Matrika Returns In The Nell Gwyn

Long absent but certainly not forgotten by the racing intelligentsia, TDN Rising Star Matrika (Ire) (No Nay Never) stages her comeback in a renewal of Newmarket's G3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn S. on Wednesday that could yet determine the shape of next month's G1 1000 Guineas. While seen generally as an understudy to Ballydoyle's sidelined Opera Singer (Justify) and other TDN Rising Star Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Classic picture throughout the winter weeks, there is time for her to emerge as a leading light with this seven-furlong prep sure to provide evidence as to her true merit.

Aidan O'Brien spoke of how Matrika was not inclined to give her all last term and that looked the case despite her winning on debut at The Curragh and in that venue's G2 Airlie Stud S. Runner-up to Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) in Royal Ascot's G3 Albany S. in the interim, she remains one of the budding Rosegreen prospects that could materialise into a top-level performer.

Ryan Moore said, “We didn't see her after that win in July, but the fact that she is here speaks for itself, Aidan has his horses in very good nick and, while she has plenty of speed, I'd have thought she will get the extra furlong here okay.”

 

Continuing The Sequence?

In general, Charlie Appleby's horses perform to a high level at this Craven meeting and in some ways their performances give a barometer as to what type of season he will have. The yard's leading Guineas hope Dance Sequence (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has little to prove, having already garnered the important juvenile staging post of the course-and-distance G3 Oh So Sharp S. and she heads into this trial as the hot favourite. “Dance Sequence has done very well over the winter,” Appleby said. “She looks the one to beat again.”

KHK Racing Ltd's True Cyan (Ire) is another daughter of No Nay Never with big upside, being out of the multiple group winner Realtra (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and a course-and-distance winner from the Roger Varian stable. Chris Wall, racing manager to owner Shaikh Khalid, said, “She's wintered well, she's been training satisfactorily, we're hopeful of a positive effort and then we'll take it from there. If you're going to be stakes class, you'll have to be up there competing with them and if not, we'll have to go down another route with her.”

 

Narkez Tests The Waters As Fabre Descends On Newmarket Again…

Andre Fabre has never made any secret of his regard for the track at Newmarket and it is notable that he ships across Nurlan Bizakov's TDN Rising Star Narkez (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) for the nine-furlong Listed Feilden S. he won with his subsequent G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Intello (Ger) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2013. He was impressive when handing the well-regarded Supercooled (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) a 6 1/2-length beating in Saint-Cloud's Prix Comrade at a mile last month and that stablemate had been far closer to the recent G3 Prix la Force winner Atlast (Fr) (Farhh {GB}) at Chantilly in October.

“The distance should suit him with the extra furlong, as he is from a family of middle-distance horses and obviously he's in good shape,” Fabre said of the homebred, whose form is also closely linked in with Sunday's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau scorer Ramadan (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}).

“I want to see how he does it because he won easily last time, beating not much, so this will be a good experience for him. If he does well, he's more of a mile-and-a-quarter horse so the Prix du Jockey Club would be a long-term target for him, but I'll be wiser after the race.”

Aidan O'Brien returns with the G3 Zetland S. runner-up Gasper De Lemos (Ire) (Justify), while Godolphin's Kempton novice scorer El Cordobes (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and the Gredley Family's Zetland third Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) are other fascinating contenders.

Gasper De Lemos's jockey Ryan Moore is aware of the threat of the French raider. “We are happy with him coming into this race, but he will be suited by further down the line and I am always wary of an Andre Fabre horse and his Narkez won very well on his return,” he said.

 

Rhyme Run Depends On Course Walk…

Also at Newmarket, the older horses get their chance in the nine-furlong G3 Earl of Sefton S., where Karl Burke is pondering whether to let his upwardly-mobile Royal Rhyme (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) take his chance on drying ground. One of the back-end of last season's most improved 3-year-olds, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Listed Doonside Cup winner was fifth in the G1 Champion S. on his favoured deep surface.

“He's in good shape, but I'd be a bit worried about the ground and if we're not happy with it, he's a possible non-runner,” his trainer said. “If it goes on the firm side, he definitely wouldn't run and really, to be at his best, he wants a bit of soft ground.”

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Fontainebleau Success For Le Havre’s Ramadan

Gifted an ideal lead in Sunday's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau, Aurelien Lemaitre took full advantage to steer Nurlan Bizakov's Ramadan (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}–Raushan {Ire}, by Dalakhani {Ire}) to success in the key G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains trial. Race-fit having registered a five-length success in the Listed Prix Omnium II at Saint-Cloud last month, the Christopher Head-trained homebred who had been fourth in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud last term ticked off honest fractions on the front end before kicking in early straight.

Getting the jump on the returning TDN Rising Star Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) there, the 6-4 favourite had extra to give as that chief market rival paid late for having to accelerate harder to close. At the line, Ramadan had 3/4 of a length to spare over him, with the same margin back to the re-opposing Omnium runner-up Grey Man (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who narrowed the gap between him and the winner. The sectionals were faster at every step than the Grotte, suggesting that the winner made it a relative test by French trial standards.

