By Sean Cronin
Yann Barberot trainee Lhakpa (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}–Enchanting Skies {Ire}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}), a half-sister to the multiple Group 1-placed Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), followed up a narrow debut victory at Compiegne in June with a 1 3/4-length success in Tuesday's Prix du Mezeray at Deauville.
2nd-Deauville, €34,000, Cond, 8-13, 2yo, f, 7 1/2fT, 1:40.49, gd.
LHAKPA (IRE) (f, 2, Siyouni {Fr}–Enchanting Skies {Ire} {SP-Fr}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}), who posted a narrow victory going seven furlongs at Compiegne in her June 22 debut last time, broke in fourth and went forward to gain an early advantage in this one. Unflustered on the lead into the home straight, the 9-5 favourite was shaken up with 300 metres remaining and kept on strongly in the latter stages to score by 1 3/4 lengths from La Ferveur (GB) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}).
“We are delighted with the win of Lhakpa. She's not very big but she has quality and does everything you want. We haven't decided on the next race for her yet. But we can only be happy,” said Ghislain Bozo, who purchased the filly last year. Bozo will be shopping at Arqana over the next week. “We will buy for Everest Racing [owners of Lhakpa] again this week, along with some other clients. There are some very nice horses in the sale so we are hopeful we will find something we like.”
Lhakpa, a €600,000 Arqana August graduate, is the second foal and winner produced by Listed Prix de Thiberville second Enchanting Skies (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), herself a sale-topping €500,000 Baden-Baden September yearling in 2016. The March-foaled bay's dam is one of four stakes performers out of the stakes-placed Estefania (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}), headed by G1 Preis von Europa victor Empoli (Ger) (Halling). Estefania, in turn, is out of a half-sister to multiple Group 1-winning G2 German 1000 Guineas and G2 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) heroine Elle Danzig (Ger) (Roi Danzig). Lhakpa is a half-sister to last term's G3 Prix La Rochette victor and multiple Group 1-placed 'TDN Rising Star' Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Sales history: €600,000 Ylg '23 ARQAUG. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €32,000.
O-Everest Racing, Qatar Racing Ltd & Mme Barbara M Keller; B-Ecuries des Monceaux, Qatar Bloodstock Ltd & Mme Barbara M Keller (IRE); T-Yann Barberot.
🇫🇷 Prix Du Mezeray
Deauville – Classe 2 – 2 ans – Femelles – 1500m – 6 Pts – Bon (3.1)🏆Lhakpa (Ire)
📖(Siyouni (Fr) @AgaKhanStuds – Enchanting Skies (Ire) par Sea The Stars (Ire))🏇Maxime Guyon @maximeguyon_off
🕶️Yann Barberot @BarberotYann
🎩Everest Racing
🐎Ecurie Des… pic.twitter.com/e0DSX4SEJv— French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) August 13, 2024
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