By Sean Cronin
Godolphin's €130,000 Arqana October acquisition Casapueblo (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}–Uruguay {Ire}, by Authorized {Ire}) justified 7-5 favouritism by overcoming traffic issues and was elevated to the 'TDN Rising Star' ranks with a taking display in Wednesday's Prix de la Maniguette at Chantilly.
The eventual winner lobbed along in third through steady early stages, but slipped to fourth when brake-checked and impeded approaching halfway in this debut. Full of run along the rail when encountering heavy traffic passing the quarter-mile marker, he found an open lane inside the final 300 metres and unleashed a powerful turn of foot to win, going away, by a length from Ouro Preto (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Casapueblo becomes his sire's third Rising Star and he joins G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Commes (Fr) and G3 Prix de Guiche third Another Sky (Fr) on the list.
“He had been working well in the mornings and we hoped to see him confirm it on the racecourse,” said Godolphin's Louise Benard. “We really liked what we saw and no doubt he will stay further in due course. Anthony Stroud liked him at the Arqana October sale and bought him, even though this is not the type of horse Godolphin is looking at in a sale. It has paid off and we will now see what Mr Fabre wants to do with him.”
Casapueblo is the latest of five reported foals and fourth scorer from as many runners produced by a winning half-sister to MGSP sire Urban King (Ire) (Desert King {Ire}) and the dual stakes-placed Victoria College (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}). Victoria College, in turn, is the dam of G2 Prix Chaudenay and G3 Prix de Lutece placegetter Lucky Look (Fr) (Teofilo {Ire}), G3 Prix de Conde runner-up Millfield (Fr) (Whipper) and Listed Prix Volterra third La Poutanesca (Ire) (Falco). Casapueblo's G3 Premio Umbria-winning second dam Uruk (GB) (Efisio {GB}) is a half-sister to stakes-winning G3 Chester Vase and G3 September S. runner-up All The Aces (Ire) (Spartacus {Ire}). The April-foaled bay is a half-brother to G3 Prix Miesque victrix Dame Du Roi (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).
5th-Chantilly, €30,000, Mdn, 9-13, 2yo, c/g, 9fT, 2:00.09, sf.
CASAPUEBLO (IRE), c, 2, by Le Havre (Ire)
1st Dam: Uruguay (Ire), by Authorized (Ire)
2nd Dam: Uruk (GB), by Efisio (GB)
3rd Dam: Lili Cup (Fr), by Fabulous Dancer
(€130,000 Ylg '22 ARQOCT) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €15,000. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Godolphin; B-Eric Puerari & Ecurie Ades Hazan (IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona.
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