Starspangledbanner Filly Takes The Six Perfections

Some choice 2-year-olds were on display at Deauville on Sunday and Gerard Augustin-Normand's Laulne (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) was among the pick as she captured the seven-furlong G3 Prix Six Perfections Sky Sports Racing. Always travelling with intent buried in mid-pack under man-of-the-moment Alexis Pouchin, the Yann Barberot-trained 9-1 shot who had won two races in the provinces burst to the front with 150 metres remaining and held on by half a length from the G2 Prix Robert Papin third Classic Flower (GB) (Calyx {GB}).

Laulne, who began her career over five furlongs in May with a third behind the subsequently listed-placed Flers (Fr) (Dream Ahead) at Chantilly, had gone to Chateaubriant to open her account over an extra half a furlong before doubling her tally going 6 3/4 furlongs at Lyon-Parilly in June. Trainer Yann Barberot was reaping the reward of going steadily with the homebred afterwards. “We were hopeful beforehand, as the filly had strengthened and gained experience from her three previous starts,” he said. “We are at home here and she had trained well for that on this same course. She is obviously good, but she also showed there that she is a fighter. We will try not to squeeze the lemon dry and save something for the good races later on like the [G1 Prix Marcel] Boussac. Why not? She may or may not run in three weeks' time here in the [G2 Prix du] Calvados.”

Pedigree Notes
Laulne is currently the last known foal out of the listed-placed Lady Francesca (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}), responsible for the Australian stakes winner Bartholomeu Dias (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}) and last week's impressive Ascot handicap-winning 3-year-old gelding Alhambra Palace (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}) who had cost 230,000gns at the 2021 Book 2. Lady Francesca is kin to the G3 Ridgewood Pearl S. and G3 Prix du Calvados winner Purr Along (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}) and to the Listed Land O'Burns Fillies' S. winner Katawi (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
The third dam Memory's Gold (Java Gold) produced three black-type performers headed by the G2 Falmouth S. winner and stakes producer Ronda (GB) (Bluebird), while her listed-placed daughter Mill Guineas (Salse) is the second dam of last year's G1 Grosser Preis von Baden hero Mendocino (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and the G3 Grosser Preis der Landeshauptstadt Dusseldorf scorer Marshmallow (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). Laune is also connected to a legend of the turf, with her G3 Princess Elizabeth S.-winning fourth dam Memory Lane (Never Bend) a full-sister to Mill Reef.

(A.Pouchin / Y.Barberot) enlève le Prix Six Perfections Sky Sports Racing (Gr.III) à Deauville

Cette pouliche de 2 ans décroche le premier groupe de sa carrière pic.twitter.com/8ACPB8x6nL

— Equidia (@equidia) July 30, 2023

Sunday, Deauville, France
PRIX SIX PERFECTIONS SKY SPORTS RACING-G3, €80,000, Deauville, 7-30, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:28.18, sf.
1–LAULNE (FR), 123, f, 2, by Starspangledbanner (Aus)
       1st Dam: Lady Francesca (GB) (SP-Eng & Fr, $104,074), by Montjeu (Ire)
       2nd Dam: Purring, by Mountain Cat
       3rd Dam: Memory's Gold, by Java Gold
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Franklin Finance S A (FR); T-Yann Barberot; J-Alexis Pouchin. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-1, €72,000. *1/2 to Bartholomeu Dias (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}), SW-Aus, $406,693. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Classic Flower (GB), 123, f, 2, Calyx (GB)–Crown Of Flowers (GB), by Garswood (GB). (45,000gns Wlg '21 TATFOA). O-Gousserie Racing & Jean-Etienne Dubois; B-Petches Farm Ltd (GB); T-Patrice Cottier. €16,000.
3–Geologist (GB), 123, f, 2, Territories (Ire)–Parknasilla (Ire), by Dutch Art (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (35,000gns Ylg '22 TATSOM). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Janis Macpherson (GB); T-Amy Murphy. €12,000. Margins: HF, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 8.90, 3.20, 10.00.
Also Ran: Voodoo Magic (Fr), Cavalletti (GB), Maymay (Fr), Minoushka (GB). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.