February 2022 Maiden winners

GIZALA (f3), IRE by Invincible Spirit ex Golden Gazelle (Galileo)

Prix de la Grande Glacière (Maiden 3-year-old fillies, 1,900m/9.5f, AWT), February 24, 2022, Chantilly

• Owner: Gestut Ammerland
• Trainer: André Fabre
• Breeder: Gestut Ammerland
• Rider: Hugo Besnier

Spotted for her debut and quite unlucky afterwards for her second race, Gizala (Invincible Spirit) opened her account hereafter travelling behind the leaders. She beat Caligine (Lope de Vega), who came from the rear along the rail, by no less than 2.5 lengths with the front-running Cour Suprême (Doctor Dino) in third. A few days after a maiden victory for Gaidar (Grey Lilas), another member of the same family doubles here, on the same track.

Indeed, Gizala's second dam is no other than Grey Lilas (Danehill), the Gestut Ammerland champion homebred grey mare, winner of a Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Gr1) in 2004. Grey Lilas is a sister to Kandahar Run (Rock of Gibraltar), Chambord (Green Desert) and Stendhal (Polish Precedent). She herself did well as a broodmare with Golden Lilac (Galileo), winner of three Gr1s in France including the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks, the Listed-winner Golden Guépard (Hurricane Run) and the Group-PLaced Grey Lion (Galileo).

Another granddaughter of Grey Lilas, Golden Lilas (Galileo), was paid € 240,000 at the Arqana Breeding sales in 2020, aged 6, by Yann and Carlos Lerner.  She was in foal and gave a Lope de Vega (Shamardal) colt in 2021.

 

JUNKO (g3), GB by Intello ex Lady Zuzu (Dynaformer)

Prix du Four à Tuile (Maiden 3-year-old colts & geldings, 1,900m/9.5f, AWT), February 24, 2022, Chantilly

• Owners: Wertheimer & Frère
• Trainer: André Fabre
• Breeders: Wertheimer & Frère
• Rider: Maxime Guyon

The unraced gelding Junko (Intello) beat more seasoned rivals in a better time than the fillis: 1’56’’45 against 1’58’’99. Yet, the winner looked too far back entering the final straight, in a hot contest led by Narcissus (Stormy River). But his change of gear destroyed the field and he won by 4.5 lengths, despite a good final run by Wakaburn (Wootton Bassett), still unable to challenge the winner.

Junko is by his breeders' sire Intello (Galileo), winner of the Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1) and sire of Intellogent, a Prix Jean Prat (Gr1) winner. The family likes Chantilly. With a 58% strike rate in the top 5, Intello's offspring is consistent. He's now based at the Haras du Quesnay and counts no less than 30 black typed performers, jumpers included.

On the dam side, Junko is out of Lady Zuzu (Dynaformer), a US Group-placed. She's a sister to Optimizer (English Channel), a precocious type who was Gr1-placed at 2, and a Gr3 winner. It's a prolific American family.

The first two foals out of Lady Zuzu went to Arqana after having raced for the Wertheimers. At the 2020 Breeding sales, Warzuzu (War Front) was bought by Broadhurst Agency for € 75,000. As for Zileo (Galileo), he was sold at the 2021 Summer Sales to BBA Ireland for € 15,000. He's now in training in Ireland with Michel Halford.

 

 

QUIETLY CONFIDENT (f3), GB by Dabirsim ex Quiet (Observatory)

Prix du Carrefour de Constantine (Maiden 3-year-old fillies, 1,300m/6.5f, AWT), February 18, 2022, Chantilly

• Owner: Fabrice Chappet
• Trainer: Fabrice Chappet
• Breeder: The Quiet Partership
• Rider: Ioritz Mendizabal

Fitted with visors, Quietly Confident (Dabirsim) found her day over Chantilly's all-weather track. her two first trials on the surface at Deauville, after two first races on the turf in the Autumn, had shown her on the rise with a liking to the sand. The filly completely dominated here, beating without apparent struggle Hygrove (Zelzal) by almost a length with Lagoa Santa (Toronado) in third. Sparkle On (Kodiac), a filly out of the triple Listed winner and Group1-placed Sparkling Beam (Nayef), faded in the last straight and finished 4th.

Based at Haras de Grandcamp since 2016, Dabirsim (Hat Trick) is one of the few French sires offering access to Japanese bloodlines. A great Prix Morny (Gr1) winner, Dabirsim gave a steady flow of black-type performers, mostly brave horses such as Cœur de Beauté, a French 1,000 Guineas (Gr1) second, or Different League, 3rd in a Morny (Gr1) and a Group winner. Dabirsim's offspring has a 50% strike rate in the first five, a figure that rises to 59% with 3-year-olds, such as Quietly Confident.

