By Tom Frary
Into black-type company on her second start after a winning debut over 7 1/2 furlongs at Saint-Cloud in October, Peter Savill's Autumn Starlight (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}–Falling Leaves {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) emerged from Saturday's Listed Prix la Camargo at that venue with her perfect record maintained and reputation enhanced. Tracking the early leader Heavenly Breath (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in third under Christophe Soumillon, the 14-5 second favourite looked to have it to do a furlong from home as that 8-5 market-leader who had run second to Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in the G3 Prix d'Aumale gained what appeared to be a decisive advantage. Finding a late surge, the €150,000 Arqana Deauville August graduate overhauled the English raider in the final stride for a nose verdict to provide her jockey with a third black-type win on the card.
“This race was not a target, just a reintroduction and we hoped that she would run well,” trainer Stephane Wattel said. “We didn't expect to see her win, so that is probably a very good sign. She has done well physically during the winter and will come on for that. We will see about her next start, but it is not hard to imagine that it could be the [G3] Prix de la Grotte.”
Autumn Starlight is the second foal and first runner for the dam, a daughter of the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Again whose 2-year-old son of Kingman (GB) was a €260,000 purchase by Paul Nataf at the Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale. Again was responsible for a trio of Galileo black-type performers in the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and G1 Prix de Royallieu runner-up Delphinia (Ire), the Listed El Gran Senor S.-winning sire Indian Maharaja (Ire) and Delano Roosevelt (Ire) who was placed in four group races. The third dam Cumbres is kin to the mighty Montjeu (Ire) linked to top-level scorers and sires Aclaim (Ire) and Galileo Gold (GB).
PRIX LA CAMARGO-Listed, €55,000, Saint-Cloud, 3-18, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:50.02, vs.
1–AUTUMN STARLIGHT (GB), 126, f, 3, by Lope De Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Falling Leaves (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Again (Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
3rd Dam: Cumbres (Fr), by Kahyasi (Ire)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. (€150,000 Ylg '21 ARQAUG). O-P D Savill; B-Ecurie des Monceaux, Beauregard Bloodstock & Rifa Mustang Europe Ltd (GB); T-Stephane Wattel; J-Christophe Soumillon. €27,500. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €41,000.
2–Heavenly Breath (GB), 126, f, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Astonishing (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (150,000gns RNA Ylg '21 TATOCT). O/B-Apple Tree Stud (GB); T-Archie Watson. €11,000.
3–Palerma (Fr), 126, f, 3, Alex The Winner–Peace Mine, by Mineshaft.
1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Gerard Augustin-Normand & Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois; B-Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois (FR); T-Mme Manon Scandella-Lacaille. €8,250.
Margins: NO, 1HF, HF. Odds: 2.80, 1.60, 18.00.
Also Ran: Knock On (Fr), Queen Sao (Fr), Angelaba (Ire), Hoxton (Ire), Axdaliva (Fr). Video, sponsored by TVG.
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