By Sean Cronin
Sent postward as the 7-5 favourite for Tuesday's Prix les Ammonites, a 7 1/2-furlong debutantes' heat at Deauville, Khalid Abdullah's Petricor (GB) (Frankel {GB}) did not disappoint and earned 'TDN Rising Star' status with an impressive opening performance at the Normandy venue. The Andre Fabre trainee broke well from an inside gate, but was shuffled back to race in a midfield seventh after occupying a prominet second through the initial strides. Angled outside for an clear passage with 350 metres remaining she quickened to challenge entering the final furlong and kept on powerfully under mild coaxing to easily deny the pacesetting Grace Shelby (Fr) (Shalaa {Ire}) by 1 1/2 lengths nearing the line.
“This filly has been working nicely at home and she confirmed that promise on the track today,” said winning rider Pierre-Charles Boudot. “More rhythm in the race would have helped and I am certain that she will stay in the future.”
Petricor is the first of three foals produced by a winning half-sister to five black-type performers headed by MG1SW sire Brian Boru (GB) (Sadler's Wells) and MGSW G1 Irish St Leger and GI Breeders' Cup Turf placegetter Sea Moon (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB). The February-foaled homebred bay is a half-sister to a yearling colt by Lope de Vega (Ire) and a 2020 colt by Roaring Lion. Descendants of her G3 Park Hill S.-winning second dam Eva Luna (Alleged) include G1 Epsom Derby and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe-winning sire Workforce (GB) (King's Best), MG1SW sire Best Solution (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), MSW G1 Moyglare Stud S. third Kissable (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and stakes-winning GI American Oaks third Amandine (GB) (Shamardal).
3rd-Deauville, €22,000, Mdn, 8-4, unraced 2yo, f, 7 1/2fT, 1:34.91, g/s.
PETRICOR (GB), f, 2, by Frankel%20(GB)#tot">Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Ruscombe (GB), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Eva Luna, by Alleged
3rd Dam: Media Luna (GB), by Star Appeal (Ire)
1ST-TIME STARTER. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €11,000. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Andre Fabre. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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