The dam Quiet (Observatory) recorded here her second winner. Bred by Juddmonte, she out of Quandary (Blushing Groom), whose 9 foals out of ten ran, with 7 winners. her filly Double Crossed (Caerleon), a Listed-winner, is the dam of Twice Over (Observatory), a quadruple Gr1-winner. Another filly, Clepsydra (Sadler’s Wells), gave two champions in Timepiece (Zamindar), a Falmouth Stakes (Gr1) winner, and Passage of Time (Dansili), winner of the Critérium de Saint-Cloud (Gr1).

The Hong Kong Jockey Club bought £150,000 an Oasis Dream yearling at Goffs in 2018 where Fabrice Chappet also bought Quietly Confident for £ 30,000 two years later at the same venue.

 

IL SOGNO (c3), IRE by Dream Ahead ex Campina (Oasis Dream)

Prix du Parc Laversin (Maiden 3-year-old colts and geldings, 1,300m/6.5f, AWT), February 18, 2022, Chantilly

• Owners: Chauvigny Global Equine, A&G.Botti
• Trainers: A&G.Botti
• Breeders: Haras de La Mercerie, J. Newman, T. Miller, P. Gariboldi
• Rider: Christophe Soumillon

Il Sogno (Dream Ahead) made the frame in his first four attempts. Lats time out, on this same track and distance, he had run without blinkers and here again, where he first travelled behind Fantabulous (Olympic Glory), whom he had beaten before, and proved far superior in the end. He wins with a good length to spare over Impitoyable (Dark Angel), who finished well, and Fantabulous.

Il Sogno's dam line traces back to the 3rd dam Coryana (Sassafras), a Listed winner who gave Waajib (Try My Best), a Queen Anne Stakes (Gr2) winner, also the victor in the Prix du Rond-Point (Gr3, now Prix Daniel Wildenstein - Gr2), Côte d’Azur (Arazi), who won a Listed at Cagnes-sur-Mer, and Northshiel (Northdfield), who also gave good campaigners.

Il Sogno never went to the sales, unlike his Toronado brother Droit de Parole, who mad the frame in 28 of his 39 races and was first bought as a yearling for € 47,000 by Morna McDowall, who sold him again for €50,000 at the breeze up to Barberini Bloodstock Ltd. Three years later, he was back on the Deauville ring and Charley Rossi paid € 12,000 for the then 5-year-old, winner of three races when trained by him.

 

SEA DREAMIN (c3), FRA by Sea the Stars ex Wiwilia (Konigstiger)

Prix de la Route des Princes (Maiden 4-year-olds, 2,700m/13.5f, AWT), February 18, 2022, Chantilly

• Owners: 3S Race Horse Management AG
• Trainer: Hiroo Shimizu
• Breeders: M. Wurtenberger, R. Stockli, Sunderlands Inc.
• Rider: Stéphane Pasquier

A brother to the Critérium de Saint-Cloud (Gr1) winning filly Wonderment (Camelot), Sea Dreamin (Sea The Stars) ran twice at 3, and finished placed twice at Clairefontaine over a mile and a half. For his seasonal come back, on a longer distance and a different surface, he was expected to win and duly obliged. He beats without much of a challenge Silverstone (Style Vendome), at three lengths, and My Way (Rutgen).

This is a German bloodline, even though its offspring was victorious all over the World. The 2nd dam Wurfspeil (Lomitas) gave Make Forest (Sir Percy), a Man O’War Stakes (Gr1) winner, also a Group1-placed in Italy. It is also the family of Arc winner Waldgeist (Galileo).

Sea Dreamin was sold as a yearling for €125,000 as a yearling at Arqana in October 2019, when bought by Daniel Cole. At the 2021 August sale, his Dubawi sister Amnéris made €900,000, when sold to Juddmonte Farms.

 

GAIDAR (g3) IRE, by Churchill ex Grey Lilas (Danehill)

Prix de la grange de Comelles (Unraced 3-year-olds, 1,900m/9.5f, AWT), February 15, 2022, Chantilly

• Owner: Gestut Ammerland
• Trainer: André Fabre
• Breeder: Gestut Ammerland
• Rider: Hugo Besnier

Two of the 11 runners had already participated in a school race, including the eventual winner Gaidar (Churchill). He started well, took the lead, was passed by Skipper (Manduro) and Chesterfield (Ribchester), and travelled away from the rail. He took some time to reach momentum and had to push a bit to make his space and finally take off. Yet he finally dominated by almost two lengths, beating Chesterfield. Sinbad le Marin (Zarak) finished well in third.

