6 June 2022
Photo scoopdyga.com
June 5, 2022, Chantilly Racecourse (Oise). – Bought for €100,000 as a yearling by her former trainer Jean-Claude Rouget at Arqana, Purplepay (Zarak) won the following Summer at Vichy but only in the Autumn did she show her best, winning the €280,000 Critérium Arqana at Longchamp, following with a Critérium International (Gr1) 3rd place. Owned by Jean-Pierre-Dubois and bred by Lisa Lemière Dubois, she was sold at the end of this promising season for €2m to NBB Racing (Nicolas Bertran de Balanda), and passed under the banner of Lael Stable, and the good care of William Haggas at Newmarket. An Irish 1,00 Guineas (Gr1) 6th for her debut with these connections, she's now confirmed brilliantly with this €80,000 Prix de Sandringham (Gr2) win. The fastest out of the gate, held in third position by Tom Marquand, she took over the front-running Hot Queen (Recorder) with 300 yards left to run and took off to win by 2 1/2 lengths over Life in Motion (Sea the Stars), who hung on well to contain Sicilian Defense (Muhaarar), who did not seem to have a clear run moments earlier but was finally able to get it soon enough to be fully extended.
Purplepay is the third foal out of Piedra (Lawman), a maiden mare whose dam Albisola (Montjeu) finished 3rd in the Prix de Sandringham and went on to win the Prix de Flore (Gr3) for her breeder, Gerry Oldham.