Prix du Jockey Club: Where Did They Come From?

The 2100-metre G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club has a horse for everyone, from multi-generational blue-blooded homebreds, to a $535,000 OBS breezer and everything in between. Godolphin's Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is aiming for his third Group/Grade 1 victory in a row after wins in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar last autumn and in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains in May.

VADENI (FR), Churchill (Ire)–Vaderana (Fr) (Monsun {Ger})
Owner: His Highness The Aga Khan.
Breeder: Haras De S A Aga Khan SCEA.
Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget.
Pedigree Notes: From a deep Aga Khan family, the dam scored her lone win over 2300 metres at three, but has gone on to produce the Australian listed-placed Vadiyann (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), the four-time French listed-placed Vadsena (Fr) (Makfi {GB}) and this colt, her star foal. She also has the unraced juvenile colt Vazirpour (GB) (Camelot {GB}) to come. This is the extended family of Group 1 winners Vadawina (Ire) (Unfuwain), Vazira (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Valixir (Ire) (Trempolino), Vadamos (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}), et. al.

AL HAKEEM (GB), Siyouni (Fr)–Jadhaba (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
Owner/Breeder: Al Shaqab Racing.
Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget.
Pedigree Notes: One of two winners for his dam, Al Hakeem is followed by a 2-year-old filly by Kingman (GB). Although Jadhaba won twice, her best effort was a third in the G3 Prix Penelope. She is the best foal out of four-time graded winner Naissance Royale (Ire) (Giant's Causeway), and the Al Shaqab colourbearer's fourth dam is the GI Demoiselle S. second Bookkeeper (Private Account).

WELWAL (GB), Shalaa (Ire)–Cheriearch (Arch)
Owner: Al Shaqab Racing.
Breeder: Oceanic, A Gravereaux & OTI Management.
Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget.
Sales History: The March-foaled bay was picked up for €80,000 out of the Arqana Deauville Select Sale.
Pedigree Notes: Successful in the Listed Prix La Sorellina, Cheriearch already has two black-type horses besides Welwal including Epistrophy (Fr) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), who was third in the G3 Prix de la Grotte. Her latest two foals are a Roaring Lion juvenile colt named Humanity (Ire) and a yearling colt by Calyx (GB).

IMPERIAL FIGHTER (IRE), The Gurkha (Ire)–Endure (Ire) (Green Desert)
Owner: Michael Blencowe.
Breeder: Lynn Lodge Stud.
Trainer: Andrew Balding.
Sales History: His trainer snapped up the Jan. 31-foaled bay for just £30,000 out of the Goffs Orby Sale.
Pedigree Notes: This colt is a half-brother to French listed winner Bunker (Ire) (Hurricane Run {Ire}) and the stakes-placed Imtiyaaz (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). After foaling Imperial Fighter, the dam returned to another son of Galileo (Ire) in Churchill (Ire) and the 2-year-old colt Lord of Admiralty (Ire) was the result. Endure is a half-sister to the G3 Dance Smartly H. victress Alexis (Ire) (Alzao), who is responsible for Queen's Plate scorer Mike Fox (Giant's Causeway).

ONESTO (IRE), Frankel (GB)–Onshore (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire})
'TDN Rising Star'.
Owner: Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois, Jean-Etienne Dubois Et Al.
Breeder: Diamond Creek Farm, LLC.
Trainer: Fabrice Chappet.
Sales History: Originally selected by Mike Akers for 185,000gns out of Book 1 from the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, he was re-offered at the OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale and brought $535,000 from Hubert Guy Bloodstock after breezing a furlong in :10 flat.
Pedigree Notes: Onshore never graced the racecourse, and her latest progeny are fillies by Australia (GB) and Gleneagles (Ire) in 2020 and 2021, respectively. The half-sister to Group 3 winner Jet Away (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) visited the court of American Pharoah last spring. Onesto's third dam is none other than Kerali (GB) (High Line {GB}), the broodmare responsible for blue hen Hasili (Ire) and her bevy of top-flight winners.

MISTER SAINT PAUL (FR), Dariyan (Fr)–Elusive Kay (Fr) (Elusive City)
Owner: Ecurie Bernd & Torsten Raber, Luc Josse Et Al.
Breeder: Mme A Delarue.
Trainer: Etienne Leenders.
Sales History: The bay did not meet his reserve and was bought back for €10,000 out of the Arqana October Yearling Sale.
Pedigree Notes: His dam won twice over 1900 metres at Deauville and once more upped to 2000 metres at Cagnes-sur-Mer. Her latest foal is a colt of 2020 by Birchwood (Ire), while Group 3 winner Celtic Rock (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) is out of the winning third dam.

MODERN GAMES (IRE), Dubawi (Ire)–Modern Ideals (GB) (New Approach (Ire)
Owner/Breeder: Godolphin.
Trainer: Charlie Appleby.
Pedigree Notes: This family has benefitted from a timely update, as this colt's year-older stakes-winning half-brother Modern News (GB) (Shamardal) was second in the G3 Cazoo Diomed S. at Epsom on Saturday. His dam's foal of 2020, Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), was named a 'TDN Rising Star' at Newmarket on May 14, and there is a yearling filly by the late Mastercraftsman (Ire) still in the pipeline. Under the second dam is G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere hero Ultra (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}), while one more generation back, the Mr. Prospector filly Proskona was a champion in Italy in 1984. Two-time Group 1 winner Act One (GB) (In the Wings {GB}) is a descendant of the last-named, as is G1 French 2000 Guineas third Gharir (Ire) (Machiavellian).

