The January 2023 Maiden winners

 

DELPHINUS (f4), IRE by Sea the Stars ex Dhuma (Falco)

Prix de la Fontaine Teauvillaise (Maiden 4-year-olds, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), January 21, 2023, Chantilly

Owner: Stefan Horst Hahne

Trainer: Henk Grewe

Breeders: Swordestown Little, Sunderland Holding

Rider: Eddy Hardouin

Previously raced in the UK by the Godolphin stable and then the Scuderia Sagam, Delphinus (Sea the Stars) made her debut for her current connections, three months after her 14th failure in the UK, where she began her career in August 21, after being entered in the Prix Marcel Boussac. Well started from stall 15, all the way outside, she was able to take the lead without making a big effort. Going into the straight, she got the better of the other leader, Power Papers (Soldier Hollow), and then kept a length and a half over Jungle Pulse (Almanzor), who came fast from the back after having run only one schooling race. The beginner Longuerue (Recorder) also made up a lot of ground to finish in sixth place. Delphinus is the third foal out of Dhuma (Falco), a Wertheimer & Frère bred who won two races under the training of Carlos Laffon-Parias. Afterwards sold for 72,000 € to Blandford Bloodstock, and then a year later for 105,000 £, in foal to Intello, at Tattersalls, she did not reach her reserve tag last February at 4,500 € at Goffs', in foal to Shaman. Delphinus, on the other hand, was sold twice last year: 37,000 £ by Godolphin (who had bought her for 260,000 £ as a yearling) to Liam Norris and Marco Botti, who became her trainer and then sold her in turn at Tattersalls for 18,000 £, to Renello Bloodstock.

 

PREMIER ORDRE (g3), FRA by Whitecliffsofdover ex Law and Order (Lawman)

Prix du Carrefour du Clos de la Barre (Maiden 3-year-old colts & geldings, 1,600m/1m AWT), January 21, 2023, Chantilly

Owner: Maurizio Guarnieri

Trainer: Maurizio Guarnieri

Breeder: Caroline Ferrer

Rider: Christophe Soumillon

Twice second in his first two outings, in October on the all-weather at Lyon and Pornichet, Premier Ordre (Whitecliffsofdover) then took fourth place on the Cholet turf over 9.5 furlongs, and two months later failed for his return over the all-weather, at Deauville under lights, while being ridden in a rear position. Christophe Soumillon, who had never ridden him before, this time chose to take his mount forward, before letting front-runner Uragano (Summer Front) lead with Big Rock (Rock of Gibraltar), who joined him in the turn. Moving ahead at the entrance of the straight, Premier Ordre was however challenged in turn by Sixtus (Al Wukair), who had been able to make progress with plenty in hand over the rail and threatened the future winner before faltering at the end, unlike the second-placed Monapia (Harry Angel), who had been gradually closed in and was eventually beaten by a neck. Sixtus finished third. The dam of Premier Ordre, Law and Order (Lawman), bred by the Devin family, waited for her 23rd and last outing to win, at La Teste with a 41lbs. rating. Premier Ordre is her third and penultimate foal. Sold for 15,000 € during her racing career, then 5,000 € afterwards, the dam saw her most recent foal, Correctionnelle (Seahenge), being bought back last Summer for 2,000 € at Osarus. The second dam is a full sister to the champion mare Terre à Terre (Kaldounevees).

 

NEAR AMORE (f3), GER by Amaron ex Near Galante (Galileo)

Prix du Rond Fille de l’Air (Maiden 3-year-old Fillies, 1,600m/1m AWT), January 21, 2023, Chantilly

Owners: Gérard Augustin-Normand, Nicolas Clément

Trainer: Nicolas Clément

Breeder: Gestüt Wittekindshof

Rider: Stéphane Pasquier

Fourth for her debut on the same course, Near Amore (Amaron) four weeks later took the lead from the start with the other favourite of the race, Alaska Mouse (Starspangledsbanner), who gave in to finish. The representative of Gérard Augustin-Normand and her trainer thus easily accumulated more than six lengths of lead on the clear second-placed, Falesia (Mehmas), who also remained in fourth place. Bred in Germany by the Gestüt Wittekindshof, she was sold for 34,000 € to Tina Rau and Nicolas Clément at the Baden-Baden sales. More recently, in November last year in Deauville, Near Amore's sister, Nada Igual (Manduro), aged 7 and in foal to Seahenge, was sold for 70,000 € to Alan Harte Bloodstock.

The dam, Near Galante (Galileo), is Listed-placed in Germany, and also dam of Near England (Lord of England). This is the family of the great broodmare Nightrockette (Rocket), 4th dam to Near Amore, dam and second dam of classic winners in Germany.

