By Sean Cronin
Yeguada Centurion's homebred 2-year-old filly Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}–Queen Blossom {Ire}, by Jeremy), who followed up wins at Saint-Cloud in June and at Clairefontaine in July with a runner-up finish in Deauville's Aug. 20 Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage in her latest start, made her experience tell in Thursday's G3 Prix d'Aumale at ParisLongchamp and surged to a career high in the one-mile fillies' test. The 13-5 second favourite was steadied to track the leaders in third after an alert getaway. Coming under pressure to reduce arrears approaching the quarter-mile marker, she quickened in stylish fashion to hit the front passing the eighth pole and was ridden out in the latter stages to account for British raider Heavenly Breath (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) by an ultimately comfortable 1 1/2 lengths.
“She is so tough and genuine and has never let us down,” said winning trainer Christopher Head. “She was beaten by a good horse [Victoria Road] last time and was facing only fillies this time, so we were hopeful. Aurelien [Lemaitre] gave her the perfect ride, she handled the softer ground very well and she now deserves to take her chance in the [G1 Prix] Marcel Boussac. She takes her racing so well that I have no doubt that she will be ready on the day.” Reflecting on the performance of 'TDN Rising Star' Left Sea (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Carlos Laffon-Parias added, “Unfortunately, she tied up [in the straight] which explains why she has run like that.”
Blue Rose Cen is the lone foal out of G3 Park Express S. and GIII Santa Barbara S. victrix Queen Blossom (Ire) (Jeremy), herself the leading performer produced by G3 Silver Flash S. third Mark Of An Angel (Ire) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}). Mark Of An Angel, in turn, is a granddaughter of dual South African Grade 3 winner and G1 Gosforth Park Fillies & Mares Challenge third Grey Angel (GB) (Kenmare {Fr}).
Thursday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX D'AUMALE-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-8, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:41.81, sf.
1–BLUE ROSE CEN (IRE), 126, f, 2, 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
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Yeguada Centurion SLU (IRE); T-Christopher Head; J-Aurelien Lemaitre. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, €96,500. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Heavenly Breath (GB), 126, f, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Astonishing (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (150,000gns RNA Ylg '21 TATOCT). O/B-Apple Tree Stud (GB); T-Archie Watson. €16,000.
3–Start Me Up (Fr), 126, f, 2, Pastorius (Ger)–Sing Hallelujah (Ger), by Big Shuffle. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€46,000 Ylg '21 BBAGS). O-Ecurie Griezmann; B-Mario Hofer (FR); T-Philippe Decouz. €12,000.
Margins: 1HF, HF, 2. Odds: 2.60, 17.00, 5.00.
Also Ran: Terrestrial (Ire), Liftoff (Fr), Left Sea (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
Churchill filly Blue Rose Cen takes the Group 3 Prix d'Aumale at @paris_longchamp, with a massive run from @HollieDoyle1 and Heavenly Breath in second! pic.twitter.com/Tqju8HVo7y
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 8, 2022
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