30 March 2023
Photo: scoopdyga.com
Focus on the maiden winners of the month, updated weekly, on the France Galop racecourses. Here's an opportunity to discover some of the champions of tomorrow...
DEVIL IN THE SKY (c3), (IRE) by Starspangledbanner and Diablesse (High Chaparral)
Prix de l’Allée Elf (3-year-old maiden colts and geldings, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), Thursday, March 30, 2023, Chantilly
Owner: Philippe Allaire
Trainer: Yann Barberot
Breeder: Skymarc Farm, SCEA Marmion Vauville, SCEA de la Fontaine
Rider: Dorian Provost
Third on his debut in November last year at Deauville, and then second for his return three weeks before this third run, Devil in the Sky (Starspangledbanner) started as the big favourite here and won with ease after travelling with the leader, Alijan Moon (Sea the Moon). The representative of Philippe Allaire ultimately won by four lengths over the beginner Track of Time (Gleneagles), who finished strongly to take second place from Belafonte (Le Havre). Devil in the Sky was sold as a weanling by La Louvière in Deauville for €50,000 to Kirkwood Stables, who presented him at the same place nine months later for the breeze-up sale. He was then sold for €75,000 to Yann Barberot. The dam Diablesse (High Chaparral), a Listed-placed mare, was sold in 2018 by her breeders, the Wertheimer family, for €55,000 in foal to Zarak. Haras de la Louvière acquired her via Suprina. In December last year, she was sold in Deauville, in foal to Earthlight, for €43,000 to MAB Agency. Her third dam is the winner of the Prix de l'Opéra (Gr1), Mona Stella (Nureyev). Also bred by the Wertheimers! A Holy Roman Emperor filly out of Diablesse was born in January 2022. No classic entries for Devil in the Sky.
SUNBURST (f3), (GB) by Siyouni and Correze (Shamardal)
Prix de l’Allée Janvier (3-year-old maiden fillies, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), Thursday, March 30, 2023, Chantilly
Owners: Westerberg, White Birch Farm, Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier
Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget
Breeder: Écurie des Monceaux, Qatar Bloodstock Ltd, Kin Hung Kei
Rider: Cristian Demuro
Sixth on her debut in November over 1,500 metres, Sunburst (Siyouni) was making her comeback here, but she dominated the field quite convincingly after this time racing in the lead with Alma Bella (Wootton Bassett), while the favourite Amboise (Dubawi), who had finished second in the same beginners’ race as Sunburst, was racing along the rail behind them. At the entrance to the home straight, Sunburst took over from Alma Bella. Then she held off Amboise while in the middle of the course, the only beginner in the field, Piscopia (American Pharoah), was trying to find her footing but eventually did and finished very well to fall short by a length and a half from the winner. Always well placed and gradually getting closer, Firyali (New Bay) finished so well that she denied her stablemate Amboise a third place.
Bought for €650,000 at the Deauville yearling sales by Michael-Vincent Magnier, Sunburst is out of Correze (Shamardal), who won only one race at Lyon la Soie over the all-weather on her third and final attempt but had been sold for £680,000 as a yearling at Tattersalls to David Redvers, Meridien, and Monceaux. She had started off in the Prix Pawneese, a valuable maiden race which seemed to indicate that she was highly regarded at some point.
Bred by Qatar Bloodstock, Monceaux, and Kin Hung Lei, for whom she raced, Correze is out of Cloud Castle (In The Wings), a Group 3 winner and double Group 1 placed over 1m1/2, and dam to a host of high-class performers, herself descending from a similarly rich family...
The second foal out of Correze, a Frankel colt, was sold for €350,000 to Yulong Investment and BBA Ireland at last summer's Arqana sales. A filly, also sired by Frankel, was born in 2022. Sunburst is entered in the St Mark’s Basilica Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary and the Prix de Diane Longines.
