By Sean Cronin
Stephane Wattel trainee Who Knows (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) went postward for Sunday's G3 Circus Maximus Prix Francois Boutin at Deauville coming back off a fourth in Chantilly's July 18 G2 Prix Robert Papin and led her rivals a merry dance throughout to earn her black-type stripes at the second attempt. She had graduated at Chantilly in a June 25 six-furlong maiden, having opened up wuth a May 27 debut fourth at Lyon-Parilly, and was quickly into stride to seize an immediate advantage in this seven-furlong test. Shaken up in front with 300 metres remaining, the 39-5 chance came under sterner urging thereafter and was ridden out inside the final furlong to hold the late thrust of Oneforthegutter (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) by a head for a career high.
“I knew she was doing very well at home, but it was a bit of a gamble in taking on the colts here,” admitted winning trainer Stephane Wattel. “I therefore felt some pressure on my shoulders, but the result was there and I'm absolutely thrilled to win this for all the partners. I'm particularly delighted for part-breeder Gerard Larrieu, who was a long-time assistant to Francois Boutin and this race honours that great trainer who is very dear to his heart. The plan was to let her do her own thing and, with nobody willing to take the lead, she found herself in front. She was challenged at the end, but has the quality to be a great fighter. We will see how she comes out of the race before making any decisions, but I don't think she will stay more than seven furlongs so I'm not thinking about the [G1] Prix Marcel Boussac at this stage.”
Who Knows is the latest of six foals and one of four scorers produced by Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial victrix and G3 Bahrain Trophy third Zain Al Boldan (GB) (Poliglote {GB}), herself a half-sister to G3 Prix Edmond Blanc-winning sire Svedov (Fr) (Exit to Nowhere). The March-foaled bay is a half-sister to G2 German 2000 Guineas hero Poetic Dream (Ire) (Poet's Voice {GB}) and a yearling filly by Almanzor (Fr). Her second dam, Listed Prix des Lilas and Listed Prix Ceres victrix Carla (Fr) (Cardoun {Fr}), is a half-sister to another G3 Prix Edmond Blanc winner in Golani (Ire) (Nikos {GB}) and to the dam of G2 Prix de Malleret victrix Never Forget (Fr) (Westerner {GB}).
Sunday, Deauville, France
CIRCUS MAXIMUS PRIX FRANCOIS BOUTIN-G3, €80,000, Deauville, 8-15, 2yo, 7fT, 1:23.52, gd.
1–WHO KNOWS (FR), 122, f, 2, by Siyouni (Fr)
1st Dam: Zain Al Boldan (GB) (SW & GSP-Eng), by Poliglote (GB)
2nd Dam: Carla (Fr), by Cardoun (Fr)
3rd Dam: El Quahirah (Fr), by Cadoudal (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€150,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Ecurie du Parc Monceau, Eric Puerari, Gerard Larrieu & Hubert Guy; B-SAS Gerard Larrieu, H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC & SARL Haras de Saint-Faust (FR); T-Stephane Wattel; J-Theo Bachelot. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-0, €64,400. *1/2 to Poetic Dream (Ire) (Poet's Voice {GB}), GSW-Ger, $147,243. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Oneforthegutter (GB), 126, c, 2, Muhaarar (GB)–Rainbow Springs (GB), by Selkirk. (32,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; £25,000 Ylg '20 TATIRY; 110,000gns 2yo '21 TATBRE). O-Andy Bell & Fergus Lyons; B-Michael E Wates CBE (GB); T-Ian Williams. €16,000.
3–The Wizard of Eye (Ire), 126, c, 2, Galileo Gold (GB)–Prom Dress (GB), by Mount Nelson (GB). (€4,000 Wlg '19 GOFNOV; €7,500 RNA Ylg '20 TATIRY; €7,500 RNA 2yo '21 GOFFEB). O-O Humphrey, A Favell, R Humphrey & J S Moore; B-M Phelan (IRE); T-Stan Moore. €12,000.
Margins: HD, 1HF, 2. Odds: 7.80, 4.50, 5.50.
Also Ran: Never Dies (Fr), Montussan (Fr), Best Sixteen (Fr), Black Lives Matter (Fr), Curaro Light (Fr), Elysted (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
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