The September 2023 maiden winners

 

CANDALA (f2), FRA by Frankel ex Candarliya (Dalakhani)

Prix de la Mare aux Oiseaux (Maiden 2-year-old Fillies, 1,600m/1m), September 28, 2023, Chantilly

Owner: H. H. Aga Khan

Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard

Breeder: Haras de S.A. Aga Khan

Rider: Stéphane Pasquier

Following a promising third place in the famed Prix de la Cascade on her debut, just behind the front-runner Cetera (Nathaniel), whom she met again here, Candala (Frankel) started as the favourite for this second outing. Quickly taking the lead, she dictated the pace with Good Time Roll (New Bay) and Cetera tracking her. Entering the final straight, the future winner took off, leaving her competitors with no response, and crossed the finish line with a four-length lead over Cetera, while Lepsa (Wootton Bassett) finished a respectable third, one and a half lengths behind after pressing the leaders.

Candala is in the Prix des Réservoirs (Gr3). She is the fourth foal out of Candarliya, who was second in a Prix Vermeille (Gr1) and won the Prix de Royallieu (formerly Gr2) and the Prix Maurice de Nieuil (Gr2). She has also produced the good Carini (Siyouni), winner of three races and placed in a Listed race, as well as Caldirana (Dansili), a maiden sold last December at Arqana for €110,000 to Trotting Bloodstock, in foal to Saxon Warrior.

 

RAMADAN (c2), FRA by Le Havre ex Raushan (Dalakhani)

Prix des Terriers des Houx (Maiden 2-year-old Colts and Geldings, 1,600m/1m), September 28, 2023, Chantilly

Owner: Nurlan Bizakov

Trainer: Christophe Head

Breeder: Sumbe

Rider: Aurélien Lemaître

 

Ramadan (Le Havre) was a noted strong fourth on his debut, behind the promising Supercooled at Saint-Cloud (read below). Hindered that day in his final surge after seemingly struggling to find his footing, he nonetheless put forth a strong finishing effort, leading him to go off as the favourite twenty days later over a mile at Chantilly. Breaking well this time, he took the lead and, after setting a slow pace, his rider urged him for a comfortable win.

His stablemate Narkez (Siyouni), hindered by his draw 6 here, raced outside the field in the breeze, yet still managed to secure second place, commendably holding his position less than two lengths behind, and two and a half lengths ahead of third-placed Ride the Skies (City Light), who had no real excuse after racing alongside the winner.

Entered in both Saint-Cloud late Criteriums, Ramadan is the fifth foal out of Raushan (Dalakhani). The mare raced three times at age 3 for Nurlan Bizakov, who had purchased her at the Tattersalls yearling sales for £400,000. She comes from an excellent family; the second dam is a sister to a Prix de Diane winner, who is herself a dam of champions.

Entering stud, Raushan immediately produced a good filly, Rasima (Iffraaj), who was a Group 3-placed and a Listed-winner over Lingfield’s all-weather surface, all at age 3. She raced 19 times in three seasons without truly failing, except for a less consistent final season at 4. Nothing particularly convincing between Rasima and Ramadan, who may yet reach a level close to his elder sister, whose rating in the UK reached 102lbs.

After Ramadan, the mare has produced a Showcasing filly, born in 2022, and a Wootton Bassett colt this year.

Born in 2019, her maiden filly Rastaba (Siyouni) was sold in foal to Golden Horde at last December’s Arqana breeding sales for €26,000 to BBA Ireland.

 

 

AVENTURE (f2), (IRE) by Sea the Stars ex Balladeuse (Singspiel)

Prix de Toutevoie (Unraced 2-year-old Fillies, 1,600m/1m), September 20, 2023, Chantilly

Owners: Wertheimer & Frère

Trainer: Christophe Ferland

Breeders: Wertheimer & Frère

Rider: Stéphane Pasquier

Much like in the Prix de Villebon for the Colts, two representatives from the Wertheimers stable squared off. This time, however, the filly trained by Christophe Ferland had the last word. Aventure (Sea the Stars) broke clear 2 out to make an early impact. Her stablemate, the favourite Solite (Dubawi), trained by André Fabre, got stuck along the rail and was forced to hold back before finally sprinting home to settle for third place, three and a half lengths behind. She trailed a neck behind the second-place finisher, Siyandra (Medaglia d'Oro), who had made her move earlier down the middle of the course.

Notably, there was a strong finish from Goosebumpy (Siyouni), who came from behind to take fourth place after a poor start. However, the tracking report was not very conclusive. Unlike the colts, only the first two covered a furlong in less than 12'', while the two official times are pretty close.

Aventure is the tenth foal out of the good Balladeuse (Singspiel), winner of the Prix de Royallieu (Gr2) and dam of the classic Left Hand (Dubawi), winner of the Prix Vermeille (Gr1) after finishing second in the Prix de Diane (Gr1). Her sister Nohand (Dansili), who is also a full sister to the good Romancière, was sold for €500,000 in foal to Camelot at the latest Arqana breeding sales, where she was bought by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock.

Balladeuse is out of the excellent mare Featherquest (Rainbow Quest), notably the mother of Plumania (Anabaa).

 

SOSIE (c2), (IRE) by Sea the Stars ex Sosia (Shamardal)

Prix de Villebon (Unraced 2-year-old colts and geldings, 1,600m/1m), September 20, 2023, Chantilly

Owners: Wertheimer & Frère

Trainer: André Fabre

Breeders: Wertheimer & Frère

Rider: Maxime Guyon

Having allowed his stablemate Atlast (Farhh) to take the lead while travelling behind the other pace-setter, Sant'Ambrogio (Wootton Bassett), the favourite Sosie (Sea the Stars) kicked off in the final furlong to get away with the €25,000 winning prize of this boosted maiden (€43,000 with the 80% owners' premiums since the colt is born in Ireland but bred in France). He crossed the finish line with a two-length lead over a brave Atlast, a good length ahead of Shamrock Glitter (Shalaa), who was always well-placed behind the leaders on the rail. In the middle of the course, another good length behind, Blue Starlight (Blue Point) closed in fast after taking some time to reach momentum. However, the tracking report reveals that the winner covered the final 2 furlongs in faster splits than Blue Starlight. Still, the best final three furlongs belongs to Seremini (Siyouni), who finished sixth after a mediocre start.

Sosie is the sixth foal out of Sosia (Shamardal), a Listed-placed mare who has also given Anasia (Intello), a Group 3-placed and Listed winner, and Copie (Iffraaj), another Listed winner but over shorter distances. Their brother Sosino (New Approach), who was second this summer in the Prix Daphnis (Gr3), will go under the hammer at the Arc Arqana sale ten days after Sosie's victory.

This is a German family acquired by the Wertheimers through the second dam, Sahel (Monsun), who was unsold at €320,000 when consigned as a yearling by the Haras du Mezeray in Deauville and is a sibling to the German classics Schiaparelli, Samum, and Salve Regina!

 

LADY ARDOON (f3), FRA by Doctor Dino ex Ladytown (Turgeon)

Finot 3yo Fillies' Hurdle race - Peloton B (3-year-old Fillies unraced over jumps, Hurdles, 3,600m/2m2f), September 19, 2023, Auteuil

Owner: Mrs Henri Devin

Trainer: François Nicolle

Breeder: Mrs Henri Devin

Rider: Angelo Zuliani

In a scenario closely echoing the first field, it was the favourite, Lady Ardoon (Doctor Dino), who lurked in the wings and seized victory in a hard-fought battle against Courtoisy (It's Gino), a flat winner, who advanced alongside her down the back straight. This field took an additional four seconds compared to the prior to complete the course, with the majority made up in the penultimate kilometre when Trim (Masked Marvel) went to the front, only to give in down the home straight. She ultimately had to settle for fifth place, far removed from the front two. With merely a head separating them, Lady Ardoon and Courtoisy finished more than five lengths ahead of Kroisade (Jeu St Eloi), who had long lingered behind, and herself a clear two lengths in front of the also-ran Kaline Roque (Masked Marvel), with Trim a further eight lengths adrift.

Lady Ardoon is the fourth foal out of Ladytown (Turgeon), who claimed Listed success over Auteuil's fences at the age of five before producing, among others, the capable Ladyville (Doctor Dino), winner of the Sagan 3yo Fillies Hurdle (Gr3) and a full sister to Lady Ardoon. Their sister, Lady Martaline (Martaline), took third in the Girofla 3yo Fillies Hurdle (L). Subsequent to Lady Ardoon, Ladytown has produced two more fillies by Doctor Dino, followed by a colt, also sired by Doctor Dino.

 

GINAGOLD (f3), FRA by Authorized ex Goldamai (Librettist)

Finot 3yo Fillies' Hurdle Race - Peloton A (3-year-old Fillies unraced over jumps, Hurdles, 3,600m/2m2f), September 19, 2023, Auteuil

Owners: C&Y Lerner, Jean-Paul Deshayes, Pascal Deshayes, Écurie des Alerions

Trainers: C&Y Lerner

Breeders: Jean-Paul Deshayes, Marie-Odile Deshayes.

Rider: Bertrand Lestrade

Moved up alongside Venusienne (Authorized) on the back straight, Ginagold (Authorized) thus joined the leading quintet of fillies, which included the pace-setting and favored Karamoja (Masked Marvel), Farah (Cloth of Stars), still in the forefront with the latter, and Vrumpea (Montmartre), smartly ridden on the inside. This group approached the final turn, clearly ahead of the trailing fillies.

At the last couple of hurdles, Venusienne appeared to be the one to beat, but as Karamoja started to feel the pinch, Ginagold began eroding her lead. Ultimately, Ginagold gained the upper hand in the final 50 yards.

The winning margin was a length between these two complete beginners, with Karamoja not giving in and finishing a further two and a half lengths back on her third public outing following two places over the flat.

Ginagold is the third foal out of Ginamai (Librettist), a handicap winner rated 64lbs over a mile and a half. She herself is out of the good Désir de Mai (Cardoun), a Listed-placed winner of nine races, all gained at 2 and 3. The fourth dam of Ginamai is the dam of Atalante du Cadran, who placed in championship steeplechase contests such as the Ferdinand Dufaure 4yo Chase (Gr1), the Murat Chase, and the Drags Chase, and who also produced Yaka, a Prix du Cadran (Gr1) winner.

After Ginagold, Ginamai has produced a 2-year-old filly by Cloth of Stars.

 

ROSE JAIPUR (f2), FRA by Doctor Dino ex Affaire de Mœurs (Kaldounevees)

Prix Ortie Blanche (Unraced 2-year-olds, 2,000m/1m2f), September 15, 2023, Saint-Cloud

Owner: Mrs Henri Devin

Trainer: François-Henri Devin

Breeder: Mme Henri Devin

Rider: Clément Lecœuvre

Some of these unraced individuals ran pretty green, but the field made it to the final straight in good order. The eventual winner, Rose Jaipur (Doctor Dino), who had taken the fastest start, had been overtaken earlier by Auteur (Lope de Vega), who once swerved at the start of the race, and Beau Prince (Prince Gibraltar). These two were still leading as the final sprint started. Briefly boxed in, Rose Jaipur finally found her way along the rail 300 yards out and comfortably overtook Auteur. Coming down the centre of the course with seemingly lots in hand, Marché d'Aligre (Seahenge) eventually just stayed on and finished third, more than two lengths behind, roughly the same margin that ultimately separated the first two. A strong finisher, Dempy (Intello), finished fourth, only a neck behind...

Rose Jaipur is the eleventh foal out of Affaire de Mœurs (Kaldounevees), a winner at Chôlet and Senonnes and also the dam of Physiocrate (Doctor Dino), who finished second in the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1) after two wins and was subsequently exported to Japan.

 

LADY WINTERMERE (f3), FRA by Lawman ex Winografa (Teofilo)

Prix de l’Église ruinée de Champlieu (Maiden 3-year-old fillies, 1,600m/1m), September 13, 2023, Chantilly

Owners: Dr. Susan Kendall, Henri-François Devin

Trainer: Henri-François Devin

Breeder: Haras d’Haspel

Rider: Clément Lecœuvre

Entered in April and third for her debut 15 days prior over 1m1f at Dieppe, Lady Wintermere led from the outset this time. She accelerated 2 furlongs out from the finish and managed to maintain her lead over the favourite, Terredeguerre (Al Wukair), by a half-length, followed by Hortensia Basc (Top Trip) and Black Lullaby (Siyouni) at one length.

Purchased for €35,000 at the Deauville sales by her trainer, Lady Wintermere is out of Winografa (Teofilo), a winner at La Teste hailing from the distant family of the classic winners Sun Princess and Millenary, but also that of Spectrum and Saddler's Hall. Her full brother was unsold a day prior to this first win for €8,000 at the Osarus sales.

 

CASAPUEBLO (c2), (IRE) by Le Havre ex Uruguay (Authorized)

Prix de la Maniguette (Maiden 2-year-olds, 1,800m/1m1f), September 13, 2023, Chantilly

Owner: Godolphin

Trainer: André Fabre

Breeders: Éric Puerari, Écurie Ades Hazan

Rider: Mickaël Barzalona

After a strong second-place finish for his debut in the Prix de Montaigu at Deauville, Ouro Preto (Wootton Bassett) seemed to have put this race in the bag when he overtook the leader Sun Project (Kendargent) about 300 yards out. However, hot on his heels was the newcomer Casapueblo (Le Havre), who had accidentally scrapped his hind legs earlier in the bend. With plenty in the tank, Casapueblo found his opening and effortlessly surged past Ouro Preto in just a few strides, winning by a length but with lots of ease.

Two lengths behind, Winning Formula (Exceed and Excel) had to settle for third place.

Casapueblo was purchased for €130,000 by Stroud Coleman at the Deauville sales. His dam Uruguay (Authorized) was a winner at Deauville at 3. She has also produced Dame du Roi (Dark Angel), winner of the Prix Miesque (Gr3), who was her first foal.

 

ZANDY (f2), IRE by Frankel ex Environs (Dansili)

Prix de la Forterelle (Maiden 2-year-old fillies, 1,800m/1m1f), September 13, 2023, Chantilly

Owner: estate of Khalid Abdullah

Trainer: André Fabre

Breeder: Juddmonte Farms Ireland

Rider: Bauyrzhan Murzabayev

Following a respectable third-place finish behind Gavea and Opera Mundi—who has since won—on her 7f debut in July, Zandy (Frankel) was clearly dominant this time, possibly enjoying the extended trip. She sustained her effort right to the finish line, defeating her closest rival, pacesetter Soul and Romance (Goken), by a comfortable length. Less than two lengths behind, L'Equilibriste (Dream Ahead) managed to snatch third place from the favourite, Protostar (Nathaniel).

Zandy is the first foal out of Environs (Dansili), who won the Prix de Bagatelle (L) at the age of 3 in July and then finished 7th in the Prix de Lieurey (Gr3) in her final French outing before relocating to the USA. She won again over there and also competed at Group level. She is a sibling to Delaware (Frankel), who also moved to the USA after an initial career in France that concluded with a disappointing run in the Moulin de Longchamp, following a victory in the Prix Daphnis (Gr3).

The second dam, Zatsfine (Oasis Dream), is a sister to champions Proviso (Dansili) and Byword (Peintre Célèbre).

Zandy is entered in the Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr1).

 

OKAPINA’S LIGHT (g3), FRA by Hunter’s Light ex Okapina (Okawango)

Prix de la Cathédrale de Beauvais (Maiden 3-year-old colts and geldings, 1,600m/1m), September 13, 2023, Chantilly

Owners: Laurence Baudouin, Mrs. Guy Seror, Mickaël Seror, Marie-Gabrielle Boudot

Trainer: Mickaël Seror

Breeders: Pascale et Isabelle Sels

Rider: Augustin Madamet

In his seventh outing since last October and having finished in the top four four times, Okapina's Light (Hunter's Light) this time found favorable circumstances for a win. First, because the race favorite Mawhob (Zelzal), who appeared to have the race won, suddenly faltered in the final hundred meters. Next, by cutting across at the beginning of the straight and forcing Forro Emery (Herald the Dawn), who was alongside leader Mawhob, to press towards the rail, he caused a ripple effect that hindered several rivals. Among those was Natchitoches (Sioux Nation), who eventually came from afar to finish a good length behind the winner in third place, five lengths ahead of the fourth-placed pleasing debutant, Fernando (Australia).

The winner's dam, Okapina (Okawango), won her second race as a 2-year-old over 5f at Croisé-Laroche. The following season in March on Deauville's all-weather track, she was Listed-placed and subsequently produced Lupo Nero (American Devil), the Prix Tantième (L) winner.

 

 

SUNNY ANGEL (f2), FRA by Harry Angel ex Sorcière (Orpen)

Prix de la Piste Rodosto (Maiden 2-year-old fillies, 1,200m/6f), September 13, 2023, Chantilly

Owners: Chryss O’Reilly, Noir et Or Élevage, Écurie JML Racing, C&Y.Lerner, Xavier Guigand

Trainer: C&Y.Lerner

Breeder: Petra Bloodstock Agency.

Rider: Ronan Thomas

Quickly taking the lead near the stands and joined 500 meters from the finish by the favourite, Concertation (Churchill), Sunny Angel (Harry Angel) showed considerable determination to fend off this challenge. She eventually dominated clearly, completing her course with a length and a half lead over Concertation, who found herself threatened in the end by a strong finish from One Mistress (Lope de Vega).

Twice soundly beaten over 5f, the late Chryss O’Reilly's filly proved herself over this slightly longer distance.

Sunny Angel was purchased for £150,000 at the Deauville sales by her trainers. Her Hello Youmzain yearling brother was recently sold for £90,000 at the same sales to Marco Bozzi. Their dam Sorcière, who raced under Chryss O’Reilly's colours, won the Prix Yacowlef (L) and the Prix d’Arenberg (Gr3), after placing second in the Prix de Cabourg (Gr3) for trainer Carlos Lerner. She did not succeed at 3, however, but has already produced Medley Chic (Medicean), winner of the Critérium du Fonds Européen de l'Élevage (L), and most recently, Witch Hunter (Siyouni), a Group 2 winner in the UK last August over 7f.

 

GENTLEMAN BEAUTY (c2), FRA by Masar ex Lady’s Beauty (Lope de Vega)

Prix de Saint-Firmin (Maiden 2-year-old colts and geldings, 1,200m/6f), September 13, 2023, Chantilly

Owners: Salabi Racing, Écurie Frenchy Racing, Chauvigny Global Equine, Écurie Brillantissime, Seror Racing Management, Pauline Jouanneteau

Trainer: Giancarlo Bietolini

Breeder: Jean-Pierre Dubois

Rider: Cristian Demuro

Ninth on his debut over 5f in April, Gentleman Beauty (Masar) then secured third place in a 6.5f maiden at ParisLongchamp, momentarily appearing as a possible winner. He then finished sixth over 7f at Chantilly before returning here after a two and a half month absence.

Bred by Jean-Pierre Dubois, Gentleman Beauty made a flying start, leading his group down the center of the straight course before shifting and breaking away 300 meters from the finish. He won by two and a half lengths over Adore Blue (Blue Point), who again finished strongly, and Shadizi (Siyouni), who also closed pleasingly. Poorly started, the favourite Follow Me (Shalaa) finished encouragingly and should be watched in future races.

Purchased for £70,000 as a yearling at Arqana by Marco Bozzi Bloodstock, Gentleman Beauty is the second foal out of Lady’s Beauty (Lope de Vega), twice placed in minor racecourses under the Farès silks before being sold for £88,000 in foal to Olympic Glory to Dubois' Écurie des Mouettes. The investment is easily understood given that the mare's third dam, the classic Helen Street (Troy), bred by the Weinstock/Sobell operation, is also in the family of Street Cry, Shamardal, and Territories...

A colt by Almanzor was born last year.

 

PERMIS DE TUER (g3), FRA by Castle du Berlais ex Buiredini (Fairly Ransom)

Finot 3yo Hurdle – Poulains – Peloton B (3-year-old colts and geldings unraced over jumps, Hurdle race, 3,600m/2m2f), September 12, 2023, Auteuil

Owners: Berndt & Torsten Raber, Écurie de Roebeck

Trainers: Noel George & Amanda Zetterholm

Breeder: Hugues Rousseau

Rider: Felix de Giles

The time clocked by the colts in this second group closely mirrored that of the first lot, yet the race unfolded in a markedly different manner. If the previous race was still wide open at the penultimate hurdle, here only four contenders were still in contention at this stage. The favourite, Keep On (Authorized), appeared to have an edge as he had enjoyed an ideal trip near the front of the field. He was about to clear the penultimate hurdle alongside race leader Tisko du Champ (Barastraight), while Permis de Tuer (Castle du Berlais), not as bold in his jumps and ridden for a while, stayed in contact with Colwinston (The Grey Gatsby), who had made a move in the back straight. In the end, it was indeed Permis de Tuer, sticking close to the outer rail, who decisively pulled away on the flat to beat Tisko du Champ by three lengths. Keep On only stayed on to take third, six lengths back, followed by Colwinston.

Bred by Hugues Rousseau, Permis de Tuer is the first foal out of Buiredini (Fairly Ransom), a winner over hurdles, steeplechase, and eventually in cross-country races between the ages of 4 and 7. She is a daughter of Kaberdini (Chamberlin), a 4-year-old hurdle winner who also produced Stodini (Lesotho), a Listed winner at Enghien over hurdles.

Permis de Tuer has a 2-year-old full brother by Sageburg and a yearling brother by Latrobe.

 

KINGLAND (AQPS, g3), IRE by Cokoriko ex Annaland (Saint des Saints)

Finot 3yo Hurdle – Poulains – Peloton A (3-year-old colts and geldings unraced over jumps, Hurdle race, 3,600m/2m2f), September 12, 2023, Auteuil

Owners: Lynne McLennan, Thierry Cyprès, Paul-Étienne Carrillon, Renaud Lavillenie

Trainer: François Nicolle

Breeder: Thierry Cyprès

Rider: Kevin Nabet

The race was far from over when a group of about eight colts entered the final straight, but the AQPS-bred Kingland (Cokoriko), who had moved up to the leaders a lap earlier, asserted himself between the last two hurdles to win convincingly by two and a half lengths. Milan Tino (Milan), also consistently near the pace-setters of the race—namely, Chance de Ballon (Doctor Dino), Karafon (Karakar), who eventually finished third, and Kalca Môme (Castle du Berlais), who took fifth—proved valiant in defeat.

Entered as early as March in the Rush 3yo Hurlde race, Kingland, an AQPS, is none other than a brother to the highly talented Figuero (Yeats), winner of the Prix Maurice Gillois (Gr1) and placed in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (Gr1). He is out of the unraced Annaland (Saint des Saints), whose second dam Queensland IV (Citheron) also produced Embiez, Cumberland, and Edgeoy among others.

After Kingland, Annaland has produced a filly by Yeats, making her a full sister to Figuero, and a colt by Doctor Dino.

 

BIG STAR (c3), FRA by Al Wukair ex Provocation (Le Havre)

Prix de Pigalle (Maiden 3-year-olds, 1,200m/6f), September 11, 2023, Saint-Cloud

Owner: Jan Romel

Trainer: Fabrice Vermeulen

Breeder: J.B.S. Invest N.V.

Rider: Maxime Guyon

Favourite for this late maiden race, French Defense (Anodin) looked to have done the hardest part halfway down the straight when he overtook front-runner Sixtus (Al Wukair). However, that was without accounting for the final burst of speed from Big Star (Al Wukair), who swooped in on him after initially struggling to free himself from the pack.

Big Star secured the win in what was his fifth outing, four months after making his longer-distance debut on this same course.

Big Star is the third of five foals produced by Provocation (Le Havre), herself an unraced mare and the first to produce a winning foal. She has since produced two foals by Bow Creek, a 3-year-old male and a 2-year-old female.

 

TALENTUOSO (c2), USA by Omaha Beach ex Two Sugars (Scat Daddy)

Prix Fast Fox (Unraced 2-year-olds, 1,300m/6.5f), September 11, 2023, Saint-Cloud

Owners: Blu Racing, Écurie Elag, Antoine Gilibert, Écurie Hunter Valley, Éric Chenu, Jean-Jacques Fontaine, Jean-Marc Franco, Joseph Leveneur, Pierre-Étienne Dubois

Trainer: Fabrice Chappet

Breeder: Nice Guys Stables

Rider: Christophe Soumillon

Four out of the eight runners in this open maiden were fighting for the favourite spot. One of them, the filly Radharani (Kingman), took the lead from the start, with Some Skye (Churchill) and Bolide Porto (Le Havre) flanking her. Following closely were Talentuoso (Omaha Beach) and the starting favourite, Rhetorique (Wootton Bassett).

In the final straight, Radharani fought well but couldn't fend off Some Skye, who in turn was overtaken by Talentuoso, eventually winning quite handily by a good length. Radharani stayed on in third, two and a half lengths behind, followed by Thomas Shelby (Profitable), who finished well.

Talentuoso was purchased for $50,000 at the Keeneland September 2022 Sales. His Quality Road brother is following the same path this year.

Their dam, the unraced Two Sugars (Scat Daddy), is a sister to Calculator (In Summation), a Gr3 winner and Gr1 placed in the USA.

 

HIT IT (f2), FRA by Almanzor ex Schlague (Pulpit)

Prix Ravinella (Maiden 2-year-old Fillies, 1,500m/7.5f), vendredi 8 septembre 2023, Saint-Cloud

Owner: George Strawbridge

Trainer: Victoria Head

Breeder: Gestüt Zur Kuste

Rider: Christophe Soumillon

Always travelling well behind the leaders, Saxon Girl (Saxon Warrior) and the favourite Atlantic Ways (Ulysses), Hit It (Almanzor) took control in the final phase. Finishing fifth in her debut three weeks earlier in the Arqana Series—behind Atlantic Ways—she now won by two lengths over Saxon Girl, who fought hard to the end, and Atlantic Ways, who was a good length behind. The top four horses going into the straight remained the same at the finish, but Hit It improved her position.

Hit It was bought for €110,000 by Blandford at the Deauville sales last year. She is a sister to Dice Roll (Showcasing), a Prix Djebel (Gr3) winner and third in the Poule d’Essai (French 2,000 Guineas, Gr1).

Their dam Schlague (Pulpit), who won a race on the all-weather at Deauville for owner Maurice Lagasse, has since produced two colts by Almanzor.

 

SUPERCOOLED (c2), IRE by Lope de Vega ex Liquid Amber (Kitten’s Joy)

Prix Kendor (Maiden 2-year-old colts and geldings, 1,500m/7.5f), September 8, 2023, Saint-Cloud

Owner: Flaxman Stables Ireland

Trainer: André Fabre

Breeder: Flaxman Stables Ireland

Rider: Stéphane Pasquier

Held at the back for most of the race against colts who'd already had a run, Supercooled (Lope de Vega) just passed by the field in the final furlong. He won by two lengths over Inside Matters (Lope de Vega), who had been tracking the leaders throughout, and Nope Never (No Nay Never), who made a move along the inside rail and finished third by a neck. The fourth-place finisher, Ramadan (Le Havre), closed well, a good length ahead of the pace-setter, Sitoi (Siyouni). Siennois (Advertise) was moving forward with the eventual winner when he seemed to stop abruptly one out.

Supercooled is the second foal out of Liquid Amber (Kitten’s Joy), a Group 3 winner in Ireland at 2. She is also the dam of Es Vedra (Dark Angel), still a maiden after five starts. Their sister by Sottsass is listed for the Tattersalls Ireland yearling sales on 20 September.