KHARANOVKA (f3), FRA by Siyouni and Milena’s Dream (Authorized)
Prix Monade (Unraced 3-year-old fillies, 2,000m/10f), Thursday, 23 March 2023, Saint-Cloud
Owners: Alain Jathière, Hubert Guy, Éric Puerari, Géraldine Henochsberg, Écurie Ades Hazan
Trainer: Stéphane Wattel
Breeders: Géraldine Henochsberg, Écurie Ades Hazan, Patrick Fellous, Haras de S. A. Aga Khan
Rider: Alexis Pouchin
Entered last December in Deauville but taken out of the race at the forfeit stage, Kharanovka (Siyouni) started quickly with her 3-draw. Still, she was held up to travel on a third row in the middle while the favourite Ronea (Sea the Stars) ensured the command. In the final straight, Ronea tried to do it from start to finish without making a difference but merely stayed on (the tracking report shows that she could not go below the 12” mark in the final furlong). Ridden forward between horses, Kharanovka, on the other hand, accelerated to take the upper hand at the furlong pole and finished the fastest with the last 2 furlongs completed in 33’’52. At the finish, nearly two lengths separate the two fillies.
Kharanovka was bought for €260,000 as a yearling at Arqana by bloodstock agent Hubert Guy, who is now one of her co-owners. She is out of Milena’s Dream (Authorized), a winner at 2 in Deauville and herself out of an unraced own sister to the Listed winner Messœurs (Anabaa). Milena’s Dream especially gave Étoile (Siyouni), winner of the Prix Cléopâtre (Gr3), fourth in the Prix de Diane (Gr1) and winner of the E P Taylor (Gr1) in Canada.
SILVER CRACK (c3), FRA par Cracksman et Silver Bark (Royal Applause)
Prix Suave Dancer (Unraced 3-years-old colts and geldings, 2,000m/10f), Thursday 23 March 2023, Saint-Cloud
Owners: Claudio & Edoardo Marzocco, Free Man Racing
Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget
Breeder: Team Hogdala
Rider: Cristian Demuro
Entered in August last year in the Prix de Crévecœur, one of the 19 maiden races whose allocation will be increased to €50,000 this season, Silver Crack (Cracksman) had been scratched. He started as the 9/10 favourite in this 1m1/4 beginners’ contest, run on very soft ground by thirteen colts.
The representative of the Marzocco family travelled on a third row along the rail. He was able to get closer at the beginning of the straight as the leaders fanned out on the wide course, and he went on to an easy success by seven lengths.
The winner was bought as a yearling for €120,000 from La Coulonces by his trainer, Jean-Claude Rouget, in October 2021 in Deauville. His dam Silver Bark (Royal Applause), a maiden filly, is a sister to two Group 1 winners, sprinter Brando (Pivotal), winner of the Prix Maurice de Gheest (Gr1), several times placed in other top-level sprints, and the mare Ticker Tape (Royal Applause), winner of the American Oaks Invitational (Gr1). At stud, Silver Bark foaled a few useful horses until then, with five winners, including two Listed-placed. A Masar filly was born in 2021.
Silver Crack is in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club and the Grand Prix de Paris.
MYCONIAN (m2), IRE by Magna Grecia and Sirici (Choisir)
Prix du Début (Unraced 2-year-olds, 900m/984 yards), Thursday, 23 March 2023, Saint-Cloud
Owners: Daniel Macauliffe, Anoj Don
Trainer: Amy Murphy
Breeder: Lisbrook
Rider: Mickaël Barzalona
The only runner trained in Great Britain in this first 2-year-olds’ maiden of the season, Myconian (Magna Grecia) started as the favourite over the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained The Fixer (No Nay Never). The former had the last word, a yearling bought € 27,000 at Tattersalls Ireland hence beating the Chantilly-trained € 85,000 Deauville purchase. The two colts immediately took the lead. They were joined halfway through by Gotta Skedadle (Bungle Inthejungle), but about one furlong out, the filly gave way. At the same time, in the middle of the course, Bahia Blanca (Sommerabend) came to pass her and seemed able to challenge the first two. But Christophe Soumillon’s partner veered to her right, losing her place on the podium. In the front row, Myconian took the lead at the right time over The Fixer, finally beaten by almost a length, with Gotta Skedaddle third at two lengths...
