By Sean Cronin
Jean-Claude Rouget trainee Zelda (Fr) (Zaelzal {Fr}) became the first black-type winner for her Haras de Bouquetot-based freshman sire (by Sea the Stars {Ire}) with a pillar-to-post victory by two lengths in Saturday's Listed Prix Saraca at Chantilly.
Zelda bagged a July 9 debut score going six furlongs in a Saint-Cloud newcomers' heat and doubled up over seven in an Aug. 4 conditions heat at Clairefontaine, but finished last of six tackling the latter trip in ParisLongchamp's Sept. 5 G3 Prix La Rochette last time. Breaking sharply from the outside gate to seize an immediate lead, she held sway throughout and maintained a high tempo under late urging to collect a first black-type rosette in ultimately comfortable fashion.
“She didn't appreciate the seven-furlong track at Longchamp last time and travelled the whole way on the wrong lead,” explained Jean-Bernard Roth, assistant to Jean-Claude Rouget. “The more her jockey tried to get her to relax, the more she contracted herself and never took a breath. She has put that behind her in very good style today. She remains a very nice prospect for next year and she is done for this season.”
Zelda is the latest of four foals and one of three scorers from as many runners out of a half-sister to three stakes performers headed by GIII Buena Vista H. victrix Uraib (Ire) (Mark of Esteem {Ire}). Her dam Hortensia (Ity) (Orpen) is also a half-sister to the dam of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile-winning sire Vale of York (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Zelda's third dam Steel Habit (Ire) (Habitat) produced G2 Prince of Wales's S.-winning sire Batshoof (GB) (Sadler's Wells) and Listed Hong Kong Derby winner Sound Print (Ire) (Be My Guest). Descendants of her G3 Cherry Hinton S.-winning fourth dam Ampulla (Crowned Prince), herself a half-sister to G1 Phoenix S. heroine Smokey Lady (Ire) (Habitat), include G1 2000 Guineas-winning sire King of Kings (Ire) (Sadler's Wells).
Saturday, Chantilly, France
PRIX SARACA-Listed, €60,000, Chantilly, 10-9, 2yo, 7fT, 1:30.67, vsf.
1–ZELDA (FR), 125, f, 2, by Zelzal (Fr)
1st Dam: Hortensia (Ity), by Orpen
2nd Dam: Hamsaat (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Steel Habit (Ire), by Habitat
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Infinity Nine Horses, Ecurie Castillon Bloodstock & Ecurie Jeffroy; B-SCEA des Prairies, Ecurie de Castillon, Benoit Jeffroy & Thomas Jeffroy (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Cristian Demuro. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, €60,500.
2–Chili Flag (Fr), 125, f, 2, Cityscape (GB)–Flag Day (GB), by Pivotal (GB. (€5,000 RNA Wlg '19 ARQDE). O-Alain Jathiere, Gerard Augustin-Normand & Maurizio Guarnieri; B-Finanza Locale Consulting SRL; T-Maurizio Guarnieri. €12,000.
3–Antharis (GB), 128, g, 2, Sea The Moon (Ger)–Arribia (Ger), by Soldier Hollow (GB). O-Bernd Dietel; B-Avatara SA (GB); T-Andreas Suborics. €9,000.
Margins: 2, 1, 3/4. Odds: 2.10, 7.10, 17.00.
Also Ran: Bastogne (Ire), Exigency (GB), Lovamour (Fr), Nirliit (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by TVG.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
