Wootton Bassett Filly Harissa Looks A Bright Prospect
As usual, the Wertheimers have an exciting Classic crop and the newcomer Harissa (Wootton Bassett) only added fuel to the fire at Chantilly on Monday.
“I think a bit of her and so it’s nice to see her confirm it,” trainer Christophe Ferland said. “She could go for the Prix du Louvre [conditions race at ParisLongchamp Apr. 16] and then directly to the [May 10] Poule d’Essai des Pouliches.”
Lining up as the 7-5 favourite for the mile fillies’ contest on the Polytrack, the daughter of the G3 Prix d’Arenberg winner Kalahara (Frankel) travelled with enthusiasm in the box seat before seizing command 1 1/2 furlongs from home.
At the line, the homebred had three lengths to spare over Juddmonte’s Arbus (Bated Breath), with another 3 1/2 lengths back to the Graffard eyecatcher Destivelle (Siyouni) in third.
Harissa holds entries in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches and Prix de Diane.
Harissa gives her rivals a pasting 🌶️
The Wertheimer-owned filly shows a smart turn of foot for @teamchferland and Maxime Guyon. She is entered in both the French 1000 Guineas & French Oaks… pic.twitter.com/0OxnmtuwnF
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) March 16, 2026
The winner is the first foal out of the dam, who was precocious enough to win the aforementioned Prix d’Arenberg over five furlongs and finish third in the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte as a juvenile. A half to the G3 Prix Eclipse scorer Sasparella (Shamardal), she is more notably a granddaughter of the operation’s Prix Maurice de Gheest heroine and top producer Occupandiste (Kaldoun) which links her to Galileo’s top-level winners Intello and Mondialiste.
Descended from the legendary broodmare Fall Aspen, whose dynasty includes Danzig’s July Cup hero Elnadim and the brilliant Dubai Millennium among many others, Kalahara also has the two-year-old filly Loppela (Lope De Vega) and the yearling colt Temoin by No Nay Never.
2nd-Chantilly, €24,700, Debutantes, 3-16, 3yo, f, 8f (AWT), 1:38.07, st.
HARISSA (IRE) (f, 3, Wootton Bassett {GB}–Kalahara {GB} {GSW-Fr}, by Frankel {GB}) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €12,350. O/B-Wertheimer et Frere; T-Christophe Ferland.