By Andrea Branchini
Sunday, Deauville, France
PRIX MINERVE-G3, €56,000, Deauville, 8-16, 3yo, f, 12 1/2fT, 2:54.11, hy.
1–WONDERFUL TONIGHT (FR), 123, f, 3, by Le Havre (Ire)
1st Dam: Salvation (GB), by Montjeu (Ire)
2nd Dam: Birdie (GB), by Alhaarth (Ire)
3rd Dam: Fade (GB), by Persepolis (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€40,000 Ylg '18
ARAUG). O-Christopher N Wright; B-Ecurie Taos (Fr); T-David
Menuisier; J-Tony Piccone. €28,000. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-1,
€51,592. *1/2 to Penjade (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}), SW-US
& MSP-Fr, $376,306. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
The 3-year-old filly Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}-Salvation {GB}, by Montjeu {Ire}), the post-to-post winner of the G3 Prix Minerve in Deauville on Sunday, has a deep background in music.
Most people know Eric Clapton's ballad of the same name. The song was about Patti Boyd, former wife of Beatle George Harrison and a rock muse that launched numerous hits. (“Something” and “Layla” are just two of them).
Still, this courageous filly's musical connection is not only with her gracious name, but with also her owner. Chris Wright was a brilliant manager/producer at the dawn of the glorious rock era in the 60s and produced some of the greatest star groups: Jethro Tull, Procol Harum, Blondie, Spandau Ballet, and Ultravox are just a few examples. He is also partly responsible for the showstopping and scene-stealing act of the 1969 Woodstock Festival (and 1970 movie): the British band Ten Years After covering the classic “I'm going home” in an unforgettable medley rendition, highlighted by the exploits of virtuoso guitarist Alvin Lee. Chris Wright was behind those curtains as well, as he discovered the band and managed it for a long time.
In any case, bloodstock agent Crispin De Moubray, who purchased the filly with David Menuisier for Wright, does a reasonable impression of Alvin Lee's solo singing at Woodstock.
So it's all in the family, waiting for the next great performance.
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