By Sean Cronin
Sunday's mouthwatering feast of pattern-race action got going with ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix La Rochette and there was a surprise in store as last month's Deauville maiden winner Tigrais (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}–Maharana {Fr}, by Iffraaj {GB} swooped late to deny 'TDN Rising Star' Breizh Sky (Fr) (Pedro The Great) for a career high in the seven-furlong contest for juveniles. She had opened up with a July 17 debut seventh, behind the 'TDN Rising Star' display of Alia's Rose (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), over seven furlongs at Chantilly and had changed owners since notching her breakthrough score last time. The 19-5 chance lurched from the traps and raced off the pace, adrift of the clear leader, in fourth through halfway. Inching closer in the straight, she came under pressure with 300 metres remaining and kept on relentlessly under a late drive to nail Listed Prix Roland de Chambure victor Breizh Sky by a short head on the line.
“She didn't run as I expected first time out and that is why she came back soon after to show her true potential,” explained trainer Christopher Head. “She has changed ownership since that win and I was keen to prove to her new owners they had made a good investment. We took a gamble by pitching her into Group 3 company straight after winning her maiden. I am delighted, but not very keen to run her over further at this stage. The [G1 Prix Jean-Luc] Lagardere is an option, but we shall wait and see how she comes out of this before discussing plans with the owners.”
Reflecting on the performance of Breizh Sky, trainer Alessandro Botti added, “He travelled well, but was left in front too soon and idled once he got there. He is still immature, no doubt, and I was praying for the post to come in time, but it didn't. It's frustrating, but maybe the race will give him more experience and we will have nothing to lose by bringing him back in the Lagardere.”
Tigrais, who hails from the family of multiple Group 1 winner Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}), is the only reported foal out of Maharana (Fr) (Iffraaj {GB}), herself an unraced half-sister to Listed Prix Francois Boutin runner-up Mangusto (Fr) (Roderic O'Connor). Her second dam, Listed Prix Zeddaan runner-up Mantadive (Fr) (Okawango), is the leading performer out of Missanticia (Sicyos), herself a half-sister to G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois heroine Miss Satamixa (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) and Listed Prix Melisande victrix Miss d'Ouilly (Fr) (Bikala {Ire}). The latter is the dam of five black-type performers headed by GIII Cardinal H. winner Miss Caerleona (Fr) (Caerleon).
Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX LA ROCHETTE-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-4, 2yo, 7fT, 1:20.03 (NSR), g/s.
1–TIGRAIS (FR), 122, f, 2, by Outstrip (GB)
1st Dam: Maharana (Fr), by Iffraaj (GB)
2nd Dam: Mantadive (Fr), by Okawango
3rd Dam: Missanticia (Fr), by Sicyos
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-OTI Management Pty Ltd & Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Christophe Brun (FR); T-Christopher Head; J-Aurelien Lemaitre. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, €53,500. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Breizh Sky (Fr), 126 c, 2, Pedro The Great–Anna Danse (Fr), by Anabaa. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€14,000 RNA Ylg '21 ARAUG). O-Alain Jathiere, Louis Baudron, Alessandro Botti, Giuseppe Botti & Ecurie Elag; B-Haras des Evees, Daniel Cherdo & Mme Claudie Cherdo (FR); T-Alessandro & Giuseppe Botti. €16,000.
3–Gamestop (Ire), 126, c, 2, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Your Game (Fr), by Montjeu (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (IRE); T-Christophe Ferland. €12,000.
Margins: SHD, 2HF, 2HF. Odds: 3.80, 0.80, 3.70.
Also Ran: Gain It (GB), Salazar (Fr). Scratched: Bolshkinov (Fr). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
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