By Sean Cronin
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Raabihah (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who went untested as a juvenile, was up with the larks for a Jan. 23 debutantes' heat win at Cagnes-sur-Mer and doubled up with an impressive tally in ParisLongchamp's May 14 Listed Prix de la Seine before posting a commendable fourth, despite a troubled trip, pitched into Chantilly's rescheduled July 5 G1 Prix de Diane in her latest outing. Sent off as the 2-5 lock on a retrieval mission in Saturday's G3 Prix de Psyche Sky Sports Racing over 10 furlongs at Deauville, the homebred chestnut did not disappoint her legion of supporters and booked a ticket to France's end-of-season gala with a performance which simply oozed class. She was positioned several lengths off the pacesetting Arriviste (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) in fourth until improving one spot as the field bunched on the home turn. Overpowering toiling rivals once quickening in style for control approaching the final furlong, Raabihah surged clear in hand to easily dismiss Listed Prix Finlande victress Wangari (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) by an impressive 3 1/2 lengths with Wangari's Andre Fabre-trained stablemate Alkandora (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) emerging best of the remainder, finishing 3/4-of-a-length further back in third.
“I think what we have seen here today is a Group 1 filly,” said winning trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, who sent out Luna Kya (Fr) (Kendor {Fr}) to win this in 2001 and subsequent MGISW distaffer Zagora (Fr) (Green Tune) in 2010. “We knew that before, of course, but we missed the opportunity to win a big one in the Diane where she had an awful trip and didn't have enough experience to get herself out of trouble. We have been in racing long enough to know that these things happen. The pace was good today and the further she was going the more she was opening up on the rest.”
Rouget is now zoning in on targets back at the highest level with October's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe the ultimate goal this year. “For me, she is the best French filly around and she's not even running over her distance. We know she is a genuine mile-and-a-half filly, with her second and third dams both being Oaks winners, and the plan is to now go straight to the [Sept. 13 G1 Prix] Vermeille and then the [Oct. 4 G1 Prix de l'] Arc [de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp].”
Raabihah is one of two winners and the leading performer produced by Garmoosha (Kingmambo), who was bred to Noble Mission (GB) this year. The fourth of six foals, she is a half-sister to Listed Wait A While S. third Filfila (Kitten's Joy), a yearling filly by Kitten's Joy and a 2020 More Than Ready filly. Her dam is an unraced half to G1 Fillies' Mile third Firdaws (Mr. Greeley) out of G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Eswarah (GB) (Unfuwain), who in turn is a daughter of MG1SW G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Midway Lady (Alleged). The latter also produced G1 Irish 1000 Guineas third Umniyatee (GB) (Green Desert) and G3 Princess Royal S. victrix Itnab (GB) (Green Desert), who in turn is the dam of stakes-winning G3 Al Shindagha Sprint runner-up Alazeyab (El Prado {Ire}) and Peruvian Group 3 placegetter Madera de Guerrero (Street Cry {Ire}). Descendants of Umniyatee include Argentina's G1 Presidente da Republica victor Maltes (Brz) (Red Runner).
Saturday, Deauville, France
PRIX DE PSYCHE SKY SPORTS RACING-G3, €56,000, Deauville, 8-1, 3yo, f, 8fT, 2:02.81, gd.
1–RAABIHAH, 125, f, 3, by Sea the Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Garmoosha, by Kingmambo
2nd Dam: Eswarah (GB), by Unfuwain
3rd Dam: Midway Lady, by Alleged
1ST GROUP WIN. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Shadwell Farm LLC (KY); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Cristian Demuro. €28,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, €91,760. *1/2 to Filfila (Kitten's Joy), SP-US. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Wangari (Ger), 125, f, 3, Soldier Hollow (GB)–Wamika (Ger), by Shirocco (Ger). (€35,000 Ylg '18 BBAGO). O-White Birch Farm; B-Gestut Park Wiedingen; T-Andre Fabre. €11,200.
3–Alkandora (GB), 125, f, 3, Nathaniel (Ire)–Poplin (GB), by Medicean (GB). (85,000gns Ylg '18 TAOCT). O-Godolphin; B-D J Deer & Mrs D J Deer (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €8,400.
Margins: 3HF, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 0.40, 4.40, 8.00.
Also Ran: Arriviste (GB), Chorba (Fr), Run Wild (Ger), Euclidia (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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