Rio de la Plata's Tahlie Hangs On In The Sandringham

Sent to Sunday's G2 Prix de Sandringham at Chantilly having won the Listed Prix des Lilas over the same course and mile trip May 11, Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard and Gerard Augustin-Normand's Tahlie (Fr) (Rio de la Plata) proved up to the task to prevail in a tussle with Kennella (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}). Settled behind the front trio early by Christophe Soumillon, the 13-10 favourite who had the subsequent G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Coeursamba (Fr) (The Wow Signal {Ire}) back in third when winning a conditions event over this trip at ParisLongchamp Apr. 22 was committed approaching the final 300 metres. Gaining the advantage soon after, the bay held on by a head from the Pouliches third before surviving an enquiry. “She's a tough filly who is still improving,” trainer Pascal Bary said. “I know she beat the Pouliches winner before, but I have no regrets that we passed on that race as it was coming too soon for her and this was the perfect path. We will give her a short break now and aim her at the [G1 Prix] Rothschild [at Deauville Aug. 3].”

Tahlie, who has come a long way since her sixth in the G3 Prix Miesque over seven furlongs here in October, is the last known foal and one of four stakes performers out of the Listed Prix Coronation winner Tianshan (Fr) (Lahint). They include her full-sister Thais (Fr), who also took the Prix des Lilas before finishing third in the GI Beverly D. S. and GI Flower Bowl S. Tianshan, who also produced the G3 Prix des Reservoirs and G3 Prix de Lieurey winner Trixia (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), hails from the family of the GII Fayette S. winner The Player (Street Hero) and the five-times graded-stakes winner Megan's Bluff (Pine Bluff), who was in turn responsible for the GIII Pilgrim S.-winning sire Elusive Bluff (Elusive Quality).

Sunday, Chantilly, France
PRIX DE SANDRINGHAM-G2, €130,000, Chantilly, 6-6, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:40.82, sf.
1–TAHLIE (FR), 123, f, 3, by Rio de la Plata
1st Dam: Tianshan (Fr) (SW-Fr, $220,180), by Lahint
2nd Dam: Tangshan, by Zilzal
3rd Dam: Manzanares, by Sir Ivor
1ST GROUP WIN. O-Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard & Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Georges Sandor (FR); T-Pascal Bary; J-Christophe Soumillon. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 8-4-1-0, €141,420. *Full to Thais (Fr), SW & GSP-Fr, MGISP-US, $342,589; and Teston (Fr), SP-Fr, $152,643; and 1/2 to Trixia (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), MGSW-Fr, $168,214. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Kennella (Fr), 123, f, 3, Kendargent (Fr)–Ella Diva (Fr), by Heliostatic (Ire). O-Derek Ronald Lodge & Nicolas Campos; B-Gaec Campos (FR); T-Nicolas Caullery. €28,600.
3–See the Rose (Ire), 123, f, 3, Kendargent (Fr)–Xaarienne (GB), by Xaar (GB). (€180,000 Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Sean Mulryan, Linda Shanahan, Susan Magnier & Bernardine Mulryan; B-John O'Connor (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €13,650.
Margins: HD, 2HF, 1HF. Odds: 1.30, 3.60, 1.80.
Also Ran: Silvestri (Fr), Bellissime (Ire). Scratched: Ansilia (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.