30 June 2020
Photo La Flèche : scoopdyga.com
Winner of la Flèche (L) on June 14 at Chantilly for her second outing, Livachope (Goken), racing for her owner Alain Chopard, will try on Thursday at ParisLongchamp to go one stage further in the first 2-year-olds' Group race, the Prix du Bois (Gr3). This 5-furlong dash has, contrary to what one might suppose, crowned exceptional individuals in the past, as its history recalls. It's also because it's a very difficult race to win, this year like the others ...
- 1. AXDAVALI (c2, FRA by Goken and Key Success, by Kodiac)
The first foal out of a maiden mare who ran four claimers without changing ownership, he was defeated for his debut by an impressive Giuilio Cesare. However, he was even more impressive on his next outing when he won at Deauville by seven lengths, while Cesare sank twice since then.
- 2. WHAT’S UP (c2, FRA by Bow Creek and Perfect Bounty, by Bahamian Bounty)
Unsold € 1,500 as a weanling at Arqana, he found a buyer for € 5,000 the following summer, yearling, in Baden-Baden. He opened his account with a short victory in a two-runners race on the racecourse next to the ring where he was sold.
- 3. LIVACHOPE (f2, FRA by Goken and Laia Chope, by Soave)
Her dam is the fast Laia Chope (Soave), who won at the age of 2 and was placed in Listed over 8 races at that age. For her debut, Livachope beat a filly who won easily afterwards. Then she herself confirmed in La Flèche (L) by standing up to Pom Malpic, that she had easily beaten for her debut.
- 4. PRINCESSE DE SABA (f2, FRA by Dariyan and Aniysa, by Dalakhani)
Coming from an Aga Khan family which gave a Two Thousand Guineas-winner and an Arc-winner, she was sold €11,000 as a yearling at Deauville to her trainer. She won for her debut on 5 furlongs at Lyon-Parilly and won again even more brilliantly on the same course for her second and most recent outing.
- 5. CITADELLE (f2, FRA by Siyouni and Power of the Moon, by Acclamation)
She comes from an atypical family which gave staying horses like Amilynx, winner of a Prix Royal-Oak (Gr1), his brother Amiwain, faster and more precocious, or even the fasty Zinzibérine and her son Zanzibari… Beaten by little in her first race behind Livachope and Rose Gold, she won easily then at Dieppe and will try to confirm here.
- 6. POM MALPIC (f2, FRA by Pomellato and Havanna Lady, by Cape Cross)
Sold €11,000 as a yearling at Osarus, sister to a winner of nine races from 2 to 4 years old but from a family which gave many steeple-chasers, she started with a clear defeat over 5 furlongs, over six lengths behind the winner Livachope and the third-placed Citadelle, but she soon won over 6 furlongs at Toulouse and was running on strongly when just beaten by the same Livachope in La Flèche…