“The better the ground, the better the horse, I would say,” Bizakov said. “It is emotional for me, because he is by Le Havre, who is no longer with us and I bought the mare from Lady O'Reilly, who is no longer with us. For sure he deserves to be in the Poulains and we'll go there with an open mind. He'll stay the Jockey Club distance too.”

Before taking part in the 10-furlong Criterium de Saint-Cloud, Ramadan had beaten the same owner's Narkez (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) at Chantilly in September and that Andre Fabre trainee has subsequently gained a TDN Rising Star tag and heads to Newmarket for Wednesday's nine-furlong Listed Feilden S. Bizakov was not ruling out the prospect of running both in the Poulains. “They are with different trainers, so I might end up with two horses running,” he added. “We'll see what happens on Wednesday and make a plan.”

Trainer Yann Barberot was happy with the effort of the G3 Prix la Rochette winner Beauvatier and said, “It was an excellent performance for his first time over a mile on very soft ground. The winner had the benefit of a previous run and was not for catching after leading.”

Pedigree Notes
Ramadan's dam Raushan, a 400,000gns Tatts Book 1 purchase who stayed a mile and a half, gave an instant return on that pay-out by producing as her first foal the Listed Fleur de Lys S. winner and G3 Hoppings S. runner-up Rasima (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}). Out of Lady O'Reilly's smart Chiang Mai (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), who captured the Blandford S. when it was staged as a group 3 and was runner-up in the G2 Prix Jean de Chaudenay, she is a full-sister to the triple group-winning Chinese White (Ire). Her career highlights included success in the G1 Pretty Polly S. and the Blandford in its current guise as a group 2 event, before producing the G3 Supreme S. runner-up Misty Grey (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).
The third dam is the renowned Eljazzi (Artaius), responsible for the G1 Prix de Diane heroine Rafha (GB)
(Kris {GB}) who in turn achieved notoriety as the dam of the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup hero and significant sire Invicible Spirit (Ire) and his G3 Princess Royal S.-winning half-sister Acts Of Grace (Bahri) who in turn threw Make Believe's triple top-level scorer Mishriff (Ire). Rafha's Listed Empress S.-winning daughter Massarra (GB) (Danehill) also proved herself an excellent producer with six black-type winners including Galileo's G2 Superlative S.-winning sire Gustav Klimt (Ire). Raushan's 2-year-old filly is by Showcasing (GB).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX DE FONTAINEBLEAU-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 4-14, 3yo, c/g, 8fT, 1:43.18, vs.
1–RAMADAN (FR), 128, c, 3, by Le Havre (Ire)
     1st Dam: Raushan (Ire), by Dalakhani (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Chiang Mai (Ire), by Sadler=s Wells
     3rd Dam: Eljazzi (Ire), by Artaius
1ST GROUP WIN. O-Nurlan Bizakov; B-Sumbe (FR); T-Christopher Head; J-Aurelien Lemaitre. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-0, €99,975. *1/2 to Rasima (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}), SW & GSP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Beauvatier (Fr), 128, c, 3, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Enchanting Skies (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire).
TDN Rising Star. (€160,000 Ylg '22 ARQAUG). O-Philippe Allaire & Haras d'Etreham; B-Ecurie des Monceaux, Qatar Bloodstock Ltd & Mme Barbara M Keller (FR); T-Yann Barberot. €16,000.
3–Grey Man (Fr), 128, c, 3, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Top Toss (Ire), by Linamix (Fr). (€39,000 RNA Wlg '21 ARQDEC; €60,000 RNA Ylg '22 ARQOCT). O-Julien Dubois & Jean-Philippe Dubois; B-Ecurie Skymarc Farm; T-Patrice Cottier. €12,000.
Margins: 3/4, 3/4, SNK. Odds: 1.50, 1.70, 14.00.
Also Ran: Zabiari (GB), Metropolitan (Fr), Ten Horns (Fr). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Territories’s Lazzat Too Strong In The Djebel

Keeping his unbeaten record intact in style at Deauville on Tuesday, Nurlan Bizakov's Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) made all in a G3 Prix Djebel that he turned into a war of attrition. Taken straight to the front by Antonio Orani, the Jerome Reynier-trained Listed Prix de la Californie winner stretched his rivals to breaking point, with only Keran (Fr) (Blue Point {Ire}) able top give any meaningful pursuit. At the line, the 7-10 favourite had 2 1/2 lengths to spare, with five lengths back to Devil's Point (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) in third.

“It is a great moment for me for two reasons. Firstly, it is a first group win in France for Antonio and second because my father won this race as an owner in 1988 with Shaindy and I grew up next to the photo of this win,” Reynier explained. “We now have both our name in the record book of the Djebel and that is a great pride. I told my jockey beforehand, 'this is a no-brainer, we know he stays so go on and trust your horse–he is in great form. He has climbed another step in style, but being a gelding we know some races are closed to him. The two options now are in June, either the [G3 Prix] Paul de Moussac at Longchamp or the [G3] Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.”
Pedigree Notes
Lazzat is the first and so far only foal of a granddaughter of the G1 1000 Guineas heroine Sleepytime (Ire) (Royal Academy), who produced six stakes performers headed by the G3 Superior Mile winner Hathal (Speightstown). Along with her fellow group 1-winning full-brother Ali-Royal (Ire), Sleepytime helped her dam Alidiva (Ire) (Chief Singer {Ire}) to the title of Broodmare of the year in 1997, while she is also kin to the multiple group 1-winning sire Taipan (Ire) (Last Tycoon {Ire}), the GII Louisville Breeders' Cup H. and GII Rampart H. winner Oonagh Maccool (Ire) (Giant's Causeway) and to the dams of the G1 Doncaster Mile hero Somewhat (Dynaformer) and this owner-breeder's G3 Oh So Sharp S. winner and G1 Falmouth S. and G1 Sun Chariot S.-placed Altyn Orda (Ire) (Kyllachy {GB}).
Tuesday, Deauville, France
PRIX DJEBEL-G3, €80,000, Deauville, 4-9, 3yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:29.92, vhy.
1–LAZZAT (FR), 128, g, 3, by Territories (Ire)
1st Dam: Lastochka (GB), by Australia (GB)
2nd Dam: Lashyn, by Mr. Greeley
3rd Dam: Sleepytime (Ire), by Royal Academy
1ST GROUP WIN. O-Nurlan Bizakov; B-Sumbe (FR); T-Jerome Reynier; J-Antonio Orani. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0, €94,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Keran (Fr), 128, c, 3, Blue Point (Ire)–Kerasona (Fr), by Oasis Dream (GB).
1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-H H Aga Khan; B-S A Aga Khan (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €16,000.
3–Devil's Point (Ire), 128, c, 3, New Bay (GB)–Hairy Rocket (GB), by Pivotal (GB).
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (€200,000 Wlg '21 GOFNO1; 475,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT). O-Clive Washbourn; B-Hamwood Stud Unlimited Company (IRE); T-David Menuisier. €12,000.
Margins: 2HF, 5, 2HF. Odds: 0.70, 5.40, 3.40.
Also Ran: Megarry (Ire), Tortisambert (Fr), Gentleman Beauty (Fr), Skylight Brochard (Hol). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Siyouni’s Narkez A New TDN Rising Star

It was only a matter of time before Andre Fabre unveiled a new bright prospect among his 2024 crop of 3-year-old Classic aspirants and it was during Tuesday's meeting at Saint-Cloud that the Chantilly maestro delivered one of the first. Producing a power-packed performance in testing conditions, Nurlan Bizakov's homebred colt Narkez (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}–Nazym {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) earned TDN Rising Star status in the card's often-informative mile conditions event, the Prix Comrade, to prompt Prix du Jockey Club talk.

Sent off the 3-1 second favourite behind stablemate Supercooled (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), the half-brother to the G3 Musidora S. winner Nausha (GB) (Kingman {GB}) who had got off the mark in impressive fashion at Clairefontaine in October was held up in third early by Mickael Barzalona. In front from the turn for home, the chestnut proved relentless as Supercooled arrived for a friendly tussle that was quickly settled. At the line, his margin was 6 1/2 lengths and going ever outwards, with the well-regarded Henri-Alex Pantall-trained course-and-distance winner Kiaro (Fr) (Guignol {Ger}) beaten 15 lengths in total in third.

Mathieu Le Forestier, racing-manager of Sumbe, said of the winner who was second to his owner-breeder's highly-touted Ramadan (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) at Chantilly in September, “He has clearly taken a big step forward during the winter–today the opposition was serious and he did it very well. He's a handy colt, professional and diligent and we'll have the choice of keeping him over this trip or lengthening him now. The options are now open, but we're going to take time to discuss them with the rest of the team. There's no reason why he shouldn't perform as well on good ground.”

Narkez, who becomes the 11th TDN Rising Star for Siyouni, represents the same cross as the heavyweights St Mark's Basilica (Fr) and Sottsass (Fr) and adds to the tally of the sire's former Rising Stars which include St Mark's Basilica himself, Paddington (GB) and Tahiyra (Ire). He is currently the last known foal out of the unraced dam, who alongside the aforementioned Nausha has also produced the strong-staying G3 March S. runner-up Nagano (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). She is a daughter of Brigid (Irish River {Fr}), whose line of top-class descendants include Sadler's Wells's group 1-winning juveniles Listen (Ire) and Sequoyah (Ire), as well as the sire Henrythenavigator and Galileo's Cliffs Of Moher (Ire) and Magician (Ire).

2nd-Saint-Cloud, €28,000, Cond, 3-26, 3yo, c/g, 8fT, 1:50.20, hy.
NARKEZ (FR), c, 3, by Siyouni (Fr)
     1st Dam: Nazym (Ire), by Galileo (Ire) 
     2nd Dam: Brigid, by Irish River (Fr)
     3rd Dam: Luv Luvin', by Raise A Native
Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, €37,000. O-Nurlan Bizakov; B-Sumbe (FR); T-Andre Fabre. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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