By Sean Cronin
Perfect through two eyecatching wins at Deauville in August and Chantilly last month, 'TDN Rising Star' Maranoa Charlie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}–Koubalibre {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) continued his impressive rise with an untroubled pillar-to-post triumph in Friday's G3 Prix Thomas Bryon Jockey Club de Turquie at Saint-Cloud to retain his unbeaten record in style.
The 1-5 favourite was swiftly into stride and soon established a clear lead. Tanking along in hand throughout, he was in another parish turning for home and required minimal encouragement in the straight to easily outclass Iowa City (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) by much more than the official winning margin of eight lengths would imply.
“It's unbelievable and, sometimes, when you're witnessing a performance like that you become more concerned something may be amiss or that the horse has got away from the jockey or whatever,” commented owner Peter Maher. “He was just travelling so kindly and when he came into the straight like that as well it was quite surreal to be honest. I've never seen a horse run like that, not one of ours anyway. It's difficult to try and work out where the limit may or may not be, but the way he ran today was just very impressive, it really was. All being well, we'll go to the [Oct. 27 G1] Criterium International, over a mile at Saint-Cloud again, so that will be the next challenge. That's providing [trainer] Christopher [Head] is happy with the horse and he pulls up well after the race.” Head added, “He changes with every race and I really don't know what the limit could be with this horse.”
Thomas Bryon Jockey-Club de Turquie (Gr3, 2ans, 1600m) à #SaintCloud
Le grand favori Maranoa Charlie (Wooton Bassett) gagne détaché devant un des supplémentés, Iowa City Territories). pic.twitter.com/J4MVUP1SPV— France Galop (@francegalop) October 4, 2024
Pedigree Notes
Maranoa Charlie is the second of three foals and lone scorer out of a winning half-sister to G1 Cheveley Park Stakes-winning European champion Tiggy Wiggy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), herself the dam of G1 Futurity Trophy third Year Of The Tiger (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The April-foaled bay's second dam Kheleyf's Silver (Ire) (Kheleyf) is a half-sister to G3 Norfolk Stakes victor Masta Plasta (Ire) (Mujadil). Maranoa Charlie's dam Koubalibre (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has a weanling colt by Baaeed (GB) to come.
Friday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX THOMAS BRYON JOCKEY CLUB DE TURQUIE-G3, €80,000, Saint-Cloud, 10-4, 2yo, 8fT, 1:44.85, vsf.
1–MARANOA CHARLIE (FR), 126, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Koubalibre (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Kheleyf's Silver (Ire), by Kheleyf
3rd Dam: Silver Arrow, by Shadeed
TDN Rising Star. 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€220,000 Ylg '23 ARQAUG). O-Peter Maher, John Baxter & Carl Fitzgerald; B-Haras d'Etreham, Riviera Equine SARL & Gestut Zur Kuste AG (FR); T-Christopher Head; J-Aurelien Lemaitre. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €137,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Iowa City (Fr), 122, f, 2, Territories (Ire)–Iowa Falls (GB), by Dansili (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois; B-Mme Lisa Lemiere Dubois (FR); T-Patrice Cottier. €16,000.
3–Harvey (Fr), 126, c, 2, Le Havre (Ire)–Nunzia (Fr), by Epaulette (Aus). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€47,000). O-Miss E Nolan & Paul Hancock; B-Elevage Haras De Bourgeauville (FR); T-Peter Chapple-Hyam. €12,000.
Margins: 8, 1 1/4, NO. Odds: 0.20, 21.00, 4.40.
Also Ran: Dos Mukasan (Fr), Mistysea (Fr).
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