Myconian is Sirici (Choisir)’s second foal. The dam is a Listed-winner in Ireland and has already foaled a maiden Highland Reel colt. Not much black-type is found under the first three dams, but the fourth is a full sister to Bishops Court (Clantime) and a sister to Astonished (Weldnaas), both winners of the Dash Stakes (L) on the Epsom straight course, on Derby day, Bishops Court has also won the Prix du Petit-Couvert (Gr3) in France.
Myconian’s dam was sold, in foal to Saxon Warrior, to Bronsan Racing for €50,000 at Goffs in November 2022, with her weanling Circus Maximus colt, sold for €10,000 to Sandra Maye.
SAHARA SPRING (f3), (IRE) by Dream Ahead and Spring Wave (Dr Fong)
Prix du Bassin des Serruriers (3-year-old maiden fillies, 1,300m/6.5f AWT), Tuesday, March 21, 2023, Chantilly
Owner: Isabelle Corbani
Trainer: Stéphane Wattel
Breeder: Haras de la Pérelle
Rider: Alexis Pouchin
Second for her debut on soft ground at Deauville in October, then third on PSF in November, Sahara Spring (Dream Ahead) came here after 111 days of absence, or more than 100 days less than the leader Fabuleuse (Wootton Bassett). The latter seemed to have the race in her grasp when she took off at the beginning of the straight after forcing her way to the front at the start. The tactic would have paid off if it weren't for the persistent finish of Sahara Spring, who was kept along the rail for a long time and won by a short neck. Third-placed Partly Cloudy (Sea The Stars), the favourite, finished 2.5 lengths behind after racing a little further back.
Raised in Ireland but considered French by Haras de la Pérelle, Sahara Spring was sold for 48,000 euros to her trainer, Stéphane Wattel, in October 2021. She is the ninth foal out of Spring Wave (Dr Fong), who won a 1,800-meter race for her debut in Évreux in September of her 3-year-old year and was second in Vannes for her third and final outing a month later. The mare, who is sister to the classic-winner Gentlewave (Monsun), quickly produced the good Spring Leaf (Footstepsinthesand), winner of the Prix Petite Étoile (L) and a classic contender at one point since she was placed in the Prix Pénélope (Gr3).
After Sahara Spring, Spring Wave produced a colt by Dark Angel, born in 2021, and a Lawman colt last year.
DEMAIN (c3), USA by More Than Ready and Sweet Lollipop (Candy Ride)
Prix du Bassin du Prince (3-year-old maiden colts and geldings, 1,300m/6.5f AWT), Tuesday, March 21, 2023, Chantilly
Owner: Écurie Ama.Zingteam
Trainer: André Fabre
Breeders: Machmer Hall, D&J Stables
Rider: Mickaël Barzalona
As the only beginner in the race, with only six runners over this hybrid distance of 6.5 furlongs, Demain (More Than Ready) completely dominated the final phase. After travelling behind the leaders Gray d'Albion (Shalaa) and the favourite Monapia (Harry Angel), he joined them going into the straight to win by a length over Monapia, who proved a tough rival for this third outing of the season and a third consecutive second place.
Gray d'Albion held on and kept third place, 3.5 lengths behind.
Demain was purchased for 90,000 $ at the Keeneland yearling sales by Grove Stud, which resold him to BBA Ireland at the Arqana breeze-ups eight months later. You must go under the fourth dam to find a true Group winner, the miler Housebuster. Demain will undoubtedly have shown his talent during his public gallop and here, nearly a year later. He has not been entered in any classic race.
KARGESE (f3), FRA, AQPS by Jeu St Eloi and Rive Gauche (Shaanmer)
Prix Auricula (3-year-old Fillies unraced over jumps, 3,000m/1m7f Hurdles), Sunday, March 19 at Auteuil
Owners: Renaud Lavillenie, Ecurie Thierry Cyprès & Fils, Jose Luis Da Silva
Trainer: Donatien Sourdeau de Beauregard
Breeder: Thierry Cyprès
Rider: Bertrand Lestrade
After biding her time in the field, Kargèse (Jeu St Eloi) moved up to the leading group at the end of the back straight, and her final acceleration proved devastating, winning by five lengths at the finish line. The front runner Terra Bella (Seabhac) held on bravely to keep an easy second place, five lengths ahead of the favourite Kundaline (Castle du Berlais). The AQPS filly Kargèse finished ahead of two thoroughbreds here.