 

BELINSKOV (g3), FRA by Mehmas ex Al Shahaniya (Zoffany)

Prix des Trois Clairières (Maiden 3-year-old colts and geldings, 1,900m AWT), January 14, 2023, Chantilly

Owners: Alain Jathière, Écurie X, Écurie Vivaldi

Trainer: Stéphane Wattel

Breeders: Nasser Abdullah Al Mesned, Ali Thamer Al Mehshadi

Rider: Alexis Pouchin

Twelfth for his debut two weeks earlier, over the same distance but in Deauville, without ever impressing, Belinskov (Mehmas) this time took a very good start and the lead, flanked by the favorite Highwind (Zarak), who had started his career with a second place. Entering the last straight, the two colts broke away and engaged in a fierce struggle that turned out, by a short head, to Belinskov's advantage. Their lead over the field melted at the end, and the third-placed Azka (Wootton Bassett) finished within less than three lengths with the debutant Highland Song (Gleneagles). Belinskov is the second foal out of the unraced mare Al Shahaniya (Zoffany), bought for 340,000 € by Al Shaqab at the Arqana breeze-ups in 2015. As for Belinskov, he was sold for € 140,000 to Mandore and Stéphane Wattel, while last Summer, his Toronado sister was sold for only € 6,000 to Chauvigny Global Equine. She's in training with Édouard Monfort, for Quadrablue Stable… A Wooded colt follows.

 

PEARL HARBOUR (f3), FRA by Al Wukair ex Petite Patch (Dark Angel)

Prix de la Route des Pins (Maiden 3-year-old fillies, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), January 14, 2023, Chantilly

Owners: Haras de l’Hotellerie, Mette Campbell Andenaes

Trainer: Stéphane Wattel

Breeder: Mette Campbell Andenaes

Rider: Alexis Pouchin

Fifth for her debut four weeks earlier over 1,500 meters after having galloped in the lead at Deauville, Pearl Harbour (Al Wukair) this time took an average start and galloped at the rear. She was still last 300 yards out while Saanen (Almanzor), who had traveled with her, had already made her move to challenge the leaders, including Ketamine Bailly (Pomellato), who had just taken over from the front runners. Slowly shifted to the outside, Pearl Harbour finally surged to win by a short head over Kétamine Bailly and Saanen, with margins of a short head and a short neck... Pearl Harbour was bought for 22,000 € at Deauville as a yearling. On the other hand, her sister by Toronado was sold for 26,000 € a year later to Mandore, while the Wooded weanling colt was sold for 5,000 € to Guy Petit in December last year, as well as her dam, sold during the same session and to the same agent, in foal to Hello Youmzain, for 8,000 €!

 

ARDITO (c3), FRA by Siyouni ex Valasyra (Sinndar)

Prix de la Gare de Pointe Noire (Maiden 3-year-old colts and geldings, 1,300m AWT), January 13, 2023, Deauville

Owner: Alberto Frassetto

Trainer: Gianluca Bietolini

Breeder: Yeguada Centurion SLU

Rider: Maxime Guyon

They were twelve after two scratches in the fillies' race; there were six runners here... Last after leading for his debut in a Class 2 race against six opponents, over 1,500 meters, two weeks earlier on this same track, Ardito (Siyouni) didn't hold back here, leaving the leader French Defense (Anodin), whom he had followed by the rail, three lengths behind, this latter miraculously keeping second place in front of Schwendi (Shalaa), who finished strong. The dam of the winner, Valasyra (Sinndar), was sold by the Aga Khan for 200,000 € in December 2019, carrying this colt, to Yeguada Centurion, who bred him and parted with the mare two years later for 26,000 €, a bid offered by Chantilly Bloodstock Agency while she was in foal to Recoletos. Ardito, on the other hand, was withdrawn from the Deauville yearling sales in August, and sold for 85,000 € at the October session, before being passed on the same ring again for the 2-year-old sales, where he was bought for 160,000 € by Marco Bozzi Bloodstock. In October last year, his brother by Recoletos, was sold for 35,000 € at Deauville to Spincourt Bloodstock.

It's a Lagardère bloodline since the 4th dam gave Breeders' Cup hero Val Royal, Vadlawys, the 4th dam to champion 3-year-old Vadeni, etc. 

 

FILLE DU ROI (f3), FRA by Belardo ex Sœur du Roi (Makfi)

Prix de la Gare de Dalat (Maiden 3-year-old fillies, 1,300m AWT), January 13, 2023, Deauville

Owners: Delphine Garcia-Dubois, Dominique Mary, Philippe Cran

Trainer: Hubert de Nicolaÿ

Breeders: Éric Puerari, Écurie Ades Hazan

Rider: Hugo Journiac

Being the most experienced of the twelve fillies in this race, Fille du Roi (Belardo) was the favorite on her eighth start since her debut in June. Well-placed in fourth position, although almost threatened by the front hooves of a pulling Sika Burka (Siyouni) behind her, the Hubert de Nicolaÿ-trained filly started early and took over one of the two leaders, Maziwa (Gutaifan), who is showing progress and finished in second place, close to a length behind. She managed to resist the late challenge of Toogoodforschool (Al Wukair) who finished in third place, ahead of Sika Burka, who also finished well. Consigned by Les Capucines, Fille du Roi was purchased for 35,000 € as a yearling at the Deauville sales by YOHEA. She is the first foal out of the unraced Sœur du Roi (Makfi), who is the half-sister to Dame du Roi (Dark Angel), winner of the Prix Miesque (Gr3). Her Ribchester brother was born in 2022.