By Sean Cronin
Ger Lyons trainee Babouche (GB) (Kodiac {GB}–Pavlosk, by Arch) was all the rage at the tills for Friday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Cork and justified odds-on favouritism with a 'TDN Rising Star' display in the six-furlong contest. She becomes the fifth Rising Star for Kodiac, whose others include last term's G1 2000 Guineas and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas placegetter Hi Royal (Ire).
Babouche, who holds entries for the June 29 G2 Airlie Stud S. and Aug. 19 G1 Keeneland Phoenix S., broke smartly and led the smaller far-side group in an overall seventh through the initial stages of this straight dash. Bounding into contention at the quarter-mile pole, the 5-6 favourite seized control approaching the final furlong and powered clear in highly impressive fashion in the closing stages to easily outclass Lunigiana (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) by five lengths.
“Babouche is a nice filly, she is obviously well related and had been doing everything nicely at home,” said assistant trainer Shane Lyons. “She has had to do it the hard way, which wasn't fair on her, but, in fairness, she did it with her ears pricked. Colin [Keane] was brilliant on her as he didn't take any chances. She is in the Balanchine [Airlie Stud] in two weeks time, we'll see how she comes on and she'll tell us where we go next. We'll speak to [Juddmonte's] Barry [Mahon] and the family and will fill them in on how she is. It was her first time ever seeing grass and we like her. She'll come on immensely and we'll let her do the talking.”
Babouche is the sixth foal and scorer out of Listed Michael Seely Memorial S. victrix Pavlosk (Arch), herself a full-sister to Listed Prix Casimir Delamarre winner Rostova. Pavlosk is also a half-sister to the dual Group 3-winning G1 Gran Premio di Milano third Exhibit One (Silver Hawk), herself the dam of G3 Chunichi Shimbun Hai victor Maitres d'Art (Jpn) (Zenno Rob Roy {Jpn}) and Listed Sandringham H. runner-up Auction (Ire) (Mr. Greeley). Zarinsk's third dam Bold Empress (Diesis {GB}) is kin to multiple Group 1-winning sire Zafonic (Mr. Prospector) while her descendants also include stakes-winning G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches second Irish Rookie (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), G2 Maurice Lacroix Trophy victrix Daring Love (Ger) (Big Shuffle) and G2 Oettingen-Rennen scorer Dapango (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). The May-foaled homebred bay is a full-sister to last year's G2 Minstrel S., G3 Brownstown S. and G3 Cornelscourt S. victrix Zarinsk (GB). She is also kin to the stakes-placed Derevo (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and a yearling filly by Expert Eye (GB).
1st-Cork, €18,000, Mdn, 6-14, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:13.47, gd/yl.
BABOUCHE (GB), f, 2, by Kodiac (GB)
1st Dam: Pavlosk (SW-Eng), by Arch
2nd Dam: Tsar's Pride (GB), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Bold Empress, by Diesis (GB)
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $11,598. *Full to Zarinsk (GB), MGSW-Ire, $258,347; and 1/2 to Derevo (GB) (Dansili {GB}), SP-KSA, $479,020. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Ger Lyons; J-Colin Keane.
Bolted up!
Babouche (Kodiac) is related to several smart @JuddmonteFarms performers and is much the best in the famous silks on debut for Ger Lyons and @ctkjockey @corkracecourse pic.twitter.com/F8sXBNpyRw
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 14, 2024
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