By Tom Frary
Already the leading trainer in the G2 Prix de Malleret with nine wins, Andre Fabre made it a perfect 10 on Wednesday as Haras Voltaire's Babylone (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) scored at ParisLongchamp. Held up on the rail racing worse than mid-division by Mickael Barzalona throughout the early stages, the 9-1 shot who had beaten a subsequent winner in a 10-furlong conditions event here June 10 was extricated from a pocket passing the two-furlong pole. In front a furlong later, the bay held the strong challenge of Adhafera (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) to score by a neck. “She won very well last time where she showed that she needed a mile and a half and she is coming around at the right time,” the owners' racing manager Laurent Benoit said. “She kicked very nicely at the finish and we'll see how she comes out of this. I don't know where she will run again, Andre Fabre will decide but it could be that the [Sept. 12 G1 Prix] Vermeille is a target for the autumn.”
Babylone, who had beaten the subsequent G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches third Kennella (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) when breaking her maiden over seven furlongs at Chantilly in September and who had been second on her seasonal bow over 10 furlongs back at that venue May 17 prior to her success here last month, is out of a daughter of the Niarchos Family's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Denebola (Storm Cat). Also runner-up in the G1 Prix de la Foret, she is in turn the second dam of the G1 Prix de Diane winner Senga (Blame) and Pista (American Pharoah) who captured the G2 Park Hill S. and was runner-up in the G1 Prix de Royallieu. The third dam is the celebrated Coup de Genie (Mr. Prospector), winner of the G1 Prix Morny and G1 Prix de la Salamandre whose descendants include Bago (Fr) (Nashwan), Maxios (GB) (Monsun {Ger}) and the four-times grade I heroine Emollient (Empire Maker). The dam Typique (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was bought for €450,000 at the 2016 Goffs November Mares Sale, also has the unraced 2-year-old filly Assyrian Queen (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and a yearling filly by Dubawi (Ire).
Wednesday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX DE MALLERET-G2, €130,000, ParisLongchamp, 7-14, 3yo, f, 12fT, 2:32.87, vsf.
1–BABYLONE (FR), 123, f, 3, by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
1st Dam: Typique (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Denebola, by Storm Cat
3rd Dam: Coup de Genie, by Mr. Prospector
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Haras Voltaire (FR); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, €105,820. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Adhafera (Ire), 123, f, 3, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Rusty Slipper, by Lemon Drop Kid. (€220,000 Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Ralphy Meahjohn & Ecurie des Monceaux; B-Ralphy Meahjohn (IRE); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €28,600.
3–Ricla (GB), 123, f, 3, Adlerflug (Ger)–Highphar (Fr), by Highest Honor (Fr). O/B-SARL Darpat France (IRE); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias. €13,650.
Margins: NK, 1HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 9.00, 14.00, 5.70.
Also Ran: Forever Be (Ire), Cima Star (Ire), Natsukashi (Fr), Love Child (Ire), Khalidiya (Fr), Anasia (GB), via Sistina (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
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