By Tom Frary
There was a surprise in store in Sunday's G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet as the James Fanshawe-trained Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) took a significant jump in class to provide her trainer with a third renewal of this 10-furlong Deauville feature since 2014. Coming off a Newcastle handicap win over this trip Aug. 2, the 48-1 shot tracked the pace travelling easily and when committed by Ioritz Mendizabal grabbed the advantage before the furlong pole. Challenged by Ambition (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) all the way to the line, the bay who sports the silks of Alison Swinburn held her at bay to score by a neck, with four lengths back to Romanciere (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) in third. “I thought I was riding for a place, but this is a nice bonus,” Mendizabal admitted. “The trainer asked me to get a good position, but more importantly to get her to relax. She wasn't supposed to like the ground, but she was very comfortable and travelled very well on it. I'm not sure how she won like that and it's a nice story that Francois Doumen bred her, as I know him very well.”
Having saddled Ribbons (GB) (Manduro {Ger}) to win this six years ago and Speedy Boarding (GB) (Shamardal) to follow up two years later, it is safe to say that the Newmarket-based handler has previous form where this race is concerned but it took a leap of the imagination to suggest that Audarya could add to his tally. No great shakes at three, she took four starts to break her maiden and when she did it came at lowly Redcar in June before winning a mile Goodwood handicap and finishing runner-up in the Listed Prix Coronation at Saint-Cloud in two of her remaining outings last term. Returning to finish an encouraging eighth behind this race's 7-10 favourite Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in Kempton's Listed Snowdrop Fillies' S. over a mile June 3, she backtracked when sixth in the Listed Pipalong S. also at that trip at Pontefract July 7 before enjoying a class drop to regain confidence on Newcastle's Tapeta.
With that performance confirming her stamina, Audarya was placed prominently as Bolleville (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) cut out the fractions with Romanciere acting as her lead. With the latter left in front upon straightening for home, she had the ideal target and quickly took her measure dragging Ambition with her approaching the furlong marker. Nazeef was paddling at this point and the first two had the race between them as they stayed on strongly to draw away from the remainder.
Audarya's dam Green Bananas (Fr) (Green Tune) was a modest performer over middle distances for the Francois Doumen stable and did race at this meeting, finishing runner-up in a 12 1/2-furlong handicap in 2013. She is a daughter of the G3 Prix Minerve and G3 Prix d'Aumale-placed Anabaa Republic (Fr) (Anabaa). Things get more interesting under the fourth dam Jimka (Fr) (Jim French), whose son Jim and Tonic (Fr) (Double Bed {Fr}) proved one of the Doumens' finest flat performers when taking the G1 Hong Kong Cup, G2 Dubai Duty Free and G2 Hong Kong International Bowl as well as a clutch of group 3 contests in his native France. Jim and Tonic's full-sister Jimkana (Fr) was responsible for Mauralakana (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}), who captured the GI Beverly D. S., GII New York S. and GII Sheepshead Bay H., and also the dual listed scorer and G3 Prix de la Grotte runner-up Petit Calva (Fr) (Desert King {Ire}).
Sunday, Deauville, France
DARLEY PRIX JEAN ROMANET-G1, €150,000, Deauville, 8-23, 4yo/up, f/m, 10fT, 2:08.23, sf.
1–AUDARYA (FR), 126, f, 4, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Green Bananas (Fr), by Green Tune
2nd Dam: Anabaa Republic (Fr), by Anabaa
3rd Dam: Gigawatt (Fr), by Double Bed (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€125,000 Ylg '17 AROCT). O-Mrs A M Swinburn; B-Haras d'Ecouves (FR); T-James Fanshawe; J-Ioritz Mendizabal. €85,710. Lifetime Record: 11-4-4-0, €128,643. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ambition (GB), 126, f, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Talent (GB), by New Approach (Ire). (75,000gns 2yo '18 TATMAR). O-James Rowsell & Steve Ashley; B-Ashbrittle Stud & M H Dixon (GB); T-Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte. €34,290.
3–Romanciere (Ire), 126, f, 4, Dansili (GB)–Balladeuse (Fr), by Singspiel (Ire). O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €17,145.
Margins: NK, 4, NK. Odds: 48.00, 10.00, 12.00.
Also Ran: Dariyma (Fr), Bolleville (Ire), Nausha (GB), Suphala (Fr), Mutamakina (GB), Nazeef (GB), Velma Valento (Fr), Soudania (GB). Scratched: Durance (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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