By Tom Frary
Three-for-three at La Teste de Buch culminating in the six-furlong Listed Criterium du Bequet July 25, the Wertheimers' Accakaba (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) rose to the occasion once again on Saturday to emerge best in Deauville's G2 Prix du Calvados. Left adrift initially on this first start over seven, the Christophe Ferland-trained bay followed her compatriot Fleur d'Iris (GB) (Shamardal) up the middle of the track away from the other trio led by the British raiders Oscula (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) and Fast Attack (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). Cajoled into contention by Maxime Guyon passing halfway, the 18-5 shot stayed on to overhaul the G3 Prix Six Perfections scorer Oscula 100 metres from the line, which came in time as Fleur d'Iris closed in late. There was a short neck between the French fillies, with Oscula paying for her enterprise late on by running out of gas and finishing a length behind in third. “She is now four-from-four, which is something,” Ferland said. “I know some people thought she was unimpressive in her listed race, but her first three races were all at La Teste and I felt she'd become too familiar with her surroundings and was maybe a little bit lazy. That's why I shipped her here quickly with this in mind and she took it really well–it definitely woke her up. Maxime had come twice to work her and he was convinced she would stay, so the result was exactly what we'd hoped for. She is very professional and easy to be around. We'll see how she comes out of this, but the [Oct. 3 G1 Prix Marcel] Boussac [at ParisLongchamp] is of course a possibility.”
Accakaba's dam is the speedy G3 Prix d'Arenberg winner Yakaba (Fr) (Medicean {GB}), who was also successful in this track's Listed Prix de la Vallee d'Auge. She is kin to the Listed Prix Six Perfections-placed Hergame (GB) (Motivator {GB}), with their listed-winning dam Kayaba (GB) (Anabaa) being a half-sister to the Listed Prix Amandine scorer and G3 Prix Miesque runner-up Barbayam (GB) (Stormy River {Fr}). Also from the family of the four-times group 1-winning Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero and sire Sendawar (Ire), Yakaba's yearling filly by Dark Angel (Ire) is named Angelaba (Ire).
Saturday, Deauville, France
PRIX DU CALVADOS-G2, €130,000, Deauville, 8-21, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:24.73, sf.
1–ACCAKABA (IRE), 123, f, 2, by Acclamation (GB)
1st Dam: Yakaba (Fr) (GSW-Fr, $102,548), by Medicean (GB)
2nd Dam: Senkaya (Fr), by Valanour (Ire)
3rd Dam: Sendana (Fr), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (IRE); T-Christophe Ferland; J-Maxime Guyon. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0, €126,600. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Fleur d'Iris (GB), 123, f, 2, Shamardal–Zara (Brz), by Redattore (Brz). O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €28,600.
3–Oscula (Ire), 123, f, 2, Galileo Gold (GB)–Bisous Y Besos (Ire), by Big Bad Bob (Ire). (4,000gns Ylg '20 TAOCT). O-Nick Bradley Racing 20 & George Boughey; B-Padraig Williams (IRE); T-George Boughey. €13,650.
Margins: SNK, 1, 6. Odds: 3.60, 4.40, 1.40.
Also Ran: Red Smile (Ire), Fast Attack (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
