Successful in July's G3 Prix de Psyche at Deauville after running second to La Cressonniere (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) in the G1 Prix de Diane, Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's Left Hand confirmed her stature as one of France's leading distaffers with a career high in Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille at Chantilly. Steadied in fourth after breaking sharply on the lead, the 7-2 chance was pushed along to close inside the final quarter-mile and pounced in the dying strides to deny the pacesetting Endless Time by a half- length, with The Juliet Rose a further 3/4 of a length back in third. “We've never had any doubt in her staying this [12-furlong] trip as she comes from a top staying family and her dam won the [G2] Prix de Royallieu,” explained the owners' racing manager Pierre-Yves Bureau. “Of course, the [Oct. 2 G1 Prix de l'] Arc [de Triomphe back here] is a possibility, but we've already decided she will remain in training so that will be a factor when coming to a decision.”
Left Hand backed up a Sept. 3 debut win at Longchamp with a fourth in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac back there Oct. 4, but slipped to sixth in a hot conditions event at Maisons-Laffitte Apr. 19 on sophomore return. Just off the board in Deauville's May 16 G1 Prix Saint-Alary, the homebred chestnut improved further to run second behind the hitherto unbeaten La Cressonniere (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) here in the June 19 G1 Prix de Diane, and earned her first stakes badge in the G3 Prix de Psyche back on the Normandy coast last time July 30. “We've never made any secret that we've always held this filly in high regard,” insisted winning conditioner Carlos Laffon-Parias. “She was sick when she first ran [at Deauville] this year, but was much better in the Saint-Alary and has since confirmed her ability with a second in the Diane and a win [back] at Deauville last time. We'll discuss future plans with the owners and [racing manager] Pierre-Yves Bureau and, while it is natural to question if she will run in the Arc, we'll decide in due course.”
Endless Time suffered the infamous bounce when flopping on fast ground in the Aug. 18 G1 Yorkshire Oaks, having garnered Haydock's July 2 G2 Lancashire Oaks off a nine-month absence in her previous start, and her performance delighted trainer Charlie Appleby here. “The ground was too firm for her at York last time, but it was perfect for her today and I'm delighted with that,” he said. “We knew there wouldn't be much pace so we decided to go from the front and she ran very well. That will set her up perfectly for the [Oct. 15 G1] British Champions Fillies & Mares [at Ascot].”
Pedigree Notes…
Left Hand, marking the 24th individual Group 1 scorer for her sire, Dubawi (Ire), is a half-sister to a filly foal by Dansili (GB), the hitherto unraced 2-year-old colt and stablemate Acrobate (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), and Listed Prix Charles Laffitte victrix Bilissie (GB) (Dansili {GB}), and is the second stakes winner for her G2 Prix de Royallieu-winning dam. The next dam is Featherquest (GB) (Rainbow Quest), who also produced G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud heroine and 'TDN Rising Star' Plumania (GB) (Anabaa). The third dam, Featherhill (Fr) (Lyphard), had the G1 Prix Lupin hero Groom Dancer from a mating with Rainbow Quest's sire Blushing Groom (Fr), and includes the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains victor Falco (Pivotal {GB}), Japanese champion sprinter Kinshasa No Kiseki (Aus) (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}), and Australian Group 1 winners Absolutely (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) and Abbey Marie (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) among her descendants. Featherhill is a half to G1 Prix Vermeille winner Indian Rose (Fr) (General Holme), and is also closely related to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Sunday, Chantilly, France
QATAR PRIX VERMEILLE-G1, €350,000, CHY, 9-11, 3yo/up, f/m, 12fT, 2:33.23, gd.
1–&LEFT HAND (GB), 120, f, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Balladeuse (Fr) (GSW-Fr, $168,432), by Singspiel (Ire)
2nd Dam: Featherquest (GB), by Rainbow Quest
3rd Dam: Featherhill (Fr), by Lyphard
O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (GB); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias;
J-Maxime Guyon, €199,990. Lifetime Record: 7-3-1-0,
€512,495. *1/2 to Bilissie (GB) (Dansili {GB}), SW-Fr. Werk Nick
Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Endless Time (Ire), 129, f, 4, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Mamonta
(GB), by Fantastic Light. (115,000gns Wlg '12 TATFOA;
180,000gns Ylg '13 TAOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Mabaki
Investments (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. €80,010.
3–The Juliet Rose (Fr), 120, 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. €40,005.
Margins: HF, 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.50, 12.20, 14.00.
Also Ran: Highlands Queen (Fr), Candarliya (Fr), Golden Valentine (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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