By Sean Cronin
Sunderland Holding's G1 Yorkshire Oaks fifth and G1 Prix Vermeille third Sea Silk Road (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}–Oriental Magic {Ger}, by Doyen {Ire}) added to her victory in June's G3 Pinnacle S. with a decisive three-length triumph for a career high in Saturday's G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu at ParisLongchamp.
Employing patient tactics off the tempo in rear for most of the 14-furlong stamina test, the 38-5 chance made smooth headway on the bridle in the straight to seize control entering the final furlong and powered clear of toiling rivals thereafter to easily outpoint 97-1 outsider Diva Donna (Fr) (Cima De Triomphe {Ire}) by open water. La Mehana (Fr) (Al Wukair {Ire}) was best of the remainder and finished 1 1/2 lengths adrift in third. Connections also won this contest last year with Sea La Rosa (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
“[Owner] Mrs Tsui decided to keep her in training this year and she was right to do so as the filly is having a magnificent season,” said Maureen Haggas. “Last year, she was still very immature, but she has made big strides forward this season. She has strengthened up, won a Group 3 race before being placed in a Group 1, and today she has won her Group 1. She really picked up at the finish, but has sometimes tended to prick her ears and idle once she hits the front. We're going to discuss the next step together, but I suppose she could be retired to stud. You can't improve on a Group 1 win. It's very emotional because she was bought as a yearling by John Clarke, who passed away this year. This win is dedicated to his memory and we're all very emotional.”
Julien Carayon was delighted with the performance of runner-up Diva Donna and commented, “You had to take a leap of faith and she put in a very, very good performance. Nobody wanted her when she came up for sale this summer [her owners bought her back for €55,000]. People don't look at performances, they focus too much on pedigrees. She's a very good mare and we're now going to head to the [Oct. 29 G1] Prix Royal-Oak [back here].”
Reflecting on the effort of third-place finisher La Mehana, Jean-Claude Rouget added, “We're pleased because we were backing her up again following a two week interval and my horses aren't used to that. However, La Mehana had come out of her previous race in very good order and we knew that good ground was the order of the day. Despite the soft ground in the [G2] Prix de Pomone at Deauville last time, the filly still managed to finished fifth against the same opposition. We reasoned that a place was within her compass and she proved very brave in a race in which no quarter was asked for or given. She helped set the race up by racing prominently, but she likes to run that way and dominate. She's a really good filly.”
Pedigree Notes
Sea Silk Road, who becomes the 20th Group 1 winner for her sire, is one of three winners from as many runners produced by Listed Winterkonigin-Trial and G3 Grosser Preis von Lotto Hamburg third Oriental Magic (Ger) (Doyen {Ire}). Oriental Magic is kin to G2 Gerling-Preis and G3 Deutsches St Leger victor Oriental Eagle (Ger) (Campanologist) and MGSP G2 Prix Kergorlay second Oriental Fox (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}). The March-foaled bay's stakes-winning second dam Oriental Pearl (Ger) (Big Shuffle) is kin to three black-type performers and a full-sister to the dam of MGSW G1 Deutsches Derby and G1 Grosser Preis von Baden placegetter Oriental Tiger (Ger) (Tiger Hill {Ire}). Oriental Magic has the unraced 2-year-old filly Next Trick (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}) and a yearling full-sister to Sea Silk Road to come.
An absolute romp in Paris!
Sea Silk Road bounds clear to win the G1 Prix de Royallieu in scintillating fashion for the William Haggas team.
She's entered for the QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes on #ChampionsDay.
— Champions Series (@ChampionsSeries) September 30, 2023
Saturday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX DE ROYALLIEU-G1, €300,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-30, 3yo/up, f/m, 14fT, 2:57.06, g/s.
1–SEA SILK ROAD (IRE), 131, f, 4, by Sea The Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Oriental Magic (Ger) (SW & GSP-Ger, SP-Fr), by Doyen (Ire)
2nd Dam: Oriental Pearl (Ger), by Big Shuffle
3rd Dam: Orange Bowl (Ire), by General Assembly
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (190,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Sunderland Holding Inc; B-Kildaragh Stud (IRE); T-William Haggas; J-Aurelien Lemaitre. €171,429. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 12-4-2-2, €446,004. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Diva Donna (Fr), 131, m, 5, Cima De Triomphe (Ire)–Grande Synthe (Fr), by Dunkerque (Fr). GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Julien Carayon & Mme Marielle Alexandre; B-GFA Du Pont Rouge (FR); T-Julien Carayon. €68,580.
3–La Mehana (Fr), 131, f, 4, Al Wukair (Ire)–Oceanie (Fr), by Dansili (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (€55,000 RNA Ylg '20 ARQSEP). O-Mlle Selina Fernandez-Shaw Alvarez & Noir Et Or Elevage SA; B-Noir Et Or Elevage SA (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €34,290.
Margins: 3, 1HF, SNK. Odds: 7.60, 97.00, 19.00.
Also Ran: Rue Boissonade (Fr), Mimikyu (GB), Alpenblume (GB), Shamida (Ire), Melo Melo (GB), Poptronic (GB), Ottery (GB), Thunder Roll (Ire), Baiykara (Fr), Library (Ire), Sumo Sam (GB). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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