Like her owner, champion pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie, Kargèse is made for jumping. She is by Jeu St Eloi, the first son of champion Saint des Saints to become a stallion himself. He has already produced the likes of Hano de Loi, Sainte Candy, and Redneck and stands at Haras de Cercy. In fact, it's a story of friendship, pole vaulting, and horses that connects Renaud Lavillenie and Jules Cyprès, son of Thierry Cyprès.
Her dam, Rive Gauche (Shaanmer), hails from the Cypres' stud farm. Among Kargèse's siblings are Figatelle (Yeats) and Immortelle (Boris de Deauville), both winners on the flat.
Rive Gauche is notably from the same maternal family as Naiade Mag (Kadalko), dam of the superstar Vroum Vroum Mag (Voix du Nord), and also Saint Are (Network), winner of the Sefton Novices' Hurdle (Gr1) in the UK.
Immortelle, Kargèse's Boris de Deauville sister, has passed through sales several times. While she was bought back for €14,000 at the Maisons-Laffitte 100% obstacle sale in 2019, she caught the eye of David Cottin a year later at the Show Lumet: the trainer paid €23,000 for this filly, who won on her hurdles debut in Toulouse before finishing 2nd at Compiègne. She hasn't won at Auteuil, unlike her younger sister.
JIGME (c3), (IRE) by Motivator and Simawa (Anabaa)
Prix Rush (3-years-old colts and geldings unraced over jumps, 3,000m/1m7f Hurdles), Sunday, March 19 at Auteuil
Owners: Phoenix Eventing SARL, EARL Haras de l'Hotellerie, Frédéric Sauque, Marc Bridoux
Trainer: Marcel Rolland
Breeder: Yeguada Centurion
Rider: Ludovic Philipperon
Jigme (Motivator) followed Master d'Oc (Doctor Dino) on the rail before making a difference between the last two hurdles and prove ever dominant in the run-in, where he took six and a half lengths over his runner-up. Between these two horses, Leon du Berlais (Authorized), a brother of Bonito du Berlais (Trempolino) and Nikita du Berlais (Poliglote), came in more than six lengths behind the winner and two lengths ahead of the third-place finisher.
Epsom Derby winner Motivator (Montjeu), Jigme's sire, produced French flat champion Trêve and has also proven himself as a jumps sire with Group 1 winners such as Pentland Hills (Triumph Hurdle), For Fun (Prix Alain du Breil), and Stormy Ireland (Mares Champion Hurdle). The stallion is currently based at Haras du Hoguenet.
On the dam side, there is an Irish Aga Khan lineage with Simawa (Anabaa), who is none other than a sister to champion Sinndar (Grand Lodge). She has foaled four black-type performers over the flat: Sinawann (Kingman), Simsir (Zoffany), Silwana (Peintre Celebre), and Summaya (Azamour).
In the sales rings, this bloodline has shone through the sale of Silwana, a Group 3 placed and Listed winner in Ireland, purchased for €320,000 at the 2015 Goffs breeding sales by Kawakami Racing. Jigme was presented as a yearling at the October 2021 sales in Deauville. Frédéric Sauque got him for €90,000. Jigme has become the first jumps winner in this family, where stamina is a key trait.
CROWN PRINCESSE (f3), FRA by Zarak and Lovemedo (Zafeen)
Prix Talweg (3-year-old unraced fillies, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), Wednesday 15 March 2023, Chantilly
Owners: Haras de Saint-Julien, Regula Vannod
Trainer: Fabrice Chappet
Breeders: Haras de Saint-Julien, Regula Vannod
Rider: Ioritz Mendizabal
Second for her debut, four lengths behind the promising Pensée du Jour, on the same course and distance, Crown Princess (Zarak) started favourite here at 5/2, and she indeed dominated without much trouble after travelling near the front-running Pioneer Life (Motivator). Going forward off the bend, she took the lead 300 yards out and was no longer challenged. Her best rival, Lady Regent (Roaring Lion), faded in the last furlong, leaving Hasapiko (Cloth of Stars) to take a clear lead for a second place less than two lengths behind the winner but over two lengths ahead of the field.
