By Sean Cronin
William Haggas had already annexed the Listed Prix Saraca, courtesy of Yaroogh (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), earlier on Chantilly's Saturday card and made it an afternoon stakes double by taking the feature event, the €190,000 G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte, with the hitherto unbeaten Sky Majesty (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}–Majestic Alexander {Ire}, by Bushranger {Ire}), who maintained her perfect record with a gutsy display in heavy conditions.
The March-foaled bay, who backed up an Aug. 19 debut score at Newbury with a neck victory in Ayr's Sept. 21 G3 Firth of Clyde Stakes, went postward as the 13-5 second choice and broke well to stalk the leaders in a handy third through the early fractions of this six-furlong test. Coming under pressure soon after passing the quarter-mile marker, she gained an edge entering the final furlong and was ridden out from there to deny G1 Prix Morny third and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes runner-up Daylight (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}) by 1 1/4 lengths. Marcel Rolland trainee Une Pointure (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) made a bold bid from the front and kept on well once headed to finish one length back in third.
“She is a gifted filly,” commented winning rider Christophe Soumillon. “She followed the leader very easily and, when I asked her, she responded instantly. There is no doubt that she will stay further, at least seven furlongs for sure.”
Pedigree Notes
Sky Majesty is one of her second-crop sire's four pattern-race winners and one of five stakes performers for her dual-winning dam Majestic Alexander (Ire) (Bushranger {Ire}), who also hit the board in the Listed Dragon Stakes. The March-foaled bay is a half-sister to this year's Listed Beverley Bullet Sprint victor Democracy Dilemma (Ire) (Cotai Glory {Ire}), G3 Prix de Seine-et-Oise runner-up Angel Alexander (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and the stakes-placed duo Little Earl (Ire) (Havana Gold {Ire}) and Mighty Spirit (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). She is also kin to a yearling filly by Cotai Glory (GB) and a weanling filly by State Of Rest (Ire). Sky Majesty's second dam Tshusick (GB) (Dancing Brave) produced five stakes horses headed by G1 Nunthorpe Stakes third and multiple Group-winning sire Majestic Missile (Ire) (Royal Applause {GB}).
Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte (Gr2, 2ans, 1200m) @fgchantilly
Victoire anglaise de Sky Majesty (Blue Point) qui devance la favorite française Daylight (Earthlight) et la courageuse Une Pointure (Dabirsim). pic.twitter.com/BxqLSxYEbO— France Galop (@francegalop) October 12, 2024
Saturday, Chantilly, France
CRITERIUM DE MAISONS-LAFFITTE-G2, €190,000, Chantilly, 10-12, 2yo, 6fT, 1:14.15, hy.
1–SKY MAJESTY (IRE), 125, f, 2, by Blue Point (Ire)
1st Dam: Majestic Alexander (Ire) (SP-Eng), by Bushranger (Ire)
2nd Dam: Tshusick (GB), by Dancing Brave
3rd Dam: Infanta Real, by Formidable
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (150,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT). O-Tony Bloom & Ian McAleavy; B-Mountarmstrong Stud (IRE); T-William Haggas; J-Christophe Soumillon. €108,300. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €157,943. *1/2 to Democracy Dilemma (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), SW-Eng, $256,819; Angel Alexander (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), GSP-Fr, $240,905; Mighty Spirit (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), SP-Eng; and Little Earl (Ire) (Havana Gold {Ire}), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Daylight (Fr), 125, f, 2, Earthlight (Ire)–Latita (Fr) (SW & GSP-Fr), by Silver Frost (Ire). (€85,000 Ylg '23 ARAUG). O-Gousserie Racing & Mme Sandrine Gavrois; B-SCEA Ecurie Haras du Cadran & Pieter Van Belle (FR); T-Patrice Cottier. €41,800.
3–Une Pointure (Fr), 125, f, 2, Dabirsim (Fr)–Whipcorse (Fr), by Whipper. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€77,000 Ylg '23 ARQAUG). O-Filippo Ezri & Jean-Pierre Djian; B-Haras de Grandcamp, Christopher Hogg & Gerard L Ferron (FR); T-Marcel Rolland. €19,950.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1, 2HF. Odds: 2.60, 1.00, 7.20.
Also Ran: Estepona (Fr), Polyvega (Ire), Spirit D'Or (Ire).
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