By Tom Peacock
There is never a guarantee that a mare will pass on any of her exceptional racing ability on to her offspring. On an afternoon in early November at Chantilly came the first indication that Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) might be able to.
'TDN Rising Star' Terrakova (Ire) has a lot to live up to, being the second foal of the 14-time Group 1 winner to reach the racecourse, but has been given every chance as her sire is a certain Galileo (Ire). In training with Freddy Head, she was sent off a short-priced favourite in a nine-furlong maiden and justified her market position by an impressive 3 1/2 lengths.
Pierre-Yves Bureau, manager for owner-breeders the Wertheimer brothers, said, “She's doing well. At the moment she's just a maiden winner at two so we don't know how good she might be. Freddy is just starting her back and she is probably going to have a prep run for the French Guineas in the coming weeks. It could be something like the [G3] Prix de la Grotte [Apr. 16], but she should certainly be out soon.”
Fellow 'Rising Star' Plumatic (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is another gilt-edged prospect for the Wertheimers. Not ready to run last year for Andre Fabre, the son of G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Plumania (GB) (Anabaa) struck on his debut at Saint-Cloud a fortnight ago.
“He had been showing nice things and we were expecting him to run well, so we were really thrilled that he won,” said Bureau. “It looked quite a good race and hopefully he's a horse that is good enough to go for the [G1] Prix du Jockey Club [June 4]. He will have to go for one of the trials first and that will tell us a lot.”
Fabre has an enviable selection once again, with some in the blue colours of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani. Aim True (Ire) popped up on the same Polytrack card as Terrakova, coming away with a colts race over the same distance. He is a Galileo half-brother to Aidan O'Brien's The Bogberry and appears a middle-distance project.
The owner's racing manager, Bertrand Le Metayer, said, “He's a lovely galloping horse who won nicely. Unfortunately he just had a minor but annoying setback which lost him two or three weeks. However, it looks like he would be maybe three weeks away from a run.”
Le Metayer added that expectations are high for the same owner's Light Up The Night (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) who is in training with Francis Graffard.
“She won quite a good maiden at Chantilly three weeks ago and is pretty smart,” he said.
Among numerous Fabre winners in Godolphin blue was the grey Shamardal colt Graphite (Fr), a half-brother to G1 Hollywood Derby runner-up Fairly Ransom, who was fourth behind Veranda (Fr), Manqib and Falcon Wings (GB) in what looked a very good Maisons-Laffitte maiden in late September. He made a successful return to the same course a month later and was produced in good shape to make a wining seasonal debut in the G3 Prix La Force at Chantilly on Sunday.
Darley-bred Inns Of Court (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) also caught the eye from the Fabre barn in an end-of-season Chantilly maiden and is well entered-up.
“He is also ready to return to the track,” said Godolphin's French assistant bloodstock manager Lisa-Jane Graffard. “He too has done well and probably more of a seven-furlong/miler type.”
Fabre had to release his vice-like grip on the French title last season and is sure to face another stern challenge from Jean-Claude Rouget.
Among Rouget's portfolio for 2017 is La Cochere (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), bred by owner Gerard Augustin-Normand out of his listed winner Lady Meydan (American Post {GB}). She beat subsequent scorers Senga and Normandie (Ger) over 7 1/2 furlongs at Deauville last August and has numerous Group 1 entries.
Sylvain Vidal, who manages not only Le Havre but August-Normand's string, reported, “Jean-Claude Rouget loves this filly, she's doing very well, but it's too early to know what she's likely to do.”
Head would appear to have a strong bunch this season, although he warned that it was still too early to have formed any kind of pecking order.
His team for Shadwell includes Alrahma (GB) (Shamardal), who was second to Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) in the G1 Prix Morny and entered in the G1 2000 Guineas. In the same colours, and still engaged in the G1 1000 Guineas, is Ettisaal (GB) (Dubawi), who is a half-sister to connections' G1 Prix Jean Prat and Jacques le Marois hero Tamayuz out of Al Ishq (Fr) (Nureyev). She collected an August Maisons-Laffitte maiden in comfortable fashion.
“She had a little bit of a setback and isn't ready to run yet, but she's coming back nicely,” said Head. “I think she could be something good.”
The experienced Alex Pantall had yet another fruitful season from his base near Nantes and Ambivalence (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) looks one of Classic potential.
“She won very easily at a mile at Chantilly at the end of November and she's doing well,” Pantall said. “Hopefully she will progress towards the [G1] Prix de Diane [June 18], so there are one or two possibilities to run in before then.”
Fabrice Chappet, who has been firing in the winners in 2017 and will look to Speed As (Fr) (Evasive {GB}), a two-length winner at Chantilly a month ago, to continue the run.
“She made a good debut, she was quite impressive, and she looks quite a promising filly,” Chappet said. “She's a miler, although I think we can probably stretch her out further. She's entered in group races and we will probably pick one in a couple of weeks.”
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