Crown Princess is the third of the four referenced foals out of Lovemedo (Zafeen), winner of three races and second in the Prix La Sorellina (L) at 3 at La Teste for Antoinette Tamagni and Regula Vannod, also the breeders and owners of Crown Princess. The mare is a sister to Mary's Precedent (Storming Home), winner of the Prix de Bagatelle (L). It is the family of Anabaa's Creation (Anabaa), a Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1)-third, and Leo's Starlet (Galileo), who won a Prix Cléopâtre (Gr3). Lovemedo then gave Sparta (Dabirsim), once in training at Christopher Head, withdrawn from Arqana sales in October 2020, then Crown Princess (Zarak) and Love Her (Meshaheer), also in training with Fabrice Chappet.
MR MELBOURNE CEN (c3), FRA by Kodiac and Miss Melbourne (Kentucky Dynamite)
Prix Tandem (3-year-old unraced colts and geldings, 1,900m/9.5f AWT), Wednesday 15 March 2023, Chantilly
Owner: Yeguada Centurion
Trainer: Christopher Head
Breeder: Yeguada Centurion
Rider: Aurélien Lemaître
Second then third in Chantilly and Deauville last summer on the turf, Mr Melbourne Cen (Kodiac) was coming back after a 212 days-lay off and a first over the all-weather. Regardless, he took the lead and travelled outside Cameron (Dabirsim), whom he passed going into the straight and kept going to keep Mount Tambora (Dark Angel) at a mere head. Cameron stayed on in third at almost two lengths.
Mr Melbourne Cen is the second foal out of Miss Melbourne (Kentucky Dynamite), sold for € 15,000 as a yearling in her time and winner of three races, including the Prix Occitanie (L), then sold € 370,000 at the end of the season at 3 to Oceanic Bloodstock, which sold it a year later, in foal to More Than Ready, for £300,000 at Tattersalls. Mr Melbourne Cel was bought for €140,000 at the Deauville sales in August 2021. He descends from a family managed by the Soula family, to which we owe, among others, the excellent Leeds, Milford Track and Matarun.
A son of Siyouni, born in 2021, and a son of Frankel, born in 2022, follow him...
Mr Melbourne Cen in entered in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, Gr1).
TOLGANAI (f3), FRA by Wootton Bassett and Tolkyn (Intello)
Prix de Saint-Valéry (3yo Fillies Maiden, 1,900m AW), Friday 10th March 2023, Deauville
Owner: Nurlan Bizakov
Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget
Breeder: Sumbe
Rider: Cristian Demuro
Leaders kept being taken over until the final bend, with Tolganai (Wootton Bassett) taking the lead after a cautious start, closing in on Thankyou (Postponed), who was still at her side going into the straight, with Larissa's World (Seabhac) on the outside and Our Town (Wootton Bassett) even further out without any cover for a while.
Larissa's World fought with Tolganai, who never gave in and won comfortably by a neck. Our Town stayed on in third, two and a half lengths behind, with a five pounds allowance.
Tolganai is the first foal out of the maiden Tolkyn (Intello), also bred by Nurlan Bizakov's stud farm, the owner of both the dam and her filly. The second dam, Totally Devoted (Seeking the Gold), was bought as a broodmare in the USA for nearly $600,000 -she had been purchased as a yearling for $1.6 million at Keeneland by the Coolmore associates. She only won a maiden race and finished fourth in the Matron Stakes (Gr1). Nevertheless, she was the sister of a winner of the Great Voltigeur Stakes (Gr2) and the St Leger (Gr1), Rule of Law (Kingmambo).
No major entries for Tolganai...
ILES ET AILES (c3), GB by Shamardal and Wavering (Refuse to Bend)
Prix de Fécamp (3yo Colts & Geldings Maiden, 1,900m AW), Friday 10th March 2023, Deauville
Owner: Godolphin
Trainer: André Fabre
Breeder: Godolphin
Rider: Mickaël Barzalona
There was no real competition for the favourite, the athletic Iles et Ailes (Shamardal), who flew in the last straight to win comfortably by three lengths over Double Major (Daiwa Major), a good finisher who himself finished second nearly two lengths ahead of Austral (Zelzal).
