Stepping up on her latest success in the Listed Prix de Thiberville over 12 furlongs at Saint-Cloud July 14, Golden Valentine continued her onward march with a clear-cut success in this competitive affair. Relishing the step up to 12 furlongs when scoring in a conditions event at Chantilly May 24, she was a short-head second to Spring Master (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in the G3 Prix du Lys over that same course and distance June 18 before defying a five-pound penalty when going one better on Bastille Day. Settled last early by Aurelien Lemaitre, the grey made her move nearest the stand's rail in the straight and after gaining the lead passing the furlong pole readily asserted to record an authoritative success. “She is a lovely filly who never runs a bad race and I think she did well to win last time with no pace on giving weight to the rest,” trainer Freddy Head commented. “Today, she had a little bit more pace to run at, but still not enough for her and yet managed to win. I have never had her so well for a race, but I still think she can improve for that. The plan is to keep her in training as a 4-year-old, but in the meantime the [G1] Prix Vermeille [at Chantilly Sept. 11] is next and we'll see from there.”
The winner is a full-sister to the former G3 Prix du Lys winner Goldwaki out of the G3 Prix Cleopatre scorer Gold Round, who is herself a half to the mighty Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa). As well as that multiple champion and triple GI Breeders' Cup Mile heroine, she also shares her dam Born Gold with the G1 Prix Vermeille heroine Galikova (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}), the G3 Prix Paul de Moussac scorer and Breeders' Cup Mile runner-up Anodin (Ire) (Anabaa) and G3 Prix de Guiche winner Gold Sound (Fr) (Green Tune). The third dam Riviere d'Or won the G1 Prix Saint-Alary before producing the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G1 Coronation S. heroine Gold Splash (Blushing Groom {Fr}), while others to fly the flag recently include the classy Sweet Acclaim (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and Turret Rocks (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Gold Round also has a 2-year-old filly by Redoute's Choice (Aus) named Golden Attitude and a filly foal by Kitten's Joy.
Sunday, Deauville, France
PRIX MINERVE-G3, €80,000, DVL, 8-14, 3yo, f, 12 1/2fT, 2:44.70, gd.
1–@GOLDEN VALENTINE (FR), 121, f, 3, by Dalakhani (Ire)
1st Dam: Gold Round (Ire) (GSW-Fr), by Caerleon
2nd Dam: Born Gold, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
3rd Dam: Riviere d'Or, by Lyphard
O-Laurence Roth, Mme Nancy Roth & Mme Jaime Roth; B-Foxwood Stables (FR); T-Freddy Head; J-Aurelien Lemaitre. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 6-4-1-0, €111,950. *Full to Goldwaki (Ger), GSW-Fr, $176,715; and 1/2 to Spectaculaire (GB) (Spectrum {Ire}), SW-Fr, $247,478. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
[bullet ad=”blackwood-graduate-2″]2–The Juliet Rose (Fr), 126, f, 3, Monsun (Ger)–Dubai Rose (GB), by Dubai Destination. (€650,000 Ylg '14 ARAUG). O-Mayfair Speculators SARL & Equifrance Holdings; B-Guy Heald (FR); T-Nicolas Clement. €16,000.
3–Sotteville (Fr), 121, f, 3, Le Havre (Ire)–Sandsnow (Ire), by Verglas (Ire). O-Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Franklin Finance SA (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €12,000.
Margins: 1HF, SNK, 3/4. Odds: 2.80, 4.00, 7.40.
Also Ran: Do Re Mi Fa Sol (Fr), Pakora (Fr), Deremah, Impressionist (Ire), Son Macia (Ger), Khaleesy (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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