By Sean Cronin
Jaber Abdullah's Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}–Danega {GB}, by Galileo {Ire}) took five attempts to add to last term's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains heroics, doing so in March's Listed Prix Altipan at Saint-Cloud, and suffered another three reversals before regaining the winning thread in Sunday's G3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil Longines at Chantilly.
Marhaba Ya Sanafi, whose only prior visit to this right-handed venue yielded a third in last term's G1 Prix du Jockey Club, went postward for this coming back off a sixth in ParisLongchamp's May 26 G1 Prix d'Ispahan and shadowed the pace–set by Left Sea (GB) (Frankel {GB})–in a close-up second after exiting the outside stall. Bustled along to tackle Left Sea passing the two pole, the 11-10 favourite forged ahead approaching the final furlong and was driven out to hold the late lunge of Andromede (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) by a head. Bullace (GB) (Toronado {Ire}) was best of the remainder and finished 2 1/2 lengths back in third.
“One mile most certainly is his best trip,” said trainer Andreas Schutz. “He won the French 2000 Guineas last year and, even though he had run well over further, his best runs are over a mile. Therefore, it was not a surprise to see him win again today. His owner is keen to see him run again this season in the [Aug. 11 G1] Prix Jacques Le Marois [at Deauville], so that will be his next target.”
Marhaba Ya Sanafi scrambles home to land the G3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil Longines, denying Andromede at Chantilly under @mickaelbarzalon… pic.twitter.com/PCtzctebPW
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 16, 2024
Pedigree Notes
Marhaba Ya Sanafi, half to a yearling colt by Hello Youmzain (Fr), is the fourth of six foals and one of two scorers out of an unraced half-sister to G2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial and G3 Ballysax S. runner-up Fergus McIver (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). The March-foaled bay's G3 Noblesse S.-winning second dam Danelissima (Ire) (Danehill) is out of the dual stakes-winning Zavaleta (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}), herself a daughter of stakes-winning matriarch La Meilleure (Ire) (Lord Gayle). Descendants of Zavaleta include G1 Dewhurst S.-winning sire Intense Focus (Giant's Causeway), G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy) and last year's G1 Belmont Oaks Invitational victrix Aspen Grove (Ire) (Justify).
Sunday, Chantilly, France
PRIX BERTRAND DU BREUIL LONGINES-G3, €80,000, Chantilly, 6-16, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:38.84, g/s.
1–MARHABA YA SANAFI (IRE), 130, c, 4, by Muhaarar (GB)
1st Dam: Danega (GB), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Danelissima (Ire), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Zavaleta (Ire), by Kahyasi (Ire)
O-Jaber Abdullah; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Andreas Schutz; J-Mickael Barzalona. €40,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 14-5-3-1, €708,760. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Andromede (Fr), 127, m, 5, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Honor Bound (GB), by Authorized (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani; B-Al Shahania Stud (FR); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €16,000.
3–Bullace (GB), 130, g, 6, Toronado (Ire)–Redstart (GB), by Cockney Rebel (Ire). (45,000gns 4yo '22 TATAUT; €10,000 RNA 5yo '23 ARQNOV). O-Sheikh Khalifa Hashir Khalifa Saeed Al Maktoum; B-A D G Oldrey & G C Hartigan (GB); T-Carlos & Yann Lerner. €12,000.
Margins: HD, 2HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.10, 2.70, 8.10.
Also Ran: Fast Raaj (Fr), Left Sea (GB), Fort Payne (Fr). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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