Iles et Ailes is the eighth foal out of Wavering (Refuse to Bend), who won a Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) but failed after that. She then produced good winners and group-placed fillies like Switching (Street Cry), her first offspring, who was second in a Prix de Flore (Gr3), or Flowrider (Street Cry), third in the Prix Chloé (Gr3) and fourth in the "Saint-Alary". However, the best is probably the filly who immediately preceded Iles et Ailes, Life in Motion (Sea the Stars), who finished second last year in the Prix de Sandringham (Gr2) to Purplepay and then won two consecutive Listed races over one mile and a mile and a furlong -at four years old, she is still in training with André Fabre, like most of the members of this whole family.
Iles et Ailes is not entered in any major races on the circuit.
ALGOLIA (f3), (IRE) by Lope de Vega and Viva Rafaela (Know Heights)
Prix du Soissonnais (unraced 3-year-old fillies, 1,600m/1m AWT), Tuesday, March 7, 2023, Chantilly
Owner: Wertheimer & Frère
Trainer: André Fabre
Breeder: Wertheimer & Frère
Rider: Mickaël Barzalona
Quickly placed alongside stablemate Firyali (New Bay), Algolia (Lope de Vega) gradually accelerated in the final straight and won in very impressive fashion, by five lengths, ahead of a brave Firyali with the favourite Grecian Fantasy (Oasis Dream), finishing third, four lengths behind, after following the top two.
Algolia is out of the Brazilian mare Viva Rafaela (Know Heights), purchased by the Wertheimer brothers for $500,000 in the United States, in foal to Elusive Quality, after winning the Brazilian Oaks and being placed at Group 1 level in the United States.
She herself was out of a top-level winner in Brazil.
The foal she was carrying, named Rafiot, won seven races and was sold for £2,500 in March 2022 at Tattersalls. She has since given a few other winners, including Babala (Sea the Stars), winner of the Prix Charles Laffitte (L) last Autumn in Compiègne.
Algolia, the very last foal out of Viva Rafaela, is entered in the Prix de Diane (French Oaks-Gr1).
AHA (f4), FRA by Bathyrhon and That’s Crazy (Lord Shanakill)
Prix du Bat l’Eau (Maiden 4-year-olds, 2,700m/1m5.5f AWT), Tuesday, March 7, 2023, Chantilly
Owner: Barbara Lemaire
Trainer: Nicolas Caullery
Breeder: Pia Brandt
Rider: Théo Bachelot
Racing since July last year, the mare Aha (Bathyrhon) was contesting her eleventh race with five placings and more than €40,000 in earnings. She led from start to finish to win this long maiden race ahead of two other fillies, Kilia (De Treville), who finished well just under a length behind, and the favourite Wanata (Sir Percy), who took the lead halfway down the straight before fading to finish a length and a half behind the one she had tried to challenge only seconds earlier.
Aha is the second foal out of That’s Crazy (Lord Shanakill), winner of three handicaps, including one with a 68lbs-rating over an extended mile-and-a-half trip for trainer Pia Brandt, also the breeder of Aha...
Aha has a 3-year-old full brother, Bunting, trained by Pia Brandt, who won for his debut the next day at Fontainebleau, as well as a 2-year-old brother by Fas, and another by Bathyrhon was born in 2022.
SWING VOTE (c3), GB by Shamardal and Qualify (Fastnet Rock)
Prix du Beauvaisis (unraced 3-year-old colts and geldings, 1,600m/1m AWT), Tuesday, March 7, 2023, Chantilly
Owner: Godolphin
Trainer: André Fabre
Breeder: Godolphin
Rider: Mickaël Barzalona
The only competitor who had already participated in a schooling race, Swing Vote (Shamardal) started as the favourite in a race that brought together nine beginners after Cawdor (Invincible Spirit) was scratched behind the gates.
