By Sean Cronin
Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's twice-raced Halfday (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}–Daytime {GB}, by Frankel {GB}), who followed up a debut second at Deauville with a breakthrough score at Chantilly in December, continued on the upgrade with a dominant display in Friday's G3 Prix Cleopatre at Saint-Cloud.
The 27-5 chance broke in fourth, but was relegated to last of the six contenders after extended opening exchanges. Bustled along off the home turn, she made relentless headway in the straight to launch her challenge entering the final furlong and was ridden clear to comfortably account for the stakes-winning duo Fun With Flags (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and War Chimes (Fr) (Summer Front) by 2 1/2 lengths and a length.
“I have to admit I was hoping more for a place and black type than the win,” revealed trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias. “She was doing well, but obviously needs more time to fully blossom. She hails from a top Juddmonte family where horses improve with time, so that is most encouraging. It is my last season as a trainer, so lets hope she carries the flag high for me and her owners. Breeders like them need good fillies like that.”
Pedigree Notes
Halfday, a half-sister to the unraced 2-year-old filly Seine (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}), is the first of two foals produced by a daughter of six-time elite-level heroine Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). The January-foaled homebred bay's dam is a full-sister to stakes-winning G2 Ribblesdale S. second Mori (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and kin to G3 Sandown Classic Trial and G3 N E Manion Cup victor Midterm (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and stakes-winning G3 Musidora S. runner-up Noon Star (Galileo {Ire}).
Friday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX CLEOPATRE-G3, €80,000, Saint-Cloud, 4-19, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT, 2:26.68, vsf.
1–HALFDAY (FR), 126, f, 3, by Lope De Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Daytime (GB), by Frankel (GB)
2nd Dam: Midday (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB)
3rd Dam: Midsummer (GB), by Kingmambo
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (FR); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias; J-Maxime Guyon. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, €61,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Fun With Flags (Ire), 126, f, 3, Zoffany (Ire)–Marie Celeste (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€50,000 Ylg '22 GORORB; €62,000 2yo '23 GORMAY). O-Mme Erika Gilliar; B-Mme Sonia Rogers (IRE); T-Jerome Reynier. €16,000.
3–War Chimes (Fr), 126, f, 3, Summer Front–Chipolata (Fr), by Muhtathir (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€62,000 Ylg '22 ARQOCT). O-Tars Farms Equestrian Stud; B-Hubert Honore, Nicolas Clement & Christophe Clement Racing Stables (FR); T-David Menuisier. €12,000.
Margins: 2HF, 1, 3HF. Odds: 5.40, 0.70, 2.50.
Also Ran: Make A Wish (Fr), Keen Approach (Fr), Magestic Moon (GB). Scratched: Paraiba (Fr). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
🚀 Wow! Watch this filly blast past her rivals.
🥇LOPE DE VEGA's 3yo daughter Halfday is a cozy last-to-first winner of the Gr.3 Prix Cléopâtre – a leading trial for the French Oaks.
🎊Congratulations to her owner-breeder Wertheimer et Frere (@WertheimerSales) pic.twitter.com/X4tSuWXxBN
— BallylinchStud (@BallylinchStud) April 19, 2024
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