20 March 2022
Photo scoopdyga.com
March 20, 2022, Auteuil Racecourse (Paris). - The Cambacérès 3-year-olds' Hurdle (Gr1) victor, Kyrov (Dark Angel), and the Haras d’Etreham Magalen Bryant-Bournosienne 3-year-olds Fillies Hurdle (Gr2) winner, Hawai du Berlais (Martaline), met for the first time for their common come back in the €120,000 D’Indy 4-year-olds' Hurdle (Gr3). Trained by the in-form Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé, the mare was the favourite and yet, the gelding was never challenged in the final stages after leading most of the trip as his rival had been comfortably trailing him. Ridden by Gwen Richard, Kyrov prevailed by three and a half lengths for owner Alain Jathière and trainer François Nicolle. Five lengths down came the third-placed Golden Son (Martaline), who had finished about that much behind the winner when second-placed in the Cambacérès Hurdle last November.
Kyrov won his 6th race today out of seven attempts, only over hurdles, since his debut at Bordeaux in April 201. As for Hawai du Berlais, she was previously unbeaten in three races for the late Magalen Bryant.
Bred by Haras du Cadran (Pierre Talvard), Jean-Louis Blot and SCEA Bissons, Kyrov featured twice in an Arqana catalogue but only showed up once as a yearling, when unsold at €70,000. However, that's exactly the price that fetched his Zarak sister last year when sold to Eckhard Sauren. Kyrov was also in the Arqana breeze-ups in 2020 but was then withdrawn.
His dam Varsity (Lomitas), consistent at 3 with Alex Pantall for the Maktoums and Listed-placed then over 1m4f, was snot that consistent in Britain and elsewhere when trained by Charlie Swan. She had been sold for €135,000 to Seamus Murphy, who sold her again for €95,000, again at Deauville, to Chantilly Bloodstock (Gérard Larrieu). Since then, at stud, she gave a few winners over the flat, but none at 2. Most were sold at Deauville or Newmarket. A Zarak sister to Kyrov is born in 2021.