By Tom Frary
Where the preceding G3 Prix de Fontainebleau was a steadily-run affair, the G3 Prix de la Grotte proved a true test and it was Lady Bamford's classy and dependable Tropbeau (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) who came out comfortably on top in the trial for the upcoming G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. Last seen finishing third when encountering significant late trouble in running in the six-furlong G1 Cheveley Park S. at Newmarket in September, the G3 Prix Six Perfections and G2 Prix du Calvados winner waited in third early with a suitable strong pace to run at courtesy of the free-going Khayzaraan (GB) (Kingman {GB}). Coming between stablemate Tickle Me Green (Ger) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) and Dream and Do (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) passing the furlong pole, the 2-1 favourite asserted under less-than-intense urging from Mickael Barzalona to hold the aces over Dream and Do by a half length, with Tickle Me Green a head away after running with real credit having chased the pace throughout. The winning time was just under two seconds faster than the colts' trial, adding genuine substance to the race's visual impression.
Tropbeau, whose wins over seven furlongs in Deauville's Six Perfections and Calvados marked her as a thorough professional, had found the hot pace of the Cheveley Park a shock to the system before picking up and coming home strongly. Running into a closed alley as the front pair duelled to the line, she would probably have been second to Millisle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in the Newmarket feature and so this first try at a mile looked within her reach. In the event, there was no hiding place and she was able to prove her stamina ahead of the course-and-distance Classic for which she is now a hot favourite.
Breeder Lord Margadale had this to say about the winner. “I bought the mare as a three-year-old at the July Sale. She was out of Frizzante and she won one or two small races. She went to Iffraaj in the first year, it was a very nice colt but unfortunately died in a paddock accident. Tropbeau was the second. She went through the ring at Book 2 in October 2018 and she didn't meet what I wanted her to, so Willie Browne bought her in partnership with ourselves and she then went to the Arqana breeze-up and made 180,000 euros.”
“By last autumn we knew Tropbeau was pretty good–she'd won a Group 2, she didn't get the run of the race in the Cheveley Park, Fabre knew it was probably a bit sharp for her, and that was that. She was a very easy character, quite strong. As a yearling she was strong, they liked her. Unfortunately, at the sales someone vetted her and they doped her for the x-rays. She came out of the vet's box and she fell over. She didn't hurt herself badly, but they had to hose her and walk her all night to stop anything happening, but it wobbled all the big boys. They came to have a look at her the next morning to make a last decision and she was walking up and down like a 15-year-old very pregnant broodmare!”
As outlined above, Tropbeau is a granddaughter of Frizzante (GB) (Efisio {GB}) who captured the G1 July Cup and is a full-sister to the dual listed-winning Firenze (GB) and a half to the Listed Abernant S. winner and G3 Bengough S. and G3 Chipchase S. runner-up Zidane (GB) (Danzero {Aus}). The third dam Juliet Bravo (GB) (Glow) is kin to the GI Yellow Ribbon S. and GI Gamely H. heroine Donna Viola (GB) (Be My Chief). Frangipanni's 2-year-old colt is by Iffraaj (GB), while she also has a yearling colt by Postponed (Ire) and is in foal to Dubawi (Ire). The Postponed colt sold for 280,000gns to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale.
Monday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX DE LA GROTTE-G3, €56,000, ParisLongchamp, 5-11, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:40.78, vsf.
1–TROPBEAU (GB), 126, f, 3, by Showcasing (GB)
1st Dam: Frangipanni (Ire), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Frizzante (GB), by Efisio (GB)
3rd Dam: Juliet Bravo (GB), by Glow
(60,000gns Ylg '18 TAOCT; €180,000 2yo '19 ARQMAY). O-Lady Bamford; B-Lord Margadale (GB); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona. €28,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Eng, 6-4-0-1, €190,674. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Dream and Do (Ire), 126, f, 3, Siyouni (Fr)–Venetias Dream (Ire), by Librettist). (€80,000 RNA Ylg '18 ARAUG). O/B-Haras du Logis Saint Germain (IRE); T-Frederic Rossi. €11,200.
3–Tickle Me Green (Ger), 126, f, 3, Sea The Moon (Ger)–Tickle Me Pink (GB), by Groom Dancer. O/B-Gestut Gorlsdorf (GER); T-Andre Fabre. €8,400.
Margins: HF, HD, 2HF. Odds: 2.00, 6.10, 3.80.
Also Ran: Ellerslie Lace (Fr), Quiet Times (Ger), Honey Cake (Ire), Kraquante (GB), Marly (Fr), Khayzaraan (GB). Scratched: Secret Time (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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