By Tom Frary
Entering Sunday's G3 Prix la Grotte at ParisLongchamp a live outsider, Ecurie Waldeck's Cirona (GB) (Maxios {GB}) proved more than just that when edging a five-way thriller. Runner-up in the G3 Prix des Reservoirs at Deauville in October and in the Listed Criterium du Languedoc at Toulouse the following month, the wide-drawn 18-1 shot was soon in front under Maxime Guyon and looked set to be swamped in the final furlong as a flurry of attacks were launched to her left. Digging in when headed, she was game against the rail to edge the blanket finish by a head from Silvestri (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), with the same margin separating her and King's Harlequin (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in third. “Maxime gave her a super ride–he didn't go too fast in front and he knew how to ride her,” trainer Christophe Ferland said. “She lasted courageously and is a very sweet filly who knows how to quicken as she showed in the Reservoir last year. She has a long acceleration and a lot of heart and loves a fight. I'm delighted for her owner-breeders, they are close friends and although small owners in terms of numbers by no means small in real terms. I'm sure they will want to keep her to breed from. I think she'll stay a mile and a quarter in due time, but first it will be the [G1 Poule d'Essai des] Pouliches [at ParisLongchamp May 16].”
Cirona's listed-winning dam Coco Demure (Ire) (Titus Livus {Fr}) has also produced the Listed Criterium de Lyon scorer Chares (Ger) (Ivawood {Ire}), who was bought from this stable for €710,000 at the 2019 Arc Sale and renamed Maximus in Hong Kong, as well as the Listed Guisborough S. runner-up Qaysar (Fr) (Choisir {Aus}). The third dam Double Time (GB) (Nashwan {GB}) is kin to the GI Arlington H. hero Unknown Quantity (GB) (Young Generation {Ire}) connected to the G2 Prix de Pomone winner Interlude (GB) (Sadler's Wells) and the G3 Chipchase S.-winning sprinter Barney McGrew (Ire) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}). Coco Demure's as-yet unnamed 2-year-old filly is by Territories (Ire).
Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX DE LA GROTTE-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 4-18, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:43.71, gd.
1–CIRONA (GB), 126, f, 3, by Maxios (GB)
1st Dam: Coco Demure (Ire) (SW-Ity), by Titus Livius (Fr)
2nd Dam: Alma Thomas (Ire), by Orpen
3rd Dam: Double Time (GB), by Nashwan
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Ecurie Waldeck; B-Scuderia Waldeck SNC (GB); T-Christophe Ferland; J-Maxime Guyon. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 6-3-2-0, €82,968. *1/2 to Chares (Ger) (Ivawood {Ire}), SW-Fr, $200,515; and Qaysar (Fr) (Choisir {Aus}), SP-Eng, $126,316. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Silvestri (Fr), 126, f, 3, Siyouni (Fr)–La Zubia (GB), by Montjeu (Ire). (€380,000 Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Al Shira'aa Farms; B-SNIG Elevage (FR); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias. €16,000.
3–King's Harlequin (Ire), 126, f, 3, Camelot (GB)–Swift Action (Ire), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). (€30,000 Ylg '19 GOFORB). O-Sam Sangster, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing LLC, Mme Margaret Perle O'Rourke & Solomon Kumin; B-E J Loder (IRE); T-Nicolas Clement. €12,000.
Margins: HD, HD, NO. Odds: 17.90, 6.20, 7.30.
Also Ran: Sweet Lady (Fr), See the Rose (Ire), Rougir (Fr), Libertine (Ire), Donna Anna (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
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