September 2018 Maiden winners

NOVA SOL (F2), (GER) by Soldier Hollow ex Neckara (Shirocco)
Prix de la Tour des Dames (Maiden 2yo fillies, 1,600m), September 22, ParisLongchamp

Owners : Écurie Pandora Racing, Ahmed Mouknass & Gérard Decocq.
Trainer : Maurice Delcher-Sanchez
Breeder : Bernd Dietel
Rider : Tony Piccone

Nova Sol (Soldier Hollow) led alongside Amhara (Union Rags), took over soon after entering the last straight and went away irresistibly to score by 2 lentghs over the proverbial Godolphin maiden, Chamundi Hills (Lope de Vega). The beginner Penney (Penny’s Picnic) finished well only beaten a short neck for 2nd place.

3rd for her debut in Deauville behind Commes, also 2nd in Class 1 since then, and Olympe (Charm Spirit), only 5th this time, Nova Sol was sold €45,000 at the Osarus 2017 yearling sale to MAB Agency (Marc-Antoine Berghgracht). her dam Neckara (Shirocco) also won at 2 in Deauville (Nova Sol was entered as early as Jun but had to wait two months before finally mlaking it to the races) and her first foal, a Pastorius filly also bred in Germany, won in Spain. Her 3rd foal however is another filly by Soldier Hollow, and she's for sale at the Arqana October sale.

Main entries : Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr1).

STARMANIAC (C2), (GB) by Sea the Stars ex Plumania (Anabaa)
Prix du Conservatoire (maiden 2yo Colts and geldings, 1,600m), September 22, ParisLongchamp

Owners : Wertheimer&Frère
Trainer : Carlos Laffon-Parias
Breeders : Wertheimer&Frère
Rider : Maxime Guyon

2nd to Syrtis for his debut on this very trip in the Prix de Fontenoy earlier in September, when he ran a bit green, Starmaniac (Sea the Stars) took a most impressive revenge here as he led all the way the small field of 4 to win the race by three lengths over Incitatus (Anodin).

Starmaniac is by Sea the Stars, the in-form sire of this season, out of Plumania (Anabaa), a Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Gr1) winner and twice 2nd in the Prix Vermeille (Gr1), also 3rd in one Prix de Diane (Gr1)… It is an oustanding family as Balladeuse (Singspiel), Starmaniac's sister, has already foaled Left Hand (Dubawi), who won the Prix Vermeille.

Plumania also gave Maniaco (Galileo) and Plumatic (Dubawi), two good winners. After Starmaniac, she also gave a Frankel colt and a Sea The Stars filly. Her 3yo sonby New Approach, a gelding named Maniac, is in training with André Fabre. He had been entered in all the season's big races but has yet to start for the first time.

Main entries : Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (Gr1).

AMAZING LIPS (F3), IRE by Camelot ex Athenaire (Duke of Marmalade)
Prix Fairy Legend (3yo maiden fillies, 2,100m), September 19, Saint-Cloud

Owner : Susumu Hayashi
Trainer : Satoshi Kobayashi
Breeder : Stall Parthenaue
Rider : Grégory Benoist

2nd three times for her three first races, and once to Castellar in the Prix Cléopatre (Gr3), when the 2nd-placed Luminate had been demoted, Amazing Lips (Camelot) failed in the Prix de Diane Longines (French Oaks, Gr1), and was 3rd at Vichy and 5th in the Prix Minerve (Gr3) in Deauville. This time, she went in front and was never really challenged as she scored going away by 3 lengths over Hokkaido Miss (Orfevre), who followed the winner all the way and beat the 3rd-placed Takeoffyourclothes (Orpen) by 4 1/2 lengths.

Amazing Lips was paid €130,000 at the Baden Baden yearlings sale Mayfair Speculators (Marcus Jooste), whom she represented on the course until the Prix de Diane Longines. Her Reliable Man sister was unsold at the same venue at €70,000.

Their dam Athenaire (Duke of Marmalade) was unable to win in four outings but she's out of Dance to the Top (Sadler’s Wells), twice a winner at 2 in Britain and 2nd in the Fillies’ Mile (Gr1) at Ascot.

