By Sean Cronin
There was a buzz in the air building up to Sunday's Prix de Crevecoeur at Deauville, the latest instalment of France Galop's series of premium races for unraced 2-year-olds, and the 7 1/2-furlong renowned staging post did not disappoint as His Highness The Aga Khan's homebred Elbaz (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}–Elennga {Fr}, by Exceed And Excel {Aus}) delivered an impressive debut display.
The 9-5 favourite broke alertly and was reined back to stalk all five rivals as the whipper-in through halfway. Making eyecatching headway in the straight, he quickened in impressive fashion to challenge out wide passing the furlong marker and surged clear in hand to easily outpoint Godolphin's homebred Shadow Art (GB) (Masar {Ire}) by 2 1/2 lengths. Elbaz becomes the ninth 'TDN Rising Star' for Siyouni, himself a Rising Star, and joins an honour roll which also includes this season's leading sophomore colt Paddington (GB).
Smart colt!
Elbaz passes them all to make a taking winning debut at @fgdeauville for Jean-Claude Rouget and @CristianDemuro… pic.twitter.com/arqHdoA0SQ
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 30, 2023
“He has been a remarkable horse ever since I received him in training last autumn,” revealed trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. “After just 15 days he showed us he could be exceptional as there was something in his attitude and the way he moved. He has never missed one day of training, he has never had a problem and I have had this race in mind for him for a long time. He should be a horse for the Classics next year and we will give him one or two more starts this season.”
Elbaz is the third foal and scorer produced by Listed BMW Preis Dusseldorf third Elennga (Fr) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), herself a half-sister to G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix du Moulin heroine Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). Ervedya, in turn, is the dam of G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein and G3 Prix Paul de Moussac victor and G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois third Erevann (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}). Elennga is also a half-sister to the dam of Listed Prix de Thiberville and Listed Prix Occitanie runner-up Ebony (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}). The March-foaled homebred bay, whose second dam is G3 Prix Vanteaux runner-up Elva (Ire) (King's Best), hails from the family which includes G1 Gran Premio del Jockey Club hero Erdelistan (Fr) (Lashkari {GB}).
1st-Deauville, €50,000, Mdn, 7-30, unraced 2yo, c/g, 7 1/2fT, 1:34.82, sf.
ELBAZ (FR), c, 2, by Siyouni (Fr)
1st Dam: Elennga (Fr) (SP-Ger), by Exceed And Excel (Aus)
2nd Dam: Elva (Ire), by King's Best
3rd Dam: Evora (Ire), by Marju (Ire)
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €25,000. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Cristian Demuro.
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