Bred by Gestüt Ammerland, Gaidar (Chruchill) is out of Grey Lilas (Danehill), a Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Gr1) winner also placed in the French 1,000 Guineas (Gr1) and the French Oaks (Gr1). At stud, she gave Golden Lilac (Galileo), who won the two first French Classics for fillies. Then Golden Guepard (Hurricane Run) won a Listed race. Grey Lion (Galileo) was exported to Australia, where he won a Group3 and two Listed-races. Her Lope de Vega (Shamardal) filly, the champion Golden Lilas (Galileo), was awarded to Carlos & Yann Lerner for €250,000 at the 2020 Dauville Breeding sales.

Grey Lilas gave in 2020 a Lope de Vega (Shamardal) colt.

 

PESHMERGA (f3) (GER), by Counterattack ex Paper Faces (Lemon Drop Kid)

Prix du Chateau de la Reine Blanche (Unraced 3-year-old colts and geldings, 1,900m/9.5f, AWT), February 15, 2022, Chantilly

• Owner: Avedis Damirdjian
• Trainer: Anne-Sophie Crombez
• Breeder: Geoffrey Grimish
• Rider: Tony Piccone

Peshmerga (Counterattack) took the lead early on and didn't have to deal with any mishap from then on, winning by two and a half lengths over Speechless (Wootton Bassett), who had an allowance thanks to her female jockey. She’s Cosmic (Sea the Star’s), who had run a school race, finished third, ahead of her stablemate Santa Giulia (Shalaa), who covered the last 3 furlongs faster than anybody else in the field. Fillies were faster than the colts in these beginners' events as it took Pershmerga 1’59”08 to win against 1’59”48 for Gaidar (Churchill).

Unsold at €9,000 at Baden Baden, Peshmerga (Counterattack) still has a good pedigree. His third dam Brigid (Irish River) gave birth to Sequoyah (Saddler’s Wells), dam of the classic winner Henrythenavigator (Kingmambo), Listen (Saddler’s Wells), a Group1-winner, Oyster Catcher (BlueBird) ... Cœur de Beauté and Magician also hail from this family.

Peshmerga is one of the first foals by Aussie sire Counterattack, by Redoute’s Choice (Danehill), who was based in France in 2013 and 2014, and is now in Germany. Peshmerga's own brother, born in 2021, was paid only €1 500 online at BBAG at Christmas by Bernard Culliane while the dam Paper Faces (Lemon Drop Kid) was sold for €2,500 in the same sale to Nathalie Worz.

 

DELIDA (f3) GER, by Lope de Vega ex Diatribe (Tertullian)

Prix de la Haute Pommeraye (Maiden 3-year-old Fillies, 1,600m/1M, AWT), February 12, 2022, Chantilly

• Owner: Ecurie Griezmann
• Trainer: Philippe Decouz
• Breeder: Ecurie Roettgen
• Rider: Aurélien Lemaitre

Fourth for her turf debut at Clairefontaine and then third over Deauville's all-weather, last Autumn, Delida (Lope de Vega) came back after three months at Chantilly. She was able to take command and flew off about 350 yards out to open her account with 2.5 lengths to spare over her best rival, the handy Auctavia First (Recorder). The 3rd-placed Splendid (Toronado), like the latter, had never run before this.

Entered as a yearling at Tattersalls in October, Delida (Lope de Vega) was finally sent to Baden-Baden and sold there to Broadhurst Agency (Laurent Benoît) for € 270,000 €.

Her dam Diatribe (Tertullian), a black-type herself, had given Degas (Exceed and Excel), a dual Gr3 winner and dual Gr2-placed, as well as the filly Dina (Nathaniel), a Listed winner in Germany. She also gave Diadora (Dansili), a Listed winner last season who was also Group-placed ...

Delida's 3rd dam Diasprina (Aspros) is the dam of the outstanding performer and sire Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux).

