By Sean Cronin
His Highness The Aga Khan's Makaloun (Fr) (Bated Breath {GB}) suffered the only reverse of a five-race freshman campaign when a close third over 10 furlongs in a hot renewal of October's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and bounced back in style to garner Tuesday's G3 Prix de Guiche, dropping down in trip on seasonal return, at Chantilly. Last term's Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage and G3 Prix de Conde victor went postward as the 23-10 second choice–for a heat won by Lawman (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in recent years–and slipstreamed stablemate Veldeni (Fr) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) from flagfall in this nine-furlong test. Seizing an opportunity as Veldeni ghosted away from the inner and offered an open seam along the far-side rail into the straight, he bounded to the front soon after turning for home and kept on powerfully under mild rousting inside the final quarter mile to withstand the dual late threat of Millebosc (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) and Listed Prix Maurice Caillault victor Fort Payne (Fr) (Rio de la Plata) by a half length and a short neck for a third black-type success.
“That was perfect teamwork, the pacemaker [Veldeni] did a super job and Makaloun had the most perfect reintroduction,” said winning trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. “He quickened nicely, he was not finished at the end and didn't have a hard race. I saw what I wanted to see. With [undefeated Listed Prix de Suresnes winner] Saiydabad, we now have two potential runners for the [June 6 G1] Prix du Jockey Club and, personally, I would like to run both. However, we'll discuss it with His Highness and the entourage to see where we go from here.”
Makaloun is the latest of four foals and one of three winners from as many runners out of a dual-winning half-sister to Listed Prix Omnium II victor Markazi (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}). The May-foaled homebred's fourth dam Mariyada (Diesis {GB}), from the immediate family of G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Riverqueen (Fr) (Luthier {Fr}), is kin to G3 Prix d'Hedouville winner and G2 Prix Niel runner-up Malakim (Blushing Groom {Fr}) and also to the granddam of Listed Fleur de Lys S. victress Mayonga (Ire) (Dr Fong).
Tuesday, Chantilly, France
PRIX DE GUICHE-G3, €80,000, Chantilly, 5-11, 3yo, c/g, 9fT, 1:53.11, g/s.
1–MAKALOUN (FR), 128, c, 3, by Bated Breath (GB)
1st Dam: Makana (Fr), by Dalakhani (Ire)
2nd Dam: Marasima (Ire), by Barathea (Ire)
3rd Dam: Miralaya (Ire), by Shernazar (Ire)
O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Christophe Soumillon. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 6-5-0-1, €158,870. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Millebosc (Fr), 128, c, 3, Le Havre (Ire)–Mixed Intention (Ire), by Elusive City. O-Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Franklin Finance SA (FR); T-Stephanie Nigge. €16,000.
3–Fort Payne (Fr), 128, c, 3, Rio de la Plata–Lady Verde (Fr), by Meshaheer. O-Alain Jathiere, Mme Philippe Demercastel & Nicolas Caullery; B-Mme Philippe Demercastel (FR); T-Nicolas Caullery. €12,000.
Margins: HF, SNK, 2. Odds: 2.30, 6.00, 4.00.
Also Ran: Adhamo (Ire), Darkness (Fr), Veldeni (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
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