10 May 2020
Photos Lady Bamford & Tropbeau, and Khayzaraan : scoopdyga.com
The Prix de la Grotte (Gr3) is the traditional stepping stone leading to The Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas, Gr1). The classic program has been affected by the Covid19 lockdown. Both these races take place one month late, but as usual, the Grotte is run three weeks before the first classic of the season, also over one mile.
The prize money of the race has been reduced by 30% (from a standard Group 3 prize money of € 80,000 to € 56,000) like all Listed events, Group 2 and 3 races, as France Galop resumes racing without a full-scale betting network in operation.
The lot is wide open with a few talented fillies who have not yet tackled the black-type circuit, such as Khayzaraan (Kingman), who won very easily twice and was spared for this new season. The most successful, however, is Tropbeau (Showcasing), who won the Shadwell Prix du Calvados (Gr2) before finishing third in Newmarket in the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (Gr1) …
1. Kraquante (f3, GB by Bated Breath and Desert Image, by Beat Hollow) Rating: 88
Purchased € 55,000 a yearling at sales in Deauville, it started with a sixth place in June in Dieppe, over 1,100 meters, but was redeemed on its next outing at ParisLongchamp, where it gained more than two lengths over 1 400 meters. On the other hand, she had to settle for her third and last outing of the year with a fourth place in the Herod (L) price, on heavy ground, three lengths from Ellerslie Lace, second that day and again initially in the price of the Cave.
She is entered in The Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (Gr1).
2. Khayzaraan (f3, GB by Kingman and Riqa, by Dubawi) Rating: 101lbs
Bred by her owner, it was embarrassed at the decisive moment for its debut in the Arqana Prix de Lisieux, on July 28 on 1,200 meters. On its next outing, however, it left its rivals at nine lengths, while being caught up in the last two hundred meters of this impressive mile.
Engaged in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr1), she was however content to easily win a class 2 race before the break.
She's entered in The Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (Gr1), Saint-Alary (Gr1) and Diane (Gr1).
3. Honey Cake (f3, IRE by Siyouni and Pink Anemone, by Dansili) Rating: -
Sold €110,000 at the Arqana breeze-up sale, third for her debut last November on the Deauville all-weather, she won next on the same 7.5f course and distance. She was declared non-runner "for veterinary reasons" last March at Saint-Cloud in the Prix La Camargo (L), a 3-year-old fillies race over the mile, like this one.
She's entered in the Saint-Alary (Gr1) and the Diane (Gr1) but not in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (Gr1).
4. Secret Time (f3, GER by Camacho and Song of Time, by Kheylef) Rating: 101lbs
Purchased € 130,000 at the Deauville yearling sales, she made a good debut at Saint-Cloud over 6 furlongs last June, when she finished well in fourth, closing in the end. She still had to make a big impression a month later in the final stages to win her maiden race. A good second in the Prix d'Aumale (Gr3) two months later, beaten by less than one length, she however completely failed in the Criterium des Ventes Arqana d'Octobre, her last race to date.
She is only entered in The Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (Gr1).
5. Tropbeau (f3, GB part Showcasing and Frangipanni, by Dansili) Rating: 111lbs
Purchased 180,000 at the breeze-up sales in Deauville, she started with a sixth place but won shortly after that at Clairefontaine, then in the Prix Six Perfections Sky Sports Racing (Gr3) and finally in the Shadwell Prix du Calvados (Gr2) before concluding her first season with a third place in the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (Gr1) at Newmarket.
She is entered in The Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (Gr1), Saint-Alary (Gr1) and Diane (Gr1).
6. Tickle Me Green (f3, GER by Sea the Moon and Tickle Me Pink, by Groom Dancer) Rating: 104lbs
Bred by her owners, she won in Hanover, then took second place in the Preis der Winterkönigin (Gr3) in Baden-Baden before concluding her season with a fourth place in Krefeld, in another Group 3, over 8.5 furlongs. She is now trained by André Fabre.
She is entered in The Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (Gr1), Saint-Alary (Gr1) and Diane (Gr1).
7. Quiet Times (f3, GER by Reliable Man and Quenching, by Street Cry) Rating: 95lbs
Bred by her owners, she started with a ninth place in October and on heavy ground at Deauville, but she won next time out on the Deauville all-weather, and for her return this year in March in the Prix Montenica (L), on the all-weather again, and by a neck, beating a few colts. She's not entered in any Group 1.
8. Dream and Do (f3, IRE by Siyouni and Venetian Dream, by Librettist) Rating: 101lbs
Bred by her owners, who bought her back at € 80,000 at the yearling sales, she was only beaten by the good Savarin for her debut, and was no longer defeated afterwards, winning at Marseille, then Maisons-Laffitte, and on the banks of the Seine a second time in the Prix Miesque (Gr3), her last outing to date.
She is entered in The Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (Gr1), Saint-Alary (Gr1) and Diane (Gr1).
9. Marly (f3, FRA by Siyouni and Means of Assent, by Empire Maker) Rating: -
Sold € 40,000 at Arqana's breeze-up sales, she started in October with a sixth place on turf at Chantilly and then won again on the same course but on the all-weather and by a small margin.
She is only entered in The Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (Gr1).
10. Ellerslie Lace (f3, FRA by Siyouni and Indiana Wells, by Sadler’s Wells) Rating: 93lbs
She’s the only one in the lot who hasn’t won yet. Bred by her owners, she made no impression for her course debut in September but finished third after that to Kraquante, whom she meets again here, before taking second place in the Prix Herod (L) on heavy ground.
She is entered in The Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (Gr1), Saint-Alary (Gr1) and Diane (Gr1).