 

IMPLEMENTATION (c3) USA, by Constitution ex Elegant by Nature (Footstepinthesand)

Prix du Pic Hardy (Maiden 3-year-old colts & geldings, 1,600m/1M, AWT), February 12, 2022, Chantilly

• Owner: Abudllah Saeed M Almaddah
• Trainers: Joachim & Pia Brandt
• Breeder: Abudllah Saeed M Almaddah
• Rider: Maxime Guyon

Implementation (Constitution) knows Chantilly's all-weather well as he started his career there with 3rd place, last October. Then he finished 5th at Deauville and wintered after that. For this seasonal bow, Implementation he was trialled for the first time over the mile and that gave him the opportunity to start at his own pace to take over the whole field progressively despite his outside draw. He was pushed away and stood brave to keep Smashing (Shalaa) at half a length while the favourite Gavano (Goken), already noticed for his promising debut in a field who stood the form, later on, finished third at 1.5 lengths. Smashing's run is outstanding since he's the only one who covered the last 3 furlongs in less than 35”.

Implementation (Constitution) was homebred by Abdullah Saeed M Almaddah, who secured his 2nd dam Grey Lina (Empire Maker), who went to stud unraced at 3. She was sold then in final to Le Havre in 2012 at Arqana. In 2016, she was exported to the USA, like her Footstepinthesand yearling filly,  Implementation's dam Elegant By Nature, her third foal but her only filly.

Elegant By Nature was also unraced and sent to Constitution (Tapit), a dual Gr1 winner at Gulfstream Park.

Implementation's Noble Mission (Galileo) sister was unsold at € 77,000 at Arqana lats October. Consigned then by Coulonces (Anna Sundström), she was unfortunately presented as lot N°1 ...

 

MYRKA (f4) IRE, by Tough as Nails ex Kai Mook (Littletown Boy)

Prix de la Route des Suisses (Maiden 4-year-olds, 2,100m/10.5f, AWT), Fabruary 12, 2022, Chantilly

• Owner: Lois Mcintosh
• Trainer: Anne-Sophie Crombez
• Breeder: Lois Mcintosh
• Rider: Corentin Bergé

Unraced at 4, Myrka (Tough as Nails) nevertheless took the lead before the stand's turn and led at her own pace. As no one could still challenge her, she took off two out and went on bravely to keep a shot head over Cominole (New Bay), who was timed the fastest in the last straight. Galifa (Frankel) was third. 

Myrka is out of Kai Mook (Littletown Boy), a moderate performer who still won twice over the all-weather at Kempton and Lingfield, in 31 outings in Britain. Her own dam ​​Beenaboutabit (Komaite), who went to stud a maiden. Lois Mcintosh, owner and breeder of the winning filly, still owns her. This bloodline seems to be rather successful over obstacles so far.

As for the winning sire Tough As Nails (Dark Angel), a Phoenix Stakes (Gr1) 3rd at the Curragh who only ran at 2 in 2011, he stands at € 1,500 at Blackrath Stud in Ireland. Myrka is his first winner in France.

 

TITANIUM (c3), FRA by Zarak ex Kyurem (Verglas)

Prix du Rond du Manège (Unraced 3-year-old colts and geldings, 1,600m/1M, AWT), February 7, 2022, Chantilly

• Owners: Ecurie A&G. Botti, Guillaume de Saint-Seine, Ecurie Vitale, Scuderia Visconti di Modrone
• Trainers: Alessandro & Giuseppe Botti
• Breeder: Haras de la Pérelle
• Rider: Christophe Soumillon

Alessandro and Giuseppe Botti had already saddled the winners of the previous edition as Titanium (Zarak) succeeds Bellharbour Music (Mshawish), a subsequent winner of the Prix Daphnis (Gr3). A well-behaved colt, he was amongst the best out of the gates and settled by the leading pair, Ad Libitum (Amaron) and Victor Lazzlo (Run Happy). 300 yards out, only pushed away, Titanium wore his rivals down and won by one length. Fanfaro (Oasis Dream), who had to make progress outside, finally beat Ad Libitum for second place. Several colts took some time to reach momentum and they should improve in the coming weeks.

Titanium is by the promising sire Zarak (Dubawi), whose offspring did so well last season already with black-type performers such as Purplepay, Time Square, Lizaid and Parnac, to name the best fillies.

Titanium is the third foal and the first winner out of Kuyrem (Verglas). He was sold as a yearling at Arqana September 2020 sale, when bloodstock agent Marco Botti bought him for € 50,000. Kuyrem won a Listed race at 2 and originates from a Rothschild family.