However, he seemed to be in difficulty, two furlongs out, as Le Boss (Almanzor), who had been following him outside the field, took over effortlessly. But the experience of the Godolphin colt, who bounced back and took over again in the final furlong to score by just under a length. Le Boss stayed on in second place, a length and a half ahead of Belafonte (Le Havre), always well placed, and Accord Parfait (Pedro the Great), who closed well in the middle of the track. The 6th-placed Society Man (Cracksman) did not get a straight way in the final phase behind horses that were fading.
Swing Vote is the third foal out of the Epsom Oaks-winner Qualify (Fastnet Rock), bought by Godolphin for £1.6 million at the Tattersalls sales at the end of her three-year-old season. Her first foal, the winner Accepting (Dubawi), was sold to BBA Ireland for €105,000 at the Arqana breeding sales in December 2022.
The fourth dam, Media Luna (Star Appeal), also an Oaks winner before joining Juddmonte Farm, is the common link between classic winners Brian Boru, Workforce, and Flute, among other champions. The third dam, Medicosma (The Minstrel), a simple winner, was bought for €16,000 by Anne-Marie O'Brien, to whom she gave the second dam, Perihelion (Galileo), a Group 2-placed mare sold as a broodmare for €90,000 to Whisperview Trading Ltd, the O'Brien family's company. She later gave Qualify and her full brother the Group-placed Shogun (Fastnet Rock).
A filly by Kingman was born in 2021, and a colt by Lope de Vega followed the following season.
Swing Vote is entered in the Grand Prix de Paris.
KITTEN’S PAW (f3), (IRE) by Mukhadram and So Much Joy (Kitten’s Joy)
Prix de la Croix des Ormeaux (3-year-old fillies maiden race, 1,600m AWT), Wednesday 1st March 2023, Chantilly
Owner: ZAK Bloodstock
Trainer: Mikel Delzangles
Breeder: ZAK Bloodstock
Rider: Ioritz Mendizabal
Kitten's Paw (Mukhadram) finished sixth in her debut of the Prix Douve in Saint-Cloud, one of the 19 maidens whose base prizemoney was raised to €50,000 in 2023. She then finished fifth for her debut over the all-weather at Chantilly, precisely on this mile.
Returning here after a 68-day absence, the ZAK Bloodstock-bred filly, offered at 14/1, made progress outside the field and won by a half-length ahead of a brave Terredeguerre (Al Wukair), who just managed to fend off the strong finish of Helles (Wootton Bassett), who had been lagging behind the winner throughout the earlier stages of the race.
Kitten's Paw is the only registered foal out of So Much Joy (Kitten's Joy), who ran eight times without being able to win and even three times in claimers without changing hands. She had been purchased for $40,000 as a yearling at Keeneland. She was exported to Morocco in 2020.
SPEECHMAN (c3), USA by Kingman and Not Ready (More Than Ready)
Prix de la Broutillerie (3-year-old colts and geldings maiden race, 1,600m PSF), Wednesday 1st March 2023, Chantilly
Owner: Wertheimer & Frère
Trainer: Carlos Laffon-Parias
Breeder: Wertheimer & Frère
Rider: Maxime Guyon
Speechman (Kingman) finished third in September last year for his debut in the Prix de Fontenoy, one of the 19 maiden races whose base prizemoney was raised to €50,000 in 2023. He was then placed twice, notably over Deauville's all-weather 132 days before this return.
Speechman was the joint-favourite here, and his supporters didn't have to sweat much as the Carlos Laffon-Parias-trained colt dominated after travelling alongside the leader. He then accumulated more than four lengths over Elamaz (Gleneagles), who had lost some ground at the beginning of the race and had moved forward in the turn, outside with no cover, before defeating a tenacious Black Paws (Invincible Spirit), third at a short head.
Bred by the Wertheimers, Speechman is the third and last European foal to date out of the winner Not Ready (More Than Ready), herself a daughter of a Classic winner in the USA purchased by the Wertheimers for $1.4 million, in foal to Candy Ride. The mare returned to the USA, where she gave birth to Speechman in 2019.
Her first foal, Allset (Anodin), was sold for £40,000 at Goffs as a 3-year-old.
Speechman has been entered in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains.