Agave The Main Attraction On Sunday

Next month's Epsom Oaks looks more exciting than the Derby at present and Juddmonte's unbeaten Agave (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) could join the picture if she can master the colts in Sunday's G2 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud. Kept at the same venue at which she has won twice this term and the same 10 1/2-furlong distance as the G3 Prix Penelope Apr. 2, the relative of Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is one of France's most fascinating members of the Classic crop at present. Olivier Peslier retains the ride and jumps off M Horse Racing and Ecurie Vivaldi's talented Maximus (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) as a result, with that Christophe Ferland-trained colt narrowly denied by Agave's stablemate Junko (GB) (Intello {Ger}) in the G3 Prix Noailles over this trip at ParisLongchamp Apr. 17.

A New Stone Age?

Ballydoyle's stranglehold on the Derby could be about to get even tighter at Leopardstown, with the G3 Derby Trial playing host to Peter Brant, Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud runner-up Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Still a maiden entering 2022, he put paid to that tag with a nine-length success at Navan Mar. 29 and could be a different proposition at three. He is pitched back against Beauty Stable's unbeaten Atomic Jones (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who had his measure by a head in the track's G2 Champions Juvenile S. in September, while Teme Valley Racing's French Claim (Fr) (French Fifteen {Fr}) joins in, having also won by nine lengths over this 10-furlong trip at Cork Apr. 16. Add Newtown Anner Stud Farm's 'TDN Rising Star' Duke de Sessa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) to the mix and you have a Blue Riband trial of significant note.

 

Agartha On Trial

There are some promising types in the Foxrock venue's G3 Cornelscourt S. for Irish 1000 Guineas prospects over a mile, but first they have to get past Scott Heider's rock-solid Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio). Last year's G2 Debutante S. and G3 Silver Flash S. winner and G1 Moyglare Stud S. runner-up has a penalty, as she had when second to Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the seven-furlong G3 Ballylinch Stud 1000 Guineas Trial S. here

Apr. 2. Homeless Songs's trainer Dermot Weld is sending out the cream of his Classic crop at present and The Aga Khan's Suwayra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) retains intrigue having been absent since her debut defeat of the smart Cairde Go Deo (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) over this course and distance in July.

Click here for the group fields.

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Lope de Vega Filly On Top In The Cleopatre

Off the mark over nine furlongs at Fontainebleau Apr. 12, Al Shaqab Racing and Ballylinch Stud's Place du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) came through her first major test in style to annexe Friday's G3 Prix Cleopatre at Saint-Cloud. Bred to appreciate at least this 10 1/2-furlong trip, being out of the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris winner Traffic Jam (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}), the Andre Fabre trainee was held up in last early in contrast to her last outing when she was sent forward from the break. Nudged along by Mickael Barzalona to close at the top of the straight, the 23-10 favourite was produced wide to overhaul Samahram (Fr) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) and Kawida (GB) (Sir Percy {GB}) with 100 metres remaining and beat that duo by 3/4 of a length and a head respectively.

Rupert Pritchard Gordon, representing Al Shaqab in France, said, “When she won last time at Fontainebleau she jumped the pedestrian path after the finish line, unseated Mickael Barzalona and was knocked by the filly behind her that fell–it was a scary moment and she was given a few days off to recover,” he explained. “Lately, she was fine at home and pleasing in her work and she confirmed that today in good style. She was perfectly relaxed behind and she quickened brilliantly, so we have to be delighted. She is in both group 1s, the [May 29] Saint Alary [at Parislongchamp] and the Diane [at Chantilly June 19], and Andre Fabre will make the call.”

Place du Carrousel, who was a €260,000 purchase by Mandore International Agency at the 2020 Arqana Deauville Select Sale, is the first foal out of the aforementioned Traffic Jam who was also second in the G2 Prix de Pomone and is a half to the dam of the Australian group 3-placed Last Sight (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}). Her family features the G1 Racing Post Trophy runner-up Winged Cupid (Ire) (In the Wings {GB}) and the G1 Coronation S. and G1 Matron S. heroine Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), which links her to Galileo's Minding (Ire) and Empress Josephine (Ire) and Sunday's G1 1000 Guineas hopeful Tuesday (Ire). The dam has the 2-year-old filly Nariman Point (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a yearling filly by Kingman (GB) and a filly foal by Sea the Stars (Ire).

Friday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX CLEOPATRE-G3, €80,000, Saint-Cloud, 4-29, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT, 2:15.38, g/s.
1–PLACE DU CARROUSEL (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Lope de Vega (Ire)
     1st Dam: Traffic Jam (Ire) (GSW-Fr, $211,247), by Duke of Marmalade (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Place de l'Etoile (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
     3rd Dam: Sweet Emotion (Ire), by Bering (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€260,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Al Shaqab Racing & Ballylinch Stud B-Ballylinch Stud, Alexis Adamian & Mme Fan Adamian (IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, €58,900. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Samahram (Fr), 126, f, 3, Sea the Moon (Ger)–Djumama (Ire), by Aussie Rules.
1ST BLACK-TYPE. (€160,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Frank Janorschke (FR); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €16,000.
3–Kawida (GB), 126, f, 3, Sir Percy (GB)–Kandahari (GB), by Archipenko. O/B-Miss K Rausing (GB); T-Ed Walker. €12,000.
Margins: 3/4, HD, 2. Odds: 2.30, 3.80, 2.90.
Also Ran: Hometruths (Ire), Qarasha (GB), Regalis (Fr). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Observations: Deauville Sept Star Debuts

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Insights features Arqana graduate Mascaret (GB).

3.35 Saint-Cloud, Debutantes, €27,000, 3yo, f, 8fT
MASCARET (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is one of two Andre Fabre representatives in this intriguing affair and at €620,000 was the fourth-highest-priced filly to sell at the Arqana Deauville September Yearling Sale. Out of the G3 Hamburger Stuten-Preis winner Daytona Bay (GB) (Motivator {GB}), Godolphin's April-foaled bay is joined by the stable's Queenmania (Fr) (Frankel {GB}), the Wertheimers' half-sister to the G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Queen's Jewel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}).

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Job Done For Erevann On Return

The Aga Khan's Erevann (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) was the key member of an intriguing Prix Comrade at Saint-Cloud on Tuesday as a son of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix du Moulin heroine Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). Labelled a TDN Rising Star on debut at Deauville in October, the homebred bay duly delivered to take his record to two-for-two in the mile conditions event which serves as a pointer to the Apr. 17 G3 Prix Fontainebleau and ultimately the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains. Settled behind the leading trio early, the Jean-Claude Rouget trainee was asked the question by Christophe Soumillon approaching two out and after edging ahead of the long-time leader Haya Zark (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) with 100 metres remaining asserted for a short-neck verdict, with the promising Blue Boat (GB) (Frankel {GB}) half a length away in third.

 

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