13 June 2020
Photo scoopdyga.com
The Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1) was postponed one month and moved to Chantilly. The race this season is really open as apart from the returning Savarin (Deep Impact), none of the fillies taking part has run at the top level last season. Besides, none of the seven fillies entered has ever met another before. Considering we should be running the Oaks rather than this at this time of the season, it tells how weak the clues are for us to name a favourite here, only three weeks before the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1)!
- 1. TAWKEEL (f3, GB by Teofilo ex Rafaadah, by Oasis Dream) Rating: 98lbs
Bred by her owner, she's unbeaten in three races but has only run over all-weather tracks until now. She won by a head over Wangari last time out, and this rival has won the Prix Finlande (L) since then.
She's the first foal out of Rafaadah (Oasis Dream), winner at 2 of the Grand Critérium de Bordeaux (L) and herself foaled by the good mare Joanna (High Chaparral), a Prix du Calvados (Gr3) winner at 2, who went on to win the Prix de Sandringham (Gr3) and the Prix de la Porte Maillot (Gr3) after finishing 3rd in the French 1,000 Guineas (Gr1).
She's in the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1).
- 2. VAUCELLES (f3, FRA by Le Havre ex Vaunoise, by Teofilo ) Rating: -
A favourite for her debut two weeks ago, she won in a few strides by almost two lengths over the well-bred Alikova, nine lengths ahead of the other fillies.
Vaucelles is the second foal out of Vaunoise (Teofilo), winner of 4 races.
She's in the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1).
- 3. MOASA (f3, FRA by Dabirsim ex Amadea, by Lauro) Rating: 87lbs
Bred by her owner, she's still a maiden after 4 races, including one this season, when 3rd and beating Ceinture Noire, who won since, less than two lengths behind the winner, who was later unplaced in the French 1,000 Guineas. She will probably fare much better this time.
She's in the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1).
- 4. AGAIN MUSIC (f3, FRA by Palace Episode ex Lucky Game, by Montjeu) Rating: 90lbs
Bought for €60,000 at the sales, an easy winner early this season at Mont-de-Marsan for her come back, she was beaten after that on very soft ground and since then finished 2nd in the Derby du Midi (L), a short neck behind a colt fancied for the French Derby.
- 5. MAGIC ATTITUDE (f3, GB by Galileo ex Margot Did, by Exceed and Excel) Rating: 105lbs
She finished last season by a 3rd place in the Critérium de Lyon (L) and made quite a sensation when she won easily the Prix Vanteaux (Gr3), beating Emoji and Flighty Lady, who was 2nd in the Prix Cléopâtre (Gr3) last weekend.
She's in the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1).
- 6. SAVARIN (f3, JPN by Deep Impact ex Sarafina, by Refuse to Bend) Rating: 103lbs
By one of the greatest racehorses and sires in Japan and a champion mare in France, she won first time out, beating Dream and Do, who has become a French 1,000 Guineas (Gr1) winner ... She went on to record a second win in the Prix d’Aumale (Gr3) but failed in the Marcel Boussac (Gr1). She hasn't run since October.
She's in the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1).
- 7. SOLSTICIA (f3, IRE by Le Havre ex Solilea, by Galileo) Rating: -
Bred by her owners, out of the same family than that of Plumatic and Starmaniac, she was only 4th for her debut in September at ParisLongchamp, in a maiden that has failed to reveal any first-class filly so far. Yet she won for her return at à Chantilly, leaving her best rival at 3 lengths.
Scratched from the Prix Cléopâtre (Gr3), she's in the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1).