By Sean Cronin
Recent winners of Chantilly's G3 Prix Sigy include subsequent Group 1 scorers Signs Of Blessing (Ire), Quiet Reflection (GB) and Sands Of Mali (Fr) and this year's renewal went the way of last term's Listed Prix Saraca victor and G3 Prix de Cabourg second Sajir (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}–Simple Magic {Ire}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who displayed elite-level potential defeating a solid cast of nine sophomore rivals in the 5 1/2-furlong dash.
Last term's G1 Prix Morny sixth, who encountered a testing surface and dank conditions here, broke swiftly and was steadied to track the leaders in a handy fifth after the initial strides. Cruising forward once past the halfway mark, the 23-10 favourite quickened clear approaching the final furlong and was ridden out in the closing stages to comfortably withstand the late threat of last year's G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte victrix Classic Flower (GB) (Calyx {GB}) by a half-length for a career high.
“We ran out of a few options of where to start him and ended up here at 5 1/2 furlongs,” said racing manager Ted Voute. “It wasn't ideal, but he's done nothing wrong and taken everything in his stride. He was drawn seven, which was probably a small handicap, and maybe he won a bit further than it looks on paper. He drew clear and was probably slightly tired at the end. Mickael [Barzalona] was very impressed, he said he's trained on and we've got a bright future. He got seven furlongs last year, but maybe the [French] Guineas is a step too far. The [seven-furlong G3] Jersey is good and you've also got the six-furlong Group 1 [Commonweath Cup] at [Royal] Ascot. That might be a bit tough and it's a matter of deciding how far he can go at this point, but I'll leave that to Prince Faisal and Andre [Fabre].”
What a turn of foot!
Making his seasonal reappearance, Sajir lands the Group Three Prix Sigy in style at @fgchantilly for @mickaelbarzalon… pic.twitter.com/uNBAEQwFMA
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 15, 2024
Pedigree Notes
Sajir, a full-brother to the unraced 2-year-old colt and stablemate Saahir (Ire), is the fifth of six foals and one of two scorers out of G3 Sirenia S. third Simple Magic (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), herself a full-sister to stakes-winning G3 Nell Gwyn S. third Festivale (Ire) and Listed Prix de Saint-Patrick victor Arctic Gyr (Ire). Simple Magic is also kin to G3 Joel S. runner-up Tell (GB) (Green Desert) and to the dam of G1 Sun Chariot S. third Grande Dame (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Descendants of Sajir's fourth dam, G2 Prix d'Astarte victrix and G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches runner-up Hydro Calido (Nureyev), include GII Turf Sprint S. and GIII Daytona S. victor Bran (Fr) (Muhaarar {GB}), Group 3-winning G1 Goodwood H. third Supido (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) and last term's G3 Preis der Deutschen Einheit victor Lord Charming (Ger) (Charm Spirit {Ire}). This is the immediate family of G1 Prix Morny-winning sire Machiavellian (Mr. Prospector) and G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois hero Exit To Nowhere (Irish River {Fr}).
Monday, Chantilly, France
PRIX SIGY-G3, €80,000, Chantilly, 4-15, 3yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:06.53, vsf.
1–SAJIR (IRE), 126, c, 3, by Make Believe (GB)
1st Dam: Simple Magic (Ire) (GSP-Eng), by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
2nd Dam: Cephalonie, by Kris S.
3rd Dam: Heraklia, by Irish River (Fr)
1ST GROUP WIN. O-Prince A A Faisal; B-Nawara Stud Company Ltd (IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, €101,000. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Classic Flower (GB), 127, f, 3, Calyx (GB)–Crown Of Flowers (GB), by Garswood (GB). O-Gousserie Racing & Jean-Etienne Dubois; B-Petches Farm Ltd (GB); T-Patrice Cottier. €16,000.
3–Symmetric Power (Ire), 126, c, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Evening Time (Ire), by Keltos (Fr). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (72,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT; €135,000 2yo '23 ARQMAY). O-Hisaaki Saito; B-Owenstown Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Christopher Head. €12,000.
Margins: HF, 2HF, SHD. Odds: 2.30, 6.50, 26.00.
Also Ran: Mr Fleurant (Ire), Balsam (Fr), Got To Love A Grey (GB), Jasna's Secret (Fr), Action Point (Ire), La Belle Poete (Fr), Dorothy Lawrence (GB). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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