THE ACROPOLIS (IRE), Churchill (Ire)–Hairy Rocket (GB) (Pivotal {GB})
Owner: Mrs John Magnier/Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith/Westerberg.
Breeder: Frank Dunne.
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien.
Sales History: Sent through the ring at Goffs November as a foal, he joined the Coolmore partners' portfolio for €140,000.
Pedigree Notes: The 2012 G2 Queen Mary S. third, the dam has a yearling colt by New Bay (GB). The Queen's Carlton House (Street Cry {Ire}), second in both the G1 Prince Of Wales's S. and G1 Ranvet S., is a member of the extended family.

EL BODEGON (IRE), Kodiac (GB)–Al Andalyya (Kingmambo)
Owner: Nas Syndicate & A F O'Callaghan.
Breeder: Cecil & Martin McCracken.
Trainer: James Ferguson.
Sales History: James Ferguson shelled out 70,000gns during Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale to acquire this April foal.
Pedigree Notes: Besides this colt and his older globetrotting full-brother Best Solution (Ire), who has also won at the highest level, Al Andalyya is represented by a yearling colt by Night of Thunder (Ire). Her second dam, Group 3 winner Eva Luna (Alleged), left G1 St Leger victor Brian Boru (GB) (Sadler's Wells) and his half-brother, multiple Group 2 winner Sea Moon (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}), who was also third in that Classic. Sir Michael Stoute's fifth G1 Derby winner Workforce (GB) (King's Best) is also of this lineage.

LASSAUT (FR), Almanzor (Fr)–Lady Family (Fr) (Sinndar {Ire})
'TDN Rising Star'.
Owner: Riviera Equine SARL, Haras d'Etreham Et Al.
Breeder: Haras d'Etreham & Riviera Equine SARL.
Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget.
Sales History: Foaled on Valentine's Day, the bay failed to find a new home for £67,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale.
Pedigree Notes: After foaling this colt, Lady Family visited Almanzor's sire Wootton Bassett (GB) and produced a filly in 2020. Dual group winner and G1 Prix Morny second Family One (Fr) (Dubai Destination) is a half-brother to Lady Family. Group 1-winning sprinters G Force (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) and Lethal Force (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), as well as Breeders' Cup and G1 French 1000 Guineas winner Flotilla (Fr) (Mizzen Mast), descend from the winning third dam. This term's French 1000 Guineas heroine Mangoustine (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is also a part of this clan.

MACHETE (FR), Myboycharlie (Ire)–Maid To Believe (GB) (Galileo {Ire})
Owner/Breeder: Rashit Shaykhutdinov.
Trainer: Fabrice Chappet.
Sales History: Sent through the ring at the Arqana October Yearling Sale, this colt was a €52,000 buyback.
Pedigree Notes: The four-time winning dam won from one mile up to 1 1/2 miles throughout her career and has left the Group 3/III-placed Maid To Remember (GB) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) as her previous best offspring. Nestled under the stakes-winning third dam Stinging Nettle (GB) (Sharpen Up {GB}) is the GI Woodford Reserve Turf Classic S. winner Stroll (Pulpit), as well as the versatile GI Donn H. hero Lea (First Samurai).

ANCIENT ROME, War Front–Gagnoa (Ire) (Sadler's Wells)
Owner: M Tabor, D Smith, Mrs J Magnier & Westerberg.
Breeder: Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt.
Trainer: Andre Fabre.
Pedigree Notes: Thrice placed at Group 1 level, among them a second and third in the G1 French Oaks and the Irish equivalent, G3 Prix des Reservoirs scorer Gagnoa first threw the stakes-placed Galateia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and followed up with the Group 3 winner Etoile, a full-sister to this colt, as foal number six. Exclusively mated to Justify since 2019, the half-sister to the G1 Investec Derby victor Pour Moi (Fr) (Montjeu {Ire}) has a first-crop colt that arrived in 2020, The Black Tiger, and a pair of fillies in 2021 and 2022, to her name. Ancient Rome shares the same female family as the aforementioned Modern Games.

VAGALAME (IRE), Lope de Vega (Ire)–Solilea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
Owner/Breeder: Wertheimer & Frere.
Trainer: Carlos Laffon-Parias.
Pedigree Notes: Successful over 2400 metres at ParisLongchamp in her lone win, Solilea broke her black-type duck with her first foal, the listed winner and G1 Prix Saint Alary third Solsticia (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}). Her latest foal is a colt by Siyouni (Fr) already christened Sinileo (Ire), who arrived on Feb. 18. A fourth-generation Wertheimer & Frere homebred, Vagalame counts G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Plumania (GB) (Anabaa) as his second dam. She, in turn, is a half-sister to the dam of G1 Prix Vermeille winner Left Hand (GB) by Dubawi (Ire).

YOOZUNA (IRE), Kizuna (Jpn)–Your Game (Fr) (Montjeu {Ire})
Owner/Breeder: Wertheimer & Frere.
Trainer: Christophe Ferland.
Pedigree Notes: Another Wertheimer & Frere homebred whose dam struck at 2400 metres, Yoozuna is a half-brother to the stakes-placed Parafection (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), the unraced juvenile colt Gamestop (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and the yearling colt Gamestars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). The dam is a half-sister to three stakes winners, among them the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest victress Polydream (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}).

IVY LEAGUE (IRE), Galileo (Ire)–Timbuktu (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus})
Owner: Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & D Smith.
Breeder: Coolmore.
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien.
Pedigree Notes: A full-brother to the winning G2 Futurity S. third and G2 Royal Lodge runner-up Ontario (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), this colt is followed by Galileo full-brothers African Star (Ire), who has yet to race, and a yearling. His dam, from the female line of blue hen Reprocolor (GB) (Jimmy Reppin {GB}), is a half-sister to a pair of group-placed black-type winners. The stakes-winner Mona Lisa (GB) (Giant's Causeway), second in the G1 Prix de l'Opera; and third in both the G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Coronation S., is under the third dam.