21 August 2020
Photo Louliana : scoopdyga.com
Competed by 2-year-old fillies over 7 furlongs, the Shadwell Prix du Calvados (Gr2) has revealed outstanding performers throughout the years. The profile of the eight runners for this 2020 edition, which is expected to be run on very soft ground, allows us to hope that this will be the case again this season. With the gradual lengthening of the distances in the 2yo program, the French trainers are becoming more vindictive, and they are in force out to defeat the British and Irish dragsters who usually prevail earlier in the Summer.
The race, therefore, promises a lot and the game is as open as the ratings move up and down!
- 1. NO SPEAK ALEXANDER (f2, IRE by Shalaa and Rapacity Alexander, by Dandy Man) Rating: -
Trained in Ireland by Jessica Harrington, withdrawn for € 190,000 at the Irish sales, she started with a seventh place over 5.5f on firm ground but won by more than six lengths on her next outing on heavy turf. She was then declared a non-runner due to insufficiently soft ground at Leopardstown.
She is entered in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr1).
- 2. MAGNA MATER (f2, IRE by Zoffany and Marie Céleste, by Galileo) Rating: -
Trained at Chantilly by André Fabre, bought for £ 85,000 at the Newmarket sales, she failed to produce an impression in May in Lyon for her debut but was very aggressive on her next outing, wrestling over one furlong with La Gioiosa, who shared the victory with her over the Clairefontaine 7f trip. The latter has since finished second in the Prix François Boutin (Gr3).
Magna Mater is entered in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr1).
- 3. PLAINCHANT (f2, FRA by Gregorian and Nadinska, by Doyen) Rating: 98lbs
Trained at La Teste-de-Buch by Maurizio Guarnieri, sold for € 5,000 at the Deauville sales, she finished third for her 5f debut in May, and never had a chance to express herself. She then won two races including a Listed last over 6f, more than a length ahead of Stardevote, again at La Teste. A 50% interest in her property was since sold to Alain Jathière.
- 4. LOULIANA (f2, IRE by Acclamation and Rosie’s Première, by Showcasing) Rating: -
Trained in Provence by Frédéric Rossi, sold for £ 80,000 at the 2-year-old sales in July, she has just started with a decisive win on the 6.5f AWT at Deauville.
She is entered in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr1).
- 5. FEV ROVER (f2, IRE by Gutaifan and Laurelita, by High Chaparral) Rating: 104lbs
Trained in England by Richard Fahey, bought £ 20,000 at England's Goffs sales, she finished second on her debut, and then was just beaten by an unbeaten filly in a Group 2 at Newmarket on soft ground. She has taken her revenge by winning a Listed race over 7f at Sandown afterwards.
She is entered in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr1).
- 6. STARDEVOTE (f2, IRE by Starspangledbanner and So Devoted, by Holy Roman Emperor) Rating: 95lbs
Trained at La Teste-de-Buch by Christophe Ferland, bought £ 45,000 at the Newmarket sales, she won easily on her 7f debut but could not really challenge Plainchant afterwards over 6f.
- 7. KING’S HARLEQUIN (f2, IRE by Camelot and Swift Action, by Invincible Spirit) Rating: 96lbs
Trained in Chantilly by Nicolas Clément, bought € 30,000 at the Irish sales, she started with a third place, beaten by a promising filly, and then finished third again at Clairefontaine. Supplemented a week later in the Prix Roland de Chambure (L) at ParisLongchamp, she won well, running on strongly.
She is entered in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr1).
- 8. CASSIOPEA (f2, FRA by Helmet and Diva Cattiva, by Lujain) Rating: 93lbs
Trained at Chantilly by Andrea Marcialis, bred by her owner, she started over 7f with an eighth place in a good maiden, six lengths behind third-placed King's Harlequin. Second behind a good Sealiway over 6f, she then won on the same course, and repeated in Deauville, again over 6f but with less margin.