Sharpened by a return fourth in the 6 1/2-furlong Listed Prix Montenica on Chantilly's Polytrack Mar. 18, Fast Raaj (Fr) (Iffraaj {GB}) made that fitness edge count in Thursday's G3 Prix Djebel at Deauville. Racing for a partnership between Ecurie du Parc Monceau, Haras d'Etreham, Riviera Equine S.A.R.L and trainer Yann Barberot, the bay who had won here over 7 1/2 furlongs again on the Polytrack in October was anchored in a share of last off the strong early tempo alongside one of the other colts who had enjoyed an outing in 2021, Godolphin's Pimento (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}). While that rival moved first, Fast Raaj was delivered wide on the track by Gregory Benoist and proved to have the smarter turn of foot to gain the advantage with a furlong remaining. Pressed by the Fabre trainee all the way to the line, the 11-1 shot was always holding him to score by a neck, with the Listed Prix Zeddaan winner Prince Lancelot (GB) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) faring best of the seasonal debutantes three lengths away in third. “This race was his target and I think the race he had last time left him perfect for today,” Barberot said. “He had broken a shade slowly on that occasion and Gregory did not want to give him a hard race as I wanted him in great form for this. He finished very well there and so I was quite confident he would run well today. The strong rhythm in the race helped him and the jockey told me that he was more relaxed behind the gates than he is usually, so I have to be confident he can stay a mile. He'll run next in the [G1 Poule d'Essai des] Poulains [at ParisLongchamp May 16].”
Fast Raaj's dam Interesting (Ire) (Raven's Pass) was runner-up to Penny's Picnic (Ire) (Kheleyf) in the 2012 G3 Prix Eclipse as a juvenile for the Henri-Alex Pantall stable prior to joining Tommy Albertrani with little success. Bought by Haras d'Etreham for €300,000 out of the Godolphin draft at the 2017 Arqana December Mares Sale, she has a 2-year-old filly by the Stud's Almanzor (Fr) to come. A daughter of the G3 Prix de Cabourg scorer and G1 Prix Morny and G1 Prix de la Salamandre runner-up With Fascination (Dayjur) and granddaughter of the GI Santa Susana S., GI Hollywood Oaks and GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Fran's Valentine (Saros {GB}), she is therefore connected to the multiple top-level-winning pair With Anticipation (Relaunch) and Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}).
Thursday, Deauville, France
PRIX DJEBEL-G3, €80,000, Deauville, 4-8, 3yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:25.29, gd.
1–FAST RAAJ (FR), 128, c, 3, by Iffraaj (GB)
1st Dam: Interesting (Ire) (GSP-Fr), by Raven's Pass
2nd Dam: With Fascination, by Dayjur
3rd Dam: Fran's Valentine, by Saros (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Ecurie du Parc Monceau, Yann Barberot, Haras d'Etreham & Riviera Equine SARL; B-Haras d'Etreham, Riviera Equine SARL & Ecurie du Parc Monceau (FR); T-Yann Barberot; J-Gregory Benoist. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, €65,660. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Pimento (GB), 128, c, 3, Iffraaj (GB)–Chili Dip (GB), by Alhaarth (Ire). (22,000gns Wlg '18 TATFOA; 115,000gns Ylg '19 TAOCT). O-Godolphin SNC; B-Alan Parker & New England Stud Farm Ltd (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €16,000.
3–Prince Lancelot (GB), 128, c, 3, Sir Prancealot (Ire)–Rainbow Vale (Fr), by Moss Vale (Ire). (€90,000 Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Antoine Gilibert & Fabrice Chappet; B-Ecurie Skymarc Farm (GB); T-Fabrice Chappet. €12,000.
Margins: NK, 3, HD. Odds: 11.60, 3.10, 9.00.
Also Ran: Normandy Bridge (Fr), Crowdfunding (Fr), Go Athletico (Fr), Midlife Crisis (Fr), Esope (Fr). Scratched: Sotoro (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
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