 

LAURA TREZY (f3), FRA by Scissor Kick ex Chantilly Crème (Johannesburg) 

Prix des gazons de Coye (Unraced 3-year-old fillies, 1,600m/1M, AWT), February 7, 2022, Chantilly

• Owners: Eric Feurtet, Carlos & Yann Lerner, Marc Leonetti
• Trainers: Carlos & Yann Lerner
• Breeder: SCEA Eric Feurtet
• Rider: Thomas Trullier

Despite her outside draw Laura Trezy (Scissor Kick) managed to travel close to the pace along with Baileys Memoire (Recorder), also starting from the outside, as many fillies were overly cautious early on. Laura Trezy found herself a leader and only came out 2 out to burst to the fore and keep half a length over Private Lounge (Toronado). Baileys Memoire faded but nevertheless kept an easy 3rd place at almost 2 lengths.

Unlike her dam Chantilly Crème (Johannesburg), who won first time out at 2, Laura Trezy (Scissor Kick) had to wait the following season to start her career. Chantilly Crème even made it to Royal Ascot for her second race, when 5th in the Queen Mary Stakes (Gr2). She won a Listed in the Autumn and never raced again.

The family traced back to Jean-Luc Lagardère's breeding venture with the 3rd dam Salvinaxia (Linamix), dam of Crème de la Crème (Vettori) and Group performer Via Milano (Singspiel), winner of the Prix des Réservoirs (Gr3).

After 5 foals including 3 runners, Chantilly Crème was sold at Arqana in February 2017, in foal to Wootton Bassett, and was awarded for €27,000 to JMC Bloodstock. Sinc the, her offspring is labelled “Trezy”, Eric Feurtet's brand. Lady Trezy is his first one. Then came Chantilly Trezy (Olympic Glory) and Rosa Trezy (Dream Ahead). Lady Trézy was also sold as a yearling at Arqana in October when Carlos and Yann Lerner bought her for €18,000.

 

MACHETE (c3), FRA by Myboycharlie ex Maid To Believe (Galileo)

Prix de Fervacques (Maiden 3-year-old colts and geldings, 1,900m/9.5f, AWT), February 5, 2022, Deauville

• Owner: Rashit Shaykhutdinov

• Trainer: Fabrice Chappet

• Breeder: Rashit Shaykhutdinov

• Rider: Stéphane Pasquier

Machete (Myboycharlie) first started at ParisLongchamp in the Autumn and progressed well over the Lyon-la-Soie all-weather when finishing 6th before promising placing at Chantilly, again on the all-weather. Ridden close to the pace at Deauville, he took off in the final straight and won by two lengths over Simca Mille (Tamayuz), who fought to keep  Tchakoviev (Shalaa) off. The only beginner in the race, Hollyhock (Attendu) finished fourth.

Myboycharlie (Danetime) is now based in Turkey but sired many years in France before. His 2019 offspring has. now won 7 races taken 24 placings in 44 races.

Machete's dam Maid To Believe (Galileo) was unraced but gave the Group-placed Maid to Remember (Redoute’s Choice). She's also the sister to two black-type performers, Maid To Perfection (Sadler’s Wells) and Run For The Hills (Oasis Dream). Most mares in this bloodline did well at stud, Caucus (Cape Cross) and Queen of Pentacles (Selkirk) being the best ones out of Maid to Perfection.

Machete was sold at the Arqana October sales for € 52,000. Amongst the top Maid to Believe foals sales, Tayish (Invincible Spirit) was sold € 230,000 by Haras de Victot and did well in Qatar. The black-typed Maid to Perfection made € 200,000 when purchased by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock Limited, and Oasis Way (Oasis) Dream was bought for € 150,000 by Freddy Head.

 

WELCOME SIGHT (f3), GB by Aclaim ex Loch Mirage (Elusive City)

Prix de Villiers (Maiden 3-year-old fillies, 1,900m/9.5f, AWT), February 5, 2022, Deauville

• Owner: Jeffrey Colin Smith

• Trainer: Myriam Bollack Badel

• Breeder: Littletown Stud

• Rider: Lea Bails

   

After her quiet debut on December 20th, Welcome Sight (Aclaim) was placed for her second race and she now wins easily for her third attempt. Trained by Myriam Bollack Badel, she was again racing over Deauville's 9.6-furlong trip. Always spotted near the leaders, she went away in the straight and finished three lengths ahead of the beginner Bella Nebula (Sea the Stars), who did well after travelling outside the field, and Rêves Cachés (Dream Ahead).

The winning sire Aclaim (Acclamation) gave more 2)-year-old winners last season in England than any other sire. Welcome Sight is the first foal out of Loch Mirage (Elusive City), out of the black-typed Lochridge (Indian Ridge) and a full sister to the good City Girl.

Littleton Stud bred Welcome Sight and her dam Loch Mirage, who was sold 4,000 £ to Wraymouth Stud at Tattersalls 2020 after the birth of her two first foals.