July 2024 Maiden winners

EPSON BLUE CEN (f2), (IRE) by Blue Point ex Epsom Icon (Sixties Icon)

Prix de Lisieux (Unraced 2-year-old Fillies, 1,200m/6f), July 7 juillet, 2024, Deauville

Owner: Yeguada Centurion SLU

Trainer: Maurizio Guarnieri

Breeder: Yeguada Centurion SLU

Rider: Christophe Soumillon

There are numerous similarities between this unraced fillies' race and the colts' Prix de Tancarville (see below). The winner's breeder-owner is Spanish, and unlike the second-placed favourite, the winner is also entered in the Sumbe Prix Morny (Gr1).

Epson Blue Cen (Blue Point), racing from stall 9, recorded the same sections as Estepona over the first 3 furlongs but reached the halfway point in fourth position. She accelerated at the 2-furlong mark to take the lead and won by a good length over the favourite Iron Bird (Showcasing). Iron Bird finished well after a slow start, less than a length ahead of Victory Call (Hello Youmzain), who, along with the winner, recorded the fastest section of the race from 2 to 1 furlong out in 10.76 seconds.

Epson Blue Cen had been entered since the end of May and was declared a non-runner on the day of the Prix de Diane Longines over 5.5f.

She is the fourth foal out of the mare Epsom Icon (Sixties Icon), purchased for £250,000 in 2018 in England, in foal to Siyouni. The mare had won the Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Gr3) at Epsom, and her foal Missyouni (Siyouni) won three races and placed in Listed company at Tarbes for Yeguada Centurion.

The mare then produced Intoxicata (U.S. Navy Flag), a handicap performer in the UK, where she won five races and was withdrawn from a Goffs sale last December. A 3-year-old by Siyouni has recently been entered at Clairefontaine, and a colt by U.S. Navy Flag was born in 2023.

ESTEPONA (c2), FRA by Mehmas ex Cigalera (Elusive City)

Prix de Tancarville (Unraced 2-year-old Colts and Gedlings, 1,200m/6f), July 7, 2024, Deauville

Owner: Cuadra Mediterraneo

Trainer: Mauricio Delcher-Sanchez

Breeder: Cuadra Mediterraneo

Rider: Clément Lecœuvre

Unlike the favourite Timador (Blue Point), Estepona (Mehmas) was already entered in the Sumbe Prix Morny (Gr1) before this debut, showing his connections' confidence. He won this €50,000 maiden race, earning €43,750 with bonuses. From stall 5, he stayed on his course and fended off Timador's late challenge to win by a head. Woodshauna (Wooded) finished a good length behind by the stands' rail, leading the rest of the field by three lengths.

Estepona is the second foal out of Cigalera (Elusive City), a maiden winner at 3 and third in the Prix Texanita (Gr3). Bred by Cuadra Mediterraneo, Cigalera is out of Macarella (Shamardal), a €52,000 foal purchase at Goffs, whose dam is the Prix Roland de Chambure (L) winner Anbella (Common Grounds). This is also the family of champion mare Satwa Queen (Muhtathir), a Group 1 winner. Before Estepona, Cigalera produced Zaharo (Shalaa), a 3-year-old gelding who recently won his first race over 5.5f at Dieppe.