By Sean Cronin
Never a factor when eighth in last month's G1 Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp, His Highness The Aga Khan's Valia (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) returned to the Bois de Boulogne track for Saturday's G2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay and disposed of five rivals with ease to kick off a bumper weekend of stakes festivities. The homebred bay, who debuted with a 12-furlong success at Clairefontaine in June, bagged the July 23 Listed Prix de Thiberville before losing her perfect record when second in Deauville's Aug. 16 G3 Prix Minerve in her penultimate start. Settled at the tail of the six-runner field for most of this 15-furlong marathon, she made smooth headway on the bridle in the straight to challenge full of run at the quarter-mile marker and was pushed clear once seizing control entering the final furlong to easily prevail by two lengths from Godolphin's Nemean Lion (Ger) (Golden Horn {GB}), who got the better of Step By Step (Fr) (Sidestep {Aus}) by a short neck in the tussle for minor honours.
“She was unlucky last time out in the Vermeille and no doubt she would have finished in the first three,” insisted trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre. “I chose this race because we already had one [Ebaiyra] for the [G1 Qatar Prix de] Royallieu. She made a brilliant move two out and won well. If she comes out of this race in good order she will come back here for the [Oct. 25 G1] Prix Royal-Oak.”
Valia is the lone foal out of G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches runner-up Veda (Fr) (Dansili {GB}), herself kin to this year's Listed Prix Joubert runner-up Vadalda (Fr) and the leading performer produced by G3 Prix Cleopatre and G3 Prix de Psyche victress Vadapolina (Fr) Trempolino). Vadapolina, who earned TDN Rising Star status in 2007, is a half-sister to the G1 Prix Saint-Alary-winning duo Vadawina (Ire) (Unfuwain) and Vazira (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). Out of a dual stakes-placed half-sister to MG1SW sire Valixir (Ire) (Trempolino), Vadawina produced five black-type performers headed by GSW G1 Gran Premio di Milano third Vadamar (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and GSW G1 Racing Post Trophy third The Pentagon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Valia's fourth dam Vadlamixa (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) produced G1 Queen Anne S. and G1 Prix d'Ispahan scorer Valixir (Ire) (Trempolino) and is kin to the GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero Val Royal (Fr) (Royal Academy).
Saturday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX CHAUDENAY-G2, €140,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-3, 3yo, 15fT, 3:30.55, hy.
1–VALIA (FR), 125, f, 3, by Sea the Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Veda (Fr) (G1SP-Fr, $236,013), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Vadapolina (Fr), by Trempolino
3rd Dam: Vadaza (Fr), by Zafonic
1ST GROUP WIN. O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Alain de Royer-Dupre; J-Christophe Soumillon. €79,800. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, €120,000. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Nemean Lion (Ger), 128, c, 3, Golden Horn (GB)–Ninfea (Ger), by Selkirk. (€205,000 Ylg '18 BBAGS). O-Godolphin; B-Dr Christoph Berglar (GER); T-Andre Fabre. €30,800.
3–Step By Step (Fr), 128, c, 3, Sidestep (Aus)–Anavera (Ger), by Acatenango (Ger). (€19,000 Ylg '18 ARQNOV; €26,000 2yo '19 ARQMAY). O-Ecurie des Monnaies, Ecurie Billon, Mohammad Joomun, Jean-Noel Bocahut, Clement Tropres & Yann Barberot; B-Erick Bec de la Motte (FR); T-Yann Barberot. €14,700.
Margins: 2, SNK, 2. Odds: 3.40, 5.20, 6.60.
Also Ran: Max Vega (Ire), Mykiss (Fr), Mythical (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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