Fabre, Graffard Welcome Imports

France is on the cusp of mirroring neighbour Germany by staging race fixtures once again and, while both countries emerge from lockdown in phased measures, it's not all that links the pair. Gestut Schlenderhan–having celebrated its 150th anniversary last year–has transferred a tranche of promising 3-year-olds across the border, sending the colts Alson (Ger) (Areion {Ger}) and Mare Australis (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and the filly Shenouni (Ger) (Siyouni {Fr}) to Andre Fabre. All three former Jean-Pierre Carvalho trainees will race in the colours of Corinna Baronin von Ullman. Taking delivery of former German gallopers is no fresh experience for Fabre and additions to his yard in the past have included luminaries such as Borgia (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}), Shirocco (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) and Manduro (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}). Borgia was conditioned by Andreas Schutz to success in the 1997 G1 Deutsches Derby and G1 Grosser Preis von Baden as well as placings in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and GI Breeders' Cup Turf. She was unable to match those heady heights, but nonetheless raced with credit in five different countries for Fabre and closed her racing career with victory in Sha Tin's 1999 G2 Hong Kong Vase. Shirocco also won a German Derby for Schutz, adding Milan's 2004 G1 Gran Premio del Jockey Club as a 3-year-old, and posted four wins in seven starts for Fabre. Later highlights include victories in the 2005 GI Breeders' Cup Turf and 2006 G1 Coronation Cup, downing Ouija Board (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in the latter.

Manduro, who had won both the G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten and G3 Preis der Deutschen Einheit for Peter Schiergen, was another to excel when sent to the Chantilly maestro. Hooking up for the 2006 season, the bay garnered the G2 Prix d'Harcourt in his first outing for Fabre and placed in all five Group 1 starts that term. He was unbeatable thereafter and won five from five in 2007, including the G1 Prix d'Ispahan, G1 Prince of Wales's S. and G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois.

While the Class of 2020 has a lofty reputation to uphold, the raw potential is there. Not least with Alson (Ger) (Areion {Ger}), who was the standard-bearer last term–winning four of six starts–and annexed Baden-Baden's Aug. 31 G3 Zukunftsrennen and ParisLongchamp's Oct. 27 G1 Criterium International, either side of a second to Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal) in the Bois de Boulogne venue's Oct. 6 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day. His short-term targets include the June 1 G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and July 5 G1 Prix du Jockey Club. Mare Australis (Ire) (Australia {GB}) registered a half-length verdict contesting a Nov. 3 one-mile maiden at Munich in his only prior start and is entered in a May 12 conditions heat over 10 1/2 furlongs at Saint-Cloud as well as the July 5 G1 Prix du Jockey Club, July 12 G1 Deutsches Derby and Sept. 13 Grand Prix de Paris. Shenouni (Ger) (Siyouni {Fr}) debuted with a 6 1/2-furlong maiden win at Cologne in September and followed up with a fourth upped to one mile for Baden-Baden's Oct. 20 G3 Preis der Winterkonigin last time. Her entries include the June 1 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, June 14 G1 Prix Saint-Alary, July 5 G1 Prix de Diane and Aug. 2 G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks).

“It is difficult to make a precise statement under the given circumstances at the moment, but all three have been entered for the Classics and leading races in France,” said Gestut Schlenderhan's stud and racing manager Gebhard Apelt prior to restrictions being lifted. “We feel that their breeding and potential has earned them a place in the yard of Andre Fabre. My personal favourite is Mare Australis whom I regard very highly.”

In addition to the Schlenderhaner contingent, Fabre has also taken delivery of Gestut Gorlsdorf's homebred Tickle Me Green (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), who followed up a Sept. 15 debut score at Hannover with a second, two places ahead of Shenouni, in Baden-Baden's Oct. 20 G3 Preis der Winterkonigin before running fourth in Krefeld's Nov. 10 G3 Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen last time. She will face a maximum 10 opponents when making her debut for the new yard in Monday's G3 Prix de la Grotte at ParisLongchamp and remains engaged in the June 1 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, June 14 G1 Prix Saint-Alary, July 5 G1 Prix de Diane and Aug. 2 G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks). Gorlsdorf has also rerouted its once-raced homebred bay filly Moon A Lisa (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), a Nov. 20 soft-ground maiden winner over 9 1/2 furlongs at Dresden, to Francis-Henri Graffard. The trainer, who has also taken charge of Corinna Baronin von Ullmann's hitherto unraced July 12 G1 Deutsches Derby and Sept. 13 G1 Grand Prix de Paris entry In Swoop (Ire) (Adlerflug {Ger}), has enjoyed recent success with the German import Emoji (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). Acquired by Team Valor International after spreadeagling her opposition by 14 lengths and more for Henk Grewe at Baden-Baden in October, Emoji garnered Saint-Cloud's Mar. 15 Listed Prix la Camargo in her first start for new connections and is another building up to the Classics.

“We are fortunate enough to have three equally talented 3-year-old filles by Sea The Moon with these being Snow, Moon A Lisa and Tickle Me Green,” said Gestut Gorlsdorf's Niko Lafrentz. “All were trained by Markus Klug at two, but they are evenly matched in potential and distance preferences so we felt it better to separate them in order not to be standing in our own way. Thus, we sent Tickle Me Green To Andre Fabre and Moon A Lisa to Francis Graffard. Andre Fabre is very pleased with Tickle Me Green and was also considering her for the G3 Prix Vanteaux [at ParisLongchamp] on May 14. We are unable to go and see her at the moment, so we are happy to rely on his recommendations. His main target for the filly is the [July 5] G1 Prix de Diane [at Chantilly], so we can keep dreaming for the moment.”