By Sean Cronin
Andre Fabre's team has hit the ground running as winter slowly transitions to spring and the veteran maestro unleashed G1 Prix de Diane entry Algolia (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}–Viva Rafaela {Brz}, by Know Heights {Ire}) to claim 'TDN Rising Stardom' with a scintillating performance in Tuesday's Prix du Soissonnais over one mile at Chantilly.
Her victory was the middle leg of a Fabre hat-trick on the card, the trainer also successful with the dual Group 1-placed Ancient Rome (War Front) coming back off a nine-month break and capping a treble initiated by Swing Vote (GB) (Shamardal) in the colts' and geldings' division of the one-mile maiden. Fabre is also responsible for Europe's first Rising Star of the year, Pensee Du Jour (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who impressed on debut at the same venue last month. The stable's thermostat is set to hot and running at over 40% with 13 wins from 32 attempts this year.
The 3-1 second choice broke smartly from the outside stall and stalked the tempo in a close second for most of this debutantes' heat. Nudged along to seize control passing the quarter-mile pole, she quickened clear approaching the final furlong and powered further away from stablemate Firyali (GB) (New Bay {GB}) in the closing stages to hit the line with an impressive five-length buffer, becoming the 10th Rising Star for her sire (by Shamardal). Lope De Vega's 'Rising Star' roll of honour also features GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and GI Just A Game heroine Newspaperofrecord (Ire), National Stud resident Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), who placed five times at the highest level, and another GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf victrix in Aunt Pearl (Ire).
Algolia is the fifth foal and scorer produced by G1 Grande Premio Diana (Brazilian Oaks) heroine and GI Flower Bowl third Viva Rafaela (Brz) (Know Heights {Ire}), herself a daughter of G1 Grande Premio Marciano de Aguiar Moreira victrix Linda Rafaela (Brz) (Bin Ajwaad {Ire}). The April-foaled homebred chestnut is a half-sister to last term's Listed Prix Charles Laffitte scorer Babala (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Viva Rafaela, whose family features a swathe of Brazilian elite-level performers, is kin to the Group 1-placed duo Baby Go Far (Brz) (Elusive Quality) and Unique Zuca (Brz) (Northern Afleet). The latter threw GSW G1 Grande Premio Cruzeiro do Sul runner-up Galaxy Runner (Brz) (Drosselmeyer) while another half-sister, Awesome Rafaela (Brz) (Elusive Quality), is the dam of GII Edgewood S. victrix New Year's Eve (Kitten's Joy).
4th-Chantilly, €27,000, Mdn, 3-7, unraced 3yo, f, 8f (AWT), 1:40.77, st.
ALGOLIA (IRE), f, 3, by Lope De Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Viva Rafaela (Brz) (G1SW-Brz & GISP-US, $246,353), by Know Heights (Ire)
2nd Dam: Linda Rafaela (Brz), by Bin Ajwaad (Ire)
3rd Dam: Poli Arumba (Brz), by Executioner
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €13,500. *1/2 to Babala (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), SW-Fr. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona.
ALGOLIA impresses on debut
Lope De Vega 3yo, 1/2 sister to SW Babala
Dam Brazilian Oaks winner Viva Rafaela@pybureau14 @WertheimerSales @BallylinchStud pic.twitter.com/JdNtwisJj7
— Pedigree Update (@pedigreeupdate) March 7, 2023
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