By Tom Frary
There were no complications other than a slightly tardy break for Yeguada Centurion SL's Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}–Queen Blossom {Ire}, by Jeremy) in Sunday's G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches as the admirably straightforward as well as high-class 3-5 favourite ruled the roost once again at ParisLongchamp. Needing stoking up at the start by Aurelien Lemaitre to race in the box seat behind the leader Sauterne (Fr) (Kingman {GB}), the homebred who had mastered the course-and-distance G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G3 Prix de la Grotte attacked that rival with 300 metres remaining and was soon in command. At the line, the pride of the Christopher Head stable had 1 3/4 lengths to spare over the Prix de la Grotte runner-up Lindy (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), with Sauterne clinging on for third, 1 1/4 lengths further behind.
“I don't think that the magnitude of this success has sunk in yet–it's really incredible,” Christopher Head said. “She is a filly I adore. She's got tougher with time and the is the Prix de Diane now. Her pedigree suggests she will be able to go longer. We could have contemplated going for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, but it's better to stick with the French programme.”
Christophe Ferland said of Lindy, “She ran a blinder. I was convinced she had a great chance and she was slightly caught for speed early in the race and it took her time to find her best stride. She finished strongly and proved she will stay, so the Prix de Diane will be her next race.”
🌟 She's a superstar! 🌟
Blue Rose Cen quickens away to win the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at @paris_longchamp for @lemaitre60LA and @CHeadRacing! pic.twitter.com/ZcSO7vUcBd
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 14, 2023
Pedigree Notes
Blue Rose Cen's dam Queen Blossom, who captured the G3 Park Express S. and GIII Santa Barbara S., was secured by Leopoldo Fernández Pujals' operation for 110,000gns at the 2018 Tatts December Sale and her only known foal to date has placed that particular purchase in folklore. Queen Blossom's dam is the G3 Silver Flash S.-placed Mark Of An Angel (Ire) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}) while the family includes the GI Arlington Washington Futurity hero Well Decorated and the prolific sire Distinctive.
Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
EMIRATES POULE D'ESSAI DES POULICHES-G1, €550,000, ParisLongchamp, 5-14, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:38.24, vsf.
1–BLUE ROSE CEN (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Churchill (Ire)
1st Dam: Queen Blossom (Ire) (GSW-Ire & US, $220,859), by Jeremy
2nd Dam: Mark Of An Angel (Ire), by Mark Of Esteem (Ire)
3rd Dam: Dream Time (GB), by Rainbow Quest
O/B-Yeguada Centurion SLU (IRE); T-Christopher Head; J-Aurelien Lemaitre. €314,270. Lifetime Record: 8-6-1-0, €679,330. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Lindy (Fr), 126, f, 3, Le Havre (Ire)–Llanita (GB), by Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€90,000 Ylg '21 ARQAUG). O-Everest Racing, Ecurie Waldeck, Meridian International SARL, Ecurie Elag, Ecurie Nininoe, Didier Provost & Frank Dhooghe; B-Ecurie La Vallee Martigny EARL (FR); T-Christophe Ferland. €125,730.
3–Sauterne (Fr), 126, f, 3, Kingman (GB)–Salicorne, by Aragorn (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€130,000 RNA Ylg '21 ARQAUG). O/B-Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois (FR); T-Patrice Cottier. €62,865.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 0.60, 8.10, 15.00.
Also Ran: Kelina (Ire), Never Ending Story (Ire), Fancy Me (Ire), Showay (Fr), Quickstep (Fr), Ritournelle (Fr), Swingalong (Ire). Video, sponsored by TVG.
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