By Tom Frary
It is 16 years since The Aga Khan enjoyed the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches-G1 Prix de Diane double with Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar) and there was a genuine sense at ParisLongchamp on Sunday that he has a live prospect for a repeat. While the afternoon's G3 Prix de la Grotte winner Candala (Fr) (Frankel {GB}–Candarliya {Fr}, by Dalakhani {Ire}) can not yet be placed in the same bracket as that former luminary, the manner of her re-entry suggests that she is going to be one of the season's leading lights among her sex. Anchored with only the slow-starting G1 Prix Marcel Boussac runner-up Rose Bloom (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) behind early by Mickael Barzalona, the 29-10 favourite who was last seen winning a Chantilly conditions event in September by four lengths delivered a telling surge in the straight to overhaul the 13-1 shot Minoushka (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) close home for a short-neck success, with the G3 Prix des Reservoirs winner Tulipa Chope (Fr) (Born To Sea {Ire}) a length away in third.
“I was impatient to see her back at the races, but equally I was not in too much of a hurry as the ground has been very bad so far and also it took her some time to come in her coat and blossom,” explained trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, who had earlier saddled the owner-breeder's Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) to success in the G3 Prix Noailles. “So a nice day like today with drier ground was ideal for a seasonal debut and it was the plan to use waiting tactics, as I know she can quicken. She had run well here first time out last year, won well on her second start and had always showed us good things. I'd imagine the Poule d'Essai will be next. She has every right to be at the start and it will be a test, but we also think that she'll stay further.”
According to France Galop, the winner's finishing splits were 11.94, 10.98 and 11.41 confirming that she has the acceleration to win the course-and-distance mile Classic in four weeks' time, which is notable considering her stamina-packed pedigree that points to her being much more of a Diane or Oaks filly. The early animator Cetera (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who was in front of Candala when they were second and third behind the unbeaten TDN Rising Star Bauhinia (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) on their debuts over this track and trip in August and who had been subsequently beaten four lengths by the Aga Khan homebred at Chantilly, set only moderate fractions. She was much slower than the Fontainebleau winner Ramadan (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) throughout, making it all the more meritorious that Candala was able to shut down that gap and hit the line hard.
Pedigree Notes
Candala, who becomes the 95th group winner for her illustrious sire, is the fourth foal out of the smart Candarliya whose expoits included successes in the Prix de Royallieu when it held group 2 status, the G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil and the G3 Prix Minerve as well as a runner-up placing in the G1 Prix Vermeille. Tried as a stayer later in her career, she had the stamina to be placed in the G2 Prix Kergorlay twice and the G3 Prix de Barbeville and has produced the listed-placed Carini (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) who stayed a mile and a half despite being by his fast sire.
Candarliya is a full-sister to the listed scorer Canndera (Fr) and a half to the Laurel Turf Cup, Cape Henlopen S. and Listed Prix la Moskowa winner Canessar (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) who was also runner-up in the GII Belmont Gold Cup Invitational. The third dam Caribbeandriftwood (Woodman) is connected to the G2 Sandown Mile S. winner and G1 Prix d'Ispahan runner-up Wixim (Diesis {GB}).
🏆 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗮 (@mickaelbarzalon / @GraffardRacing / @AgaKhanStuds) brille dans le Prix de la Grotte (Gr.3) à @paris_longchamp
✨ Elle succède à 𝘽𝙡𝙪𝙚 𝙍𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝘾𝙚𝙣 au palmarès de cette épreuve
🥈 Minoushka (@CYLerner)
🥉 Tulipa Chope (S. Wattel) pic.twitter.com/0vmc222ZMO— Equidia (@equidia) April 14, 2024
Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX DE LA GROTTE-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 4-14, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:44.21, vs.
1–CANDALA (FR), 126, f, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Candarliya (Fr) (MGSW & G1SP-Fr, $534,189), by Dalakhani (Ire)
2nd Dam: Candara (Fr), by Barathea (Ire)
3rd Dam: Caribbeandriftwood, by Woodman
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-H H Aga Khan; B-Haras De S A Aga Khan SCEA (FR); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Mickael Barzalona. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, €62,000. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Minoushka (GB), 126, f, 3, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Mouille Point (GB), by Motivator (GB).
1ST BLACK-TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK-TYPE. (€170,000 Ylg '22 ARQOCT). O-Ecurie des Charmes & Kin Hung Kei; B-Le Thenney & Pearl Champs Elysees (GB); T-Carlos & Yann Lerner. €16,000.
3–Tulipa Chope (Fr), 126, f, 3, Born To Sea (Ire)–Tulipe Rouge (Fr), by Panis. (€5,000 Ylg '22 OSASEP). O-Alain Jathiere; B-Alain Chopard & Cedric Boutin (FR); T-Stephane Wattel. €12,000.
Margins: SNK, 1, NO. Odds: 2.90, 13.00, 3.50.
Also Ran: Cetera (Ire), Sparkling Plenty (Fr), Julica (Fr), Rose Bloom (Ire), Monteille (GB), Nevercry (Fr). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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