30 July 2023
Photo scoopdyga.com
Sunday, 30th July 2023, Deauville Racecourse (Calvados). – Nine years after Esoterique's victory, the Rothschild family's racing colours triumph once again in the race that bears their name, the €300,000 Prix Rothschild (Gr1), thanks to the remarkable finish of Mqse de Sevigné (Siyouni), who edges out her stablemate Life in Motion (Sea the Stars) in the straight 1,600 meters of the race. The front-runner Sauterne (Kingman), excellent once again, stayed on in third, just half a length behind the two fillies saddled by André Fabre.
The favourite Kelina (Frankel) quickly dropped back after travelling against the stands' rail for a while before rejoining the field and quickly giving way.
The English filly Remarquée (Kingman) finished fourth, three lengths behind.
Winner of the Prix Vanteaux (Gr3) last year after her first win and ninth in the French Guineas while clocking the fourth-best time over the last 3 furlongs in a messy race, Mqse de Seignié was then extended towards 1m2f and more, finishing second five times in her last six outings in this bracket... Supplemented for her return to the mile, she triumphed once again sixteen months after her Vanteaux win...
Mqse de Sevigné is a sister to Méandre (Slickly), winner of a Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1), whose own sister Ondoyante (Slickly), a maiden at the age of 13, was sold barren for €2,500 to Paul Nataf at the Arqana mixed sales in February 2022. A filly by Saxon Warrior was born in 2020, followed by a Kodiac colt. Neither of them has made their debut yet.
What connections said:
Édouard de Rothschild (owner-breeder of Mqse de Sévigné, 1st)
"Her trainer André Fabre suggested running the filly over 1,600 metres, as she had trouble getting home over longer distances. He wanted to run her in the Prix Quincey, a Group 3, but I thought she had a chance in this Group 1 race, even if she had to be supplemented for it. It's a great day, a great victory, with a filly bred at the Haras de Meautry, a few kilometres from here, and from a bloodline that my father developed... Her jockey Alexis Pouchin gave her the perfect ride, and he underscored the quality of training which goes into making French jockeys."
Alexis Pouchin (the jockey de Mqse de Sévigné, 1st)
"It’s a great moment for me, and I want to make the most of it! Monsieur Fabre had asked me not to force the pace as the filly was stepping down somewhat in trip. We had a very good race, even if the filly who we were tracking folded very tamely. When I asked my filly to pick up, she responded perfectly. After the post, all the jockeys congratulated me. I can scarcely take it all in!"
Louise Bénard (the French representative of Godolphin, the owners of Life in Motion, 2nd)
"We're very happy with the filly. It was a small gamble today, and she showed us that she's capable of holding her own at this level. We didn't win but can only take positives from this race. She surprised us because she had never raced at this level or on a straight course. She performed like a seasoned professional."
Patrice Cottier (the trainer of Sauterne, 3rd)
"I think that the mile is a bit long for her. Her ideal distance is 7 furlongs. The filly was very brave. Her jockey managed to get the filly to relax well during the race. Plans for the rest of the season remain fluid."