INFLUENCER (C2), GB by New Approach ex Avongrove (Tiger Hill)
Prix As d’Atout (Unraced 2yo Colts&Geldings, 1,600m), September 14, Saint-Cloud

Owner : Godolphin
Trainer : André Fabre
Breeder : Godolphin
Rider : Mickaël Barzalona

Despite a sluggish start and an odd jump in the bend, Influencer (New Approach) showed some resolve togo on his own and catch Perfecto (Vespone), who had tried to run away early in the last straight. He won in the last strides with the remainder of the filed further 5 lengths back, with other bad starters Mushayyed (Dubawi) and Saga Timgad (Excelebration) prevailing in the end.

Influencer is out of Avongrove (Tiger Hill) who won at Longchamp for her April debut at 3 over 11 furlongs, then finished 2nd in the Prix de la Seine (L) over the same trip before failing in Prix de Royaumont (Gr3) and Prix de Malleret (Gr2). It is a really old Maktoum family as Influencer's 3rd dam La Confederation (Nureyev) won the Sun Chariot Stakes (Gr1) for Sheikh Mohammed, and she's out of the 1987 champion filly in Ireland Unite (Kris).

Before Influencer, Avongrove gave two Dubawi foals racing in Britain and in Dubai.

ITALIA (F2), SPA by Pyrus ex Monyyar (Montjeu)
Prix Ténébreuse (Unraced 2yo Fillies, 1,600m), September 19, Saint-Cloud

Owner : Felipe Hinojosa
Trainer : Carlos Laffon-Parias
Breeder : Gonzalo Ussia-Figueroa
Rider : Alejandro Guttierrez Val

Tucked in nicely along the rail behind the leaders, Italia (Pyrus) jumped ahead a furlong out and held on to score by a neck, beating a fast finishing Astonished (Reliable Man) by a neck.

Bred in Spain, the winner claimed 7 pounds as she was ridden by the apprentice of the Laffon-Parias stable.

Italia is out of the maiden mare Monyyar (Montjeu), also dam of a maiden colt by Karadak and of a unraced filly by Henrythenavigator. Her dam, howevber, won a Listed event at Doncaster.

Italia's sire Pyrus (Mr Prospector) won twice for Michael Tabor, including the Richmond Stakes (Gr2) at Goodwood, before finishing 4th in the Darley Prix Morny (Gr1) in Deauville. 

MSAIKAH (F3), (IRE) by Galileo ex Light Quest (Quest for Fame)
Prix Rieur (Maiden 3yos, 2,400m), September 17, Maisons-Laffitte

Owner :  Al Shaqab Racing
Trainer : Henri-François Devin
Breeder : Stilvi Compana Financiera
Rider : Grégory Benoist

It was Msaikah (Galileo)'s 7th race and finally a winning one! 4th in April in the Prix Caravelle-Haras des Granges (L) at Toulouse, she'd finished twice 2nd -to the good Homérique and also to My Sister Nat-, and finished only 5th for her debut over a mile and a half last time out in Deauville-Clairefontaine. She started well, was held behind the leaders and attacked early the leading Zafar (Kamsin) and also took over another front runner, Magic Pivotal (Pivotal), who had just started in France for the first time for trainer Pascal Bary. Finally, Msaikah won easily by 2 lengths over Magic Pivotal and a closing, Kentucky Tornado (Mizzen Mast).

Msaikah was sold £300,000 at Tattersalls in October 2016 to John and Jake Warren. Last year in Deauville, her brother by Australia made €140,000.

Their dam Light Quest (Quest for Fame), bred by Juddmonte Farms, won three races at 3 and 4 over 1,800 and 2,000m for owner Leonidas Marinopoulos, who bought her as a yearling. She gave Skia (Motivator), a Prix Fille de l’Air (Gr3) winner in Toulouse and the dam of two winners, and Tropaïos (Excellent Art), 6 times a winner in France and Singapore in Listed events.

ARCTIC CERCLE (C3), GER by Hurricane Run ex Alaska Spruce (Cockney Rebel)
Prix Borax (Maiden 3yo Colts & Geldings, 2,100m), September 14, Saint-Cloud

Owners : Mad Horse et Brigitte Rosa
Trainer : Alexandra Rosa
Breeder : Gestüt Ammerland
Rider : Théo Bachelot

First trained by Peter Schiergen in his homeland Germany, for the Gestüt Ammerland owned by breeder Dietrich von Boetticher, Arctic Cercle (Hurricane Run) was only beaten by a nose in Münich before ending up twice 5th over 11 furlongs. He was then sold to Alexandra Rosa's stable in Chantilly. 4th in Deauville first time out then 7th at Clairefontaine over 9 1/2 and 9 furlongs respectively, he led the field all the way, this time at Saint-Cloud. Arctic Cercle beat Haloul (Galileo), also a front-runner, by 1 1/2 length. Treguiss (Fuisse) finished well by the rail to snatch 3rd place from El Manifico (High Chaparral), who briefly looked like a prospective winner 2 furlongs out.

Arctic Cercle is out of Alaska Spruce (Cockney Rebel), winner at 2 and dam of Alaska Run (Hurricane Run), 4th for his debut with French-based trainer John Hammond and then sold to Germany. Arctic Cercle 's full sister Antibes (Hurricane Run) was unsold €8,000 at the yearlings sale in Baden-Baden in 2017.

FLYINGSTARTANDCO (G3), FRA, AQPS by Cokoriko ex Brownie and Co (Dom Alco)
Prix Finot – Poulains, 2nd lot (3yo colts & geldings unraced over hurdles, Hurdle race, 3,600m), September 13, Auteuil

Owners : Patrick Vandemoortele, François Nicolle, Écurie Mme Jacques Cyprès, Arthur, Fanny and Nicolas Cyprès
Trainer : François Nicolle
Breeders :  Jacques, Arthur, Fanny and Nicolas Cyprès
Rider : Théo Chevillard

Nice finish between Flyingstartandco (Cokoriko) and the favourite Fandango (Poliglote), who seemed to be well in control after an easy way to the front but finally wproved unable to outpace his rival, definitely a tough sort of nut to crack. Saint Roi (Coastal Path) stayed on in 3rd while Quartz du Rheu (König Turf) bravely held on too for 4th after running a bit green early on.

Flyingstartandco is a halfbred AQPS, like the winner of the other lot in this always sought after Prix Finot beginners' Hurdle race. He was bred in Nièvre by Jacques and Andrée Cyprès and their three children. The family is associated with Patrick Vandemoortele on the gelding's ownership, and he's parly leased to the trainer François Nicolle. The sire Cokoriko is a smashing recruit for the Haras de Cercy, created from the former National Stud local station at Cercy-la-Tour by Jacques Cyprès.

Flyingstartandco's dam Brownie and Co (Dom Alco) did not run but she's out of Expoville (Vidéo Rock), a winner at Auteuil and the dam, amongst others, of British Gr2 winner Vaniteux (Voix du Nord). It is a really good AQPS family from the Cypres bloodlines from which one can find Vieux Morvan (Voix du Nord) and Bilvao V (Bad Conduct).

FRACA DE THAIX (G3), FRA, AQPS by Enrique ex Soca de Thaix (Ragmar)
Prix Finot – Poulains, 1st lot (3yo colts & geldings unraced over hurdles, Hurdle race, 3,600m), September 13, Auteuil

Owner : Écurie Étoile N.V.
Trainer : Guy Cherel
Breeder : Michel Bourgneuf
Rider : Alain de Chitray

Trainer Guy Cherel saw 4 of his 5 horses taking the 4 first places home in this important race. Fraca de Thaix (Enrique) proved the best on the day as he put 4 lentghs between him and the 2nd-placed Protektorat (Saint des Saints). An AQPS halfbred bred in the Nièvre by Michel Bourgneuf, like every "Thaix" horse, Fraca de Thaix ran 3 times over the flat before this first test at Auteuil. he'd won in Moulins in August. His dam Soca de Thaix (Ragmar) did not race. Fraca is her 2nd foal after Dianca de Thaix (Anzillero), winner over the flat, over huyrdles and chasing too. Soca de Thaix since gave a filly by Rail Link and another by Kamsin. Kapica de Thaix (Kadalko), Fraca de Thaix's 2nd dam, ran only once over the flat. But she foaled Volca de Thaix (Voix du Nord), 2nd ine the  Prix Ferdinand Dufaure (Gr1), the 4yos Gold Cup at Auteuil, and also won 4 times. Kapica is out of Malacca II (Danoso), bred in 1978, 4 times a winner over the flat but a maiden over the jumps. All of them were bred by Michel Bourgneuf.

INDE (C2), FRA by Olympic Glory ex No Truth (Galileo)
Prix des Mélèzes (Maiden 2yo Colts & Geldings, 1,400m), September 12, ParisLongchamp

Owner :  Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani
Trainer : Jean-Claude Rouget
Breeder : Al Shaqab Racing
Rider : Grégory Benoist

A front-running Inde (Olympic Glory) made all in good fashion and left a fast finishing Brazing (Dabirsim) over a length behind at the post. Favoruite Colsen (Shamardal), the only beginner in this 5-strong field, finished 3rd without changing gear in the final stages.

The winner is trained by Jean-Claude Rouget and he'd finished well last time out over Deauville's All-weather track. Bred by Al Shaqab, Inde remained in the Qatari reigning family. He's a son of No Truth (Galileo), bougt at the end of her sophomore season by Al Shaqab at Deauville for €62,000 after her only win in Britain.

She's out of State Crystal (High Estate), a Group3 winner and twice a a Gr1 winner over a mile and a half, form the same family that the versatile Niarchos sire Ocovango (Monsun).

HOLD TRUE (F2), GB by Bated Breath ex Honest Quality (Elusive Quality)
Prix de la Masselière (Maiden 2yo Fillies, 1,400m), September 12, ParisLongchamp

Owner :  Khalid Abdullah
Trainer :  David Smaga
Breeder : Juddmonte Farms
Rider : Vincent Cheminaud

2nd to Tasleya for her debut in the Prix de Lisieux at Deauville, then 3rd to Pauline, whom she'd just beaten, Hold True (Bated Breath) proved to be the most resolute at the end of this 7 furlongs affair. The Khalid Abdullah homebred finally prevailed after a long struggle against the beginner Zenagh (Mizzen Mast), only beaten a short neck. Riff Raff (Iffraaj) finished well in 3rd.

A Listed winner at 2 in Britain, the winner's dam Honest Quality (Elusive Quality) is out of a daughter of the great Toussaud (El Gran Senor), a Group 1 winner who gave three individual Gr1 winners.

BRAVO SIERRA (F2), GB by Siyouni ex Kilo Alpha (King’s Best)
Prix de Vineuil (maiden 2yo Fillies, 1,200m), September 10, Chantilly

Owner : Khalid Abdullah
Trainer : André Fabre
Breeder : Judmonte Farms
Rider : Vincent Cheminaud

Fifth for her debut in the Prix de Lisieux won over the same 6 frulongs-trip at Deauville by Tasleya, Bravo Sierra (Siyouni) ran green that day and seemed to hesitate in between horses. Ridden more aggressively this time, she took over the front-running Samskara (Kodiac) about 2 furlongs out and lived on that, keeping a length and a half on a well finishing Morning Basma (Born To Sea), seemingly outpaced at the crucial stage and placed for the 4th time already ...

Bravo Sierra's dam Kilo Alpha (King’s Best) is a full sister to the good Runaway (King’s Best), a winner of the Prix de Bagatelle (L) over the mile for trainer Criquette Head, who had listed her to run the Total Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr1) at 2, following her first win.

Bravo Sierra is her 5th foal. An unraced 3yo Dansili filly is in training in Britain. Her best foal to date is Alpha Bravo (Oasis Dream), a Prix Thomas Bryon (Gr3) 2015-2nd exported to Qatar.

PRETTY BOY (C2), (IRE) by Siyouni ex Fast and Pretty (Zamindar)
Prix de Saint-Firmin (2yo Maiden Colts and Geldings, 1,200m), September 10, Chantilly

Owner : Chevotel Racing
Trainer : Pia Brandt
Breeder : Chevotel de la Hauquerie
Rider : Maxime Guyon

Second to Peronne in the Prix de Tancarville, late in July at Deauville for his debut, Pretty Boy (Siyouni) finished well that day. He was checked once again early on and although he took some time to gain momentum in the center of the course, he completely dominated his 4 rivals in the ned. He left a hardy Nom de Plume (Shamardal) 2 lengths behind.

Pretty Boy is out of Fast and Pretty (Zamindar), also bred in Ireland and assimilated in France by Chevotel and her owner Horst Rapp, for whom she won at 3 at Vichy over 1 1/2 mile.The winner here is her first foal before Pretty Women (Zoffany) then a Sea The Moon colt. Her dam and 2nd dam were also both bred by Horst Rapp. The 2nd dam is Tres Ravi (Monsun), a Group3-placed who gave Très Rapide (Anabaa Blue, Fast and Pretty's dam, three times 2nd in Gr2s), Tres Rock Danon (Rock of Gibraltar) and Tres Blue (Anabaa Blue).

Main entries : Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (Gr1)

MUNITIONS (C2), USA by War Front ex War Echo (Tapit))
Prix Bend’Or (Unraced 2yos, 1,200m), September 7, Maisons-Laffitte

Owner : Godolphin
Trainer : André Fabre
Breeder : Winchell Thoroughbreds
Rider : Mickaël Barzalona

Fast ahead with the front-running Charlène du Champ (Myboycharlie), favorite Munitions (War Front) held off every rival in the end, and also he won by a neck, he was never really chanllenged in the late stages by Defne (Siyouni), who finished well after a patient ride.

Munitions was paid $550,000 by Godolphin at the 2017 Keeneland September sale. He's the 5th foal out of the US Gr3-winner War Echo (Tapit), three parts sister to US-Gr1 performer Pyro (Pulpit), a avery American bloodline mostly successful on dirt so far.

LASKADINE (F3), FRA by Martaline ex Laskadoun (Smadoun)
Prix Finot – Pouliches (3yo Fillies unraced over obstacles, Hurdle race, 3,600m), September 6, Auteuil

Owner : ML Bloodstock
Trainer : Guy Cherel
Breeder : Christine Cheyrou
Rider : Thomas Henderson

Dans le groupe de tête depuis le début et un peu allante, Laskadine (martaline) a été reprise derrière les deux animatrices, Philanthrope (Doctor Dino) et Ma Turgeon (Turgeon), deux représentantes de l’écurie Devin. Elle passait à l’attaque pour franchir l’avant-dernière haie lorsque la seconde est tombée, et elle a pu ensuite continuer sur sa lancée sans être menacée par sa compagne d’écurie Statuaire (Muhtathir), qui n’a pu accélérer alors qu’elle semblait aller mieux que la gagnante pour aborder la dernière haie. Laskadine gagne de six longueurs. Philanthrope est restée troisième à cinq longueurs de la deuxième. On notera que la favorite Femme d’Action (Coastal Path), qui a accompagné la lauréate sur le plat jusqu’au poteau, avait perdu son jockey en tout début de course.

Laskadine avait débuté en plat à Clairefontaine par une quatrième place, dans un maiden sur 2 400 mètres disputé seulement dix jours avant cette première à Auteuil.

Laskadoun (Smadoun), la mère de Laskadine, est deux fois gagnante sur le steeple de Clairefontaine. Elle a ensuite d’abord donné deux produits qui n’ont rien fait, puis Laskadine et Dardoun (Sinndar), vendu 16 000 € l’an dernier à Arqana à François Nicolle. Elle est elle-même une sœur du bon Kinglaska (Kingsalsa), gagnant du Prix Léopold d’Orsetti (Gr3) sur le steeple d’Enghien.

SYRTIS (C2), (GB) by Frankel ex Sabratah (Oasis Dream)
Prix de Fontenoy (Unraced 2yo Colts&Geldings, 1,600m), September 2, ParisLongchamp

Owner : Godolphin
Trainer : André Fabre
Breeder : GB Partnership
Rider : Mickaël Barzalona

Fast ahead, Syrtis (Frankel) was pushed eraly on in the straight as his stablemate Southern Rock (New Approach) was looming ahead seemingly but the leader eventually kepot on going when his rival couldn't produce any significant turn of foot, eventually bowing for 2nd to Starmaniac (Sea the Stars), who relentlessly pushed the winner to the post. Southern Rock just kept the 3rd place helding off a well finishing Kiloecho (Whipper).

The race was won two years earlier by the Gr1-winner Waldgeist. Syrtis cost €350,000 at Arqana but his full brother made €600,000 last Summer, consigned by Écurie des Monceaux and bought by Oliver McLawrence. A Listed winner and Prix de Seine-et-Oise (Gr3) 3rd for Guy Heald, the fast Sabratah (Oasis Dream) gave 4 foals. It's a large and versatile family which has already done well for Godolphin with Best of the Bests (Machiavellian), a Prix d’Ispahan (Gr1) winner for the Dubai operation, has the same 2nd dam than Sabratah.

ROMANCIÈRE (F2), (IRE) by Dansili ex Balladeuse (Singspiel))
Prix de la Cascade (Unraced 2yo Fillies, 1,600m), September 2, ParisLongchamp

Owners : Wertheimer&Frère
Trainer : André Fabre
Breeder : Wertheimer&Frère
Rider : Mickaël Barzalona

Hard to say before the post who would win this edition of the Prix de la Cascade after Veda and Left Hand. As it is, the sister to the latter Romancière (Dansili) finallky made it a nose ahead of her stablemate Matematica (Rock of Gibraltar).

The 3rd-placed came by 7 lengths behind.

Balladeuse (Singspiel), Romancière's dam, won the Prix de Royallieu (Gr3) and gave 8 foals. After Romancière, she gave birth to Right Hand (Lope de Vega) and Nohand (Dansili). She's a sister to Plumania (Anabaa), winner of the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Gr1) out of a sister to the famed sire Groom Dancer. The Wertheimer invested in this family with the purchase of a broodmare bred by Guy de Rothschild and exported to the USA, Featherhill (Lyphard), solc at Keeneland in 1989 for €1.3m.

PERSIAN KING (C2), (IRE) by Kingman ex Pretty Please (Dylan Thomas)
Prix des Terriers des Houx (2yo Maiden Colts&Geldings, 1,600m), September 1st, Chantilly

Owners : Ballymore Thoroughbreds
Trainer : André Fabre
Breeder : Dayton
Rider : Pierre-Charles Boudot

2nd to Anodor (Anodin) for his debut in the Prix de Crévecoeur at Deauville as the favourite, Persian King (Kingman) didn't take long to make amends as he took the lead -he'd started sluggishly first time out- and took off geting into the last straight to score by six lengths.

His Australia brother goes to the sale at tattersalls in October and this win will probably upgrade the yearling's profile. It is a great family as their dam Pretty Please (Dylan Thomas), who won only once for the Wildensteins, in April at 3 for her debut, is a sister to the sire Planteur, the same family that Policy Maker (Sadler’s Wells) and further down Peintre Célèbre (Nureyev).

SUPHALA (F2), FRA by Frankel ex Sefroua (Kingmambo)
Prix de la Mare aux Oiseaux (2yo Maiden Fillies, 1,600m), September 1st, Chantilly

Owner : Lady Bamford
Trainert : André Fabre
Breeder : Etreham & Riviera
Rider : Pierre-Charles Boudot

Too slow in gaining momentum for her Prix des Marettes debut at Deauville, Suphala (Frankel) progressed a lot from then on as she proved irresistible this time as soon as her rider let her go, about two furlongs out. Owned by Lady Bamford, whe beat Lady Neartica (Kodiac), who she'd followed most of the way, and Lucky Jolie (More Than Ready), 2nd in the « Marettes ».

Suphala was paid €650,000 at Arqana by Charlie Gordon-Watson. His Golden Horn brother, however, couldn't find a buyer at €200,000 last August at Arqana. Their dam Sefroua (Kingmambo), a Prix de Lieurey (L) winner at Deauville over the mile, is out of the champion Sophisticat (Storm Cat), a Coronation Stakes (Gr1)-winner, herself out of the great mare Serena’s Song (Rahy), winner of 11 Gr1s stateside ...