By Sean Cronin
Everest Racing, David Redvers and Barbara Keller's 2-year-old filly Malavath (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) encountered promising sorts when hitting the board over six furlongs in both August starts at Deauville and graduated in a six-furlong Chantilly maiden last month. Returning over the same course and distance of that breakthrough score for Saturday's G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte, the Francis Graffard trainee exhibited late dash to claim a first black-type success with aplomb. The 15-2 chance was swiftly away and tracked the leading duo in third through halfway. Nudged along passing the quarter-mile marker, she inched ever closer thereafter and quickened smartly inside the final furlong to deny the forward-running G3 Prix de Cabourg victrix Have A Good Day (Ire) (Adaay {Ire}) by a neck in the dying strides.
“My main concern beforehand was her ability, or lack thereof, to cope with the soft ground and I was quite apprehensive,” admitted Graffard. “Obviously, I was wrong and am delighted for the owners, the filly and my team. It really is a great result. I have always been high on her and her form was excellent. She doesn't show much in the mornings at home, but from day one she has been a different proposition in the afternoons. I don't think she will stay a mile, maybe seven furlongs, but if she is only a top six-furlong filly that's fine with me. We will see how she winters and, on looks, I have the feeling that she will train on. We will start off [next year], probably over the same [six-furlong] trip, and we'll see where we go from there.”
Malavath, the first of three foals, becomes the ninth pattern-race winner for her second-crop sire and is a daughter of Fidaaha (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), herself a full-sister to the GIII Robert G. Dick Memorial S. victrix Ceisteach (Ire). Fidaaha is also half to MSW G1 Prix Rothschild and G1 Prix Jean Romanet placegetter Steip Amach (Ire) (Vocalised). The March-foaled chestnut's third dam Sharafanya (Ire) (Zafonic) is kin to G2 Goldene Peitsche victor Giant Sandman (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) and Listed Harvest S. placegetter Shalamantika (Ire) (Nashwan), herself the dam of G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Shalanaya (Ire) (Lomitas {GB}) and G2 Prix Chaudeay winner Shankardeh (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}). Malavath's G3 Prix Minerve-winning fourth dam Sharamana (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) is a half-sister to G1 Epsom Derby, G1 Irish Derby and G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond S. hero Shergar (GB) (Great Nephew {GB}). Fidaaha has a yearling full-brother to Malavath and a weanling filly by Cotai Glory (GB) to come.
Saturday, Chantilly, France
CRITERIUM DE MAISONS-LAFFITTE-G2, €190,000, Chantilly, 10-9, 2yo, 6fT, 1:12.11, vsf.
1–MALAVATH (IRE), 125, f, 2, by Mehmas (Ire)
1st Dam: Fidaaha (Ire), by New Approach (Ire)
2nd Dam: Ceist Eile (Ire), by Noverre
3rd Dam: Sharafanya (Ire), by Zafonic
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (£29,000 Ylg '20 GOUKPR; £120,000 2yo '21 ARQMAY). O-Everest Racing, David Redvers & Mme Barbara M Keller; B-Tally-Ho Stud (IRE); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Olivier Peslier. €108,300. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1, €131,250. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Have A Good Day (Ire), 125, f, 2, Adaay (Ire)–Black Meyeden (Fr), by Black Minnaloushe. O-Mme Theresa Marnane; B-Michael Phelan (IRE); T-Florian Guyader. €41,800.
3–Desert Dreamer (GB), 125, f, 2, Oasis Dream (GB)–Pure Innocence (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). (20,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-J W Parry & Mrs C Shekells; B-Branton Court Stud (GB); T-Stuart Williams. €19,950.
Margins: NK, 3/4, SNK. Odds: 7.50, 7.90, 2.20.
Also Ran: Best Flying (Fr), Dizzy Bizu (Ire), Gis A Sub (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
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