not really managed to climb to the best level. Clearly beaten in the Prix de Diane Longines, then in the Prix Psyché, where Romancière finished third, she finished third in the Prix de la Nonette (Gr2) at Deauville before being sold for € 750,000 at the Arqana Arc sale. Clearly beaten the next day in the Prix de l'Opéra Longines, she was shipped to Ireland. Her younger sister, now 3, was entered last September by Jean-Claude Rouget in a good maiden at Saint-Cloud but was declared a non-runner with a vet certificate. She's no longer in training.
As for Romancière, she is still in training with André Fabre.