Tag: Francis-Henri Graffard

Sea The Stars Likely Mate For Verry Elleegant

Eleven-times Group 1 winner Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) is likely to visit leading European sire Sea The Stars (Ire) in her first year at stud in 2023, Racing.com reports.

Co-owner Brae Sokolski told the website that the decision was not final, but that the ownership was leaning in the direction of breeding to the sire that has been represented by the world's top-rated turf horse Baaeed (GB) and the legendary stayer Stradivarius (Ire).

“She'll be served to northern hemisphere time and while no final decision has been made on the stallion, Sea The Stars is probably the most likely suitor,” Sokolski said of last year's Melbourne Cup hero.

“Then we will decide whether to keep her there (Europe) and do it again or bring her back. It's unresolved at the moment.”

Having taken races like the G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup and G1 Caulfield while under the care of Chris Waller, Verry Elleegant was sent to the northern hemisphere this spring to be trained by Francis-Henri Graffard. In four European appearances, the 7-year-old was third in the G2 Qatar Prix Foy and closed her career with an unplaced effort in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares at Ascot Oct. 15.

Sea The Stars resides at the Aga Khan's Gilltown Stud in Ireland, where he served mares at an advertised fee of €150,000 in 2022.

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Group 1 Winner Sweet Lady To Sell At Arqana December

Group 1 winner Sweet Lady (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) will be offered during the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale during Dec. 3-6. A winner of the G1 Prix Vermeille, the 4-year-old landed the G2 Prix Corrida, G3 Prix de Flore, and the Listed Prix La Camargo in the Gemini Stud silks for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard earlier in her career.

Graffard said, “It's been a pleasure to train this magnificent filly for the last three years. Very brave and with a great temperament, she achieved all her objectives this year by winning the best races reserved for fillies and mares in France, the Prix Corrida and the Prix Vermeille. We always love going to the races with her and I'm very lucky to train her.”

Added Gemini Stud representative Francis Teboul of the filly, who will go through the ring on Dec. 3, “Don't be fooled by her name Sweet Lady because she is a real warrior and the bravest horse we own.”

Out of the English and American stakes winner High Heel Sneakers (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who also placed in the G2 May Hill S. and G3 Prix Vanteaux, Sweet Lady is a half-sister to the stakes winner Tourjours l'Amour (GB) (Authorized {Ire}). She was bred by Stratford Place Stud and was a €100,000 Arqana August Sale graduate.

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Lope De Vega’s Sweet Lady Makes All For Vermeille Glory

Rebounding off a fourth in a quality renewal of July's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Gemini Stud's G2 Prix Corrida victrix Sweet Lady (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}–High Heel Sneakers {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) showed a clean set of heels to her 10 rivals and made all to register a first elite-level triumph in Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp. Swiftly into stride and passing every marker in front, she was scrubbed along as the pack threatened off the home turn and called upon abundant reserves under an all-out drive inside the final quarter mile to hold on bravely for a career high.

“The plan this year has always been to target the autumn races with this filly as she loves soft ground,” revealed trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. “The spring had been positive, with her victory in the Corrida, and she had an ideal preparation for this. Everything has gone very smoothly at home in the mornings and she was ready for this. When I saw her travelling nicely, with her ears pricked, I thought she could do well. She wasn't stopping in the straight and didn't stop lenghthening. She is now a Group 1 winner and I am sure that her owners will be pleased to let her take her chance in the Arc. The softer the better on the day, so who knows what might happen on the day.”

Sweet Lady, who becomes the 16th Group 1 winner for her sire (by Shamardal), is the latest of seven reported foals out of Listed River Eden S. victrix and G2 May Hill S. runner-up High Heel Sneakers (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who also produced Listed Oaks Trial winner Toujours L'Amour (GB) (Authorized {Ire}). Sweet Lady's third dam Charmie Carmie (Lyphard) is the dam of MG1SW Peruvian champion Faaz (Fappiano) and her descendants also include G1 SA Fillies' Classic heroine Zaitoon (SAf) (Count Dubois {GB}). Charmie Carmie is kin to MGISW American Fillies' Triple Crown heroine Chris Evert (Swoon's Son), whose descendants are headed by Belmont S.-winning sire Chief's Crown (Danzig), GI Frizette S. and GI Gazelle S. heroine Classic Crown (Mr. Prospector) and MGISW dual GI Beldame S. victrix Sightseek (Distant View). Charmie Carmie is also kin to stakes-winning GI Delaware Oaks third All Rainbows (Bold Hour), herself the dam of GI Kentucky Derby heroine and MGISW US champion Winning Colors (Caro {Ire}).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX VERMEILLE-G1, €600,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-11, 3yo/up, f/m, 12fT, 2:35.50, sf.
1–SWEET LADY (FR), 130, f, 4, by Lope De Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: High Heel Sneakers (GB) (SW & GSP-Eng, SW-US, GSP-Fr, SP-Ity, $212,137), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Sundae Girl, by Green Dancer
3rd Dam: Charmie Carmie, by Lyphard
(€100,000 Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Gemini Stud; B-Stratford Place Stud (FR); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Gregory Benoist. €342,840. Lifetime Record: 14-6-2-0, €593,880. *1/2 to Toujours L'Amour (GB) (Authorized {Ire}), SW-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Lilac Road (Ire), 130, f, 4, Mastercraftsman (Ire)–Lavender Lane (Ire), by Shamardal. O/B-Jon & Julia Aisbitt (IRE); T-William Haggas. €137,160.
3–La Parisienne (Fr), 122, f, 3, Zarak (Fr)–Skysweeper (Fr), by Hurricane Run (Ire). (€65,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Peter R Bradley III, Ecurie JML Racing, Marc Leonetti, Meridian International SARL & Remy Dupuy-Naulot; B-Ecurie Haras du Cadran, Ecurie Patrick Klein & SCEA Haras du Ma (FR); T-Carlos & Yann Lerner. €68,580.
Margins: HD, SNK, 1 1/4. Odds: 12.50, 18.00, 4.60.
Also Ran: Tuesday (Ire), Baiykara (Fr), Fall In Love (Ire), Grand Glory (GB), Agave (GB), History (Ire), Love Child (Ire), Albaflora (GB). Video, sponsored by TVG.

 

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Verry Elleegant To Return On Arc Trials Day

Crack Australasian mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) will return to the racecourse on Arc trials weekend in either the G1 Prix Vermeille or the G2 Prix Foy on Sept. 11, trainer Francis-Henri Graffard revealed. The dark bay was last of seven in her first Northern Hemisphere run, the G1 Prix Jean Romanet, earlier this month. Depending on how the 11-time Group 1 winner performs in September in those 1 1/2-mile races will determine if she will step out in the Oct. 2 G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

“She has come on a lot from the race,” Graffard said. “She will run next weekend at Longchamp, either in the Prix Vermeille or the Prix Foy. She will come on a lot, she will be better over an extra two furlongs and on softer ground.”

Originally announced as her reason for traveling to the Northern Hemisphere, the Arc is not among Verry Elleegant's entries at present. If connections do opt for the ParisLongchamp showpiece, she would need to be supplemented on Sept. 28.

The trainer added, “We will run next weekend and then we will see what to do.”

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