18 August 2024
Photo scoopdyga.com
Deauville, Sunday, August 18th, 2024 – The remarkable Mqse de Sevigné (Siyouni) etched her name further into Deauville racing history with a thrilling victory in the 2024 Sumbe Prix Jean Romanet (Gr1). The filly, already the only one to have captured both of Deauville's premier Group 1 races for fillies and mares - the Prix Rothschild (Gr1) over a mile and the €250,000 Sumbe Prix Jean Romanet (Gr1) over ten furlongs - repeated the feat this year, albeit by the narrowest of margins.
Homebred by Édouard de Rothschild, Mqse de Sevigné settled at the rear of field of five, led by the Irish raider American Sonja (Tasleet) and Left Sea (Frankel). The pace was not particularly strong, with the half-trip marker reached in 1'05.8. As the field turned for home, the defending champion made her move down the centre of the track, challenging American Sonja, who was the quickest to accelerate. Mqse de Sevigné appeared to have gained the upper hand, but her rival fought back valiantly, ultimately succumbing by just a head. A short neck further back was Maxux (Frankel), a stablemate of the runner-up from the Joseph O'Brien yard. Blue Rose Cen (Churchill), who had been locked in a battle with American Sonja for much of the straight, finished fourth, half a length behind, with Left Sea trailing 20 lengths behind.
This victory followed Mqse de Sevigné's second consecutive success in the Prix Rothschild, marking her fifth Group 1 triumph overall.
After breaking her maiden, Mqse de Sevigné won the Prix Vanteaux (Gr3) as a 3-year-old in 2022. Despite finishing ninth in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas, Gr1), she recorded the fourth-fastest final 3 furlongs in a messy race. Subsequently, her connections focused exclusively on races between ten and eleven furlongs, resulting in five second-place finishes in her last six starts over those distances. Supplemented for her return to a mile in the "Rothschild," she achieved an unprecedented double last year by also winning the Sumbe Prix Jean Romanet (Gr1), a feat she replicated here. In the autumn, she finished second to Inspiral in the Sun Chariot Stakes (Gr1) on her return to a mile and prepared for the Prix d'Ispahan by conceding weight to Skalleti in the Prix Jacques Laffitte (L).
Mqse de Sévigné is a sister to Méandre (Slickly), the Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1) winner. Méandre's full sister, Ondoyante (Slickly), a maiden at the time and 13 years old, was sold, barren, for €2,500 to Paul Nataf at the Arqana February 2022 Mixed Sale. Ondoyante has a 2020 filly by Saxon Warrior and a subsequent colt by Kodiac, Mr l’Apothicaire, who recently placed again in a maiden race.
What they said...
Édouard de Rothschild – breeder and owner of Mqse de Sévigné (1st)
"It may not have been a visually spectacular performance, but it was a fascinating race. The pace was rather slow. It's a fantastic achievement, and we're delighted. Mqse de Sévigné has gained valuable experience. She's more relaxed during the race and conserves her energy better. We have little doubt about her ability to handle the mile and a half of the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. It's wonderful to be able to continue this family tradition."
Alexis Pouchin – rider of Mqse de Sévigné (1st)
"Mqse de Sévigné is the mare of a lifetime. She's incredible; she gives her all in every race. She takes the lead effortlessly. As she tends to idle once in front, the other horses close on me, but the job was done. She does it with class."
Joseph O'Brien – trainer of American Sonja (2nd) and Maxux (3rd) – Ireland
"We're very pleased. American Sonja and Maxux have done us proud. This is their first podium finish at Group 1 level. They truly gave their all on the track. However, they were beaten by a champion. Finishing so close to such a talented winner is a great achievement. American Sonja and Maxux have the profiles to continue competing at the international Group 2 and Group 1 levels in France and Ireland for the rest of the season. Both handle softer ground than today's conditions very well. This will open up options for them in the autumn."