By Tom Frary
Claiborne Farm's first-crop sire Demarchelier {GB) by Dubawi {Ire}) was off the mark at Clairefontaine on Friday as White Birch Farm's homebred colt De Sica (Fr) captured the Prix de Roncheville over a mile. Runner-up on debut at Dieppe last month, the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained 4-1 shot raced behind the leading trio early and took time to warm up as the dash began in early straight. Building a head of steam to reel in Mister Fernando (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) inside the last 50 metres, the bay asserted for a 3/4-of-a-length success to register the landmark for the owner-breeder's GIII Pennine Ridge S. winner.
The winner is also the first runner for the dam, who was a stakes winner and was placed in the G3 Premio Regina Elena, GIII Noble Damsel S. and GIII Intercontinental S. Also connected to the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte-winning sire Blu Constellation (Ity) (Orpen) and the G1 Irish Champion S. and G1 Eclipse S.-winning sire Oratorio (Ire), her yearling daughter of Sottsass (Fr) is catalogued in the upcoming Tattersalls Ireland September Sale.
4th-Clairefontaