Weekly maiden winners (May 22-28)

AIGUILLON (C3), (IRE) by New Approach & Aiglonne (Silver Hawk)
Prix de Joinville (Unraced 3yo c&g, 2,200m Turf), May 22, Chantilly

Owners : André de Ganay, Christian-Bernard Baillet, Écurie Skymarc Farm, Charles-Henri de Moussac.
Trainer : Nicolas Clément
Breeders : Haras du Mézeray, Skymarc Farm
Rider : Sébastien Maillot

Aiguillon was rather slow out of the stalls but made his way back to the front so that he entered the last stretch in 4th-5th position and Sébastien Maillot was able to gently move out and drive him to the fore. Once in full gear, Aiguillon wasn't going to be resisted and he got the better of Olhabella Fact (High Chaparral), who had tried to escape, to score by 1 1/2 length.

Aiguillon was bought for € 210,000 by agent Tina Rau and trainer Nicolas Clément at the Arqana 2015 August sale. Clement trains him for a syndicate which includes his two breeders, Charles-Henri de Moussac of the Haras du Mézeray, and Chryss O'Reilly, owner of Skymarc.

He was the seventh foal out of Aiglonne to go to the sale, as for example his best brother to date, Mekhtaal (Sea the Stars), winner on Sunday of the Prix d'Ispahan (Gr1). Mekhtaal started his racing career in March at 3, over 2,000 meters, and he has just won his first Group 1 on a shorter distance. Aiguillon is entered in the Juddmonte Grand Prix of Paris, in which Mekhtaal failed last season ... The two brothers are by Epsom Derby winners.

Main entries: Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1).

GUANACASTE (G3), (IRE) by Whipper & Divine Promesse (Verglas)
Prix de Montgéroult (Maiden, 3yo c&g, 1,600m Turf), May 22, Chantilly

Owner : Haras du Grand Courgeon
Trainer : Henri-Alex Pantall
Breeder : Haras du Mézeray
Rider : Pierre-Charles Boudot

As in their previous encounter, Guanacaste had already defeated Shams Brazilero (Shamardal) but this time there was no Wren's Day (Medaglia d'Oro) to better him on the post, the latter losing his Class 1 race since then.

Guanacaste clearly made the difference a furlong out, beating his rival by nearly two lengths. The third Mightily (Dubawi) finished very well to just fail at the post for 2nd place.

Guanacaste is a son of the unraced dam Divine Promesse, a sister to Listed-winner Mondovino (Black Minnaloushe). He made € 37,000 as a yearling at Arqana's August sale, where his current owner, former trainer Alban de Mieulle's Haras du Grand Courgeon near Angers in the West of France, bought him.

BALTIC DUCHESS (F3), IRE by Lope de Vega & Born Wild (Sadler’s Wells)
Prix du Château (Maiden, 3yo Fillies, 1,600m Turf), May 22, Chantilly

Owner : Gestüt Ammerland
Trainer : André Fabre
Breeder : Gestüt Ammerland
Rider : Pierre-Charles Boudot

Baltic Duchess is a three parts sister to Baltic Baroness (Shamardal, sire of Lope de Vega), who won the Qatar Prix Vermeille in 2014 for the same connections. She was bred in Ireland by her owner Dietrich von Boettischer. Their dam, the Germanbred Born Wild, did not race but was well bred enough to enter stud anyway since she was out of the excellent racing mare Borgia (Acatenango), who won the German Derby (Gr1) and the Grosser Preis von Baden (Gr1) for trainer Andreas Schütz before moving to André Fabre's yard.

Held in good position by Pierre-Charles Boudot, Baltic Duchess came to pip the leader Spindrift (Hard Spun), her stable companion. This was her third race. She finished second in a maiden against Dallas Affair (Soldier Hollow), who went on to finish also second to the good Trais Fluors (Dansili) in a Class 1 race. On that occasion, she beat Sri Prada (Air Chief Marshall), whom she beat again here.

For her second attempt however, she failled to stay 10 furlongs, and she was retruning to the same mile distance that for her debut.

Main entries: Prix of Diane Longines (Gr1)

BAIYOUNA (F3), FRA par Sea the Stars et Balankiya (Darshaan)
Prix du Pavillon de Manse (Unraced 3yo Fillies, 2,200m Turf), May 22, Chantilly

Owner : Aga Khan
Trainer : Alain de Royer Dupré
Breeder : Aga Khan
Rider : Christophe Soumillon

Complete domination of the Aga Khan homebred Baiyouna in this unraced filles contest over 1m3f. Christophe Soumillon kept the bay filly covered but as soon as she was driven to the fore, she made short work of her rivals to score by almost 2 lengths.

Baiyouna is a sister to the useful Bayrir (Medicean), second in the Prix Niel (Gr2) won by Prix du Jockey Club winner Saônois before embarking on an international campaign. Her dam was sold in foal to Mastercraftsman for € 240,000 to British agent Blandford Bloodstock at Arqana Breeding sale last year. She is a sister to Balakheri (Theatrical), a winner of the King Edward VII Stakes (2), the Royal Ascot Derby.

Baiyouna's 4th dam is a sister to Beaune, dam of Bering.

Main entries : Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1)

MISTER FIVE EUROS (C2), FRA by Diamond Green & Vilavella (Shamardal)
Prix d'Orgemont (Unraced 2yo c&g, 1,000m Turf), May 28, Chantilly

Owners : Mathieu Daguzan-Garros et Fabrice Chappet
Trainer : Fabrice Chappet
Breeder : Mathieu Daguzan-Garros et Henri Soler
Rider : Tony Piccone

A brave success for Mister Five Euros, early leader of this straight kilometer who fought gamely when the other leader Daimyo (Holy Roman Emperor) tried to take over, and finally won easily by nearly two lengths. Mister Five Euros had been consigned at the Osarus yearlings sale at La Teste by his co-breeder, Mathieu Daguzan-Garros (Haras des Granges), but he did not find buyer at €12,000. He's out of the unraced mare Vilavella, who also gave another daughter of Diamond Green, the maiden Vaniline, exported to Poland after two defeats in Divonne and Salon-de-Provence. Another filly, by Never on Sunday this time, was born in 2016. Diamond Green and Never on Sunday are both based at the Haras des Granges. The second dam to Mister Five Euros, Take Blood (Take Risks), made over €100,000 at the races at 2 and 3 for her breeder Gérard Samain, winning only once though, for her debut! She then finished third in the Prix La Flèche (L) and was 4th in the Prix du Bois (Gr3) won by Sandwaki (Dixieland Band).

HERGAME (F2), (GB) by Motivator &Kayaba (Anabaa)
Prix de la Reine Blanche (Unraced 2yo Fillies, 1,000m Turf), May 28, Chantilly

Owner : Wertheimer & Frère
Trainer : Freddy Head
Breeder : Wertheimer & Frère
Rider : Maxime Guyon

Hergame wore down co-leader Baby Shower (Excelebration) and was pushed away to hold off a fast finishing Over Reacted (Planteur). Her winning time was approximately 1.6 seconds faster than that of the male version won by Mister Five Euros.

Bred by her owners Wertheimer&Frère, Hergame originates however from an Aga Khan Studs bloodline, that of champion miler Sendawar (Priolo), a brother of Hergame's second dam, Senkaya (Valanour), bought €180,000 by the Wertheimers in 2003. Kayaba, Hergame's dam, was one of her best foals, winning the Prix La Sorellina (L) at La Teste before entering stud. She gave birth to Yakaba (Medicean), a winner of the Prix d'Arenberg (Gr3), and thus a sister of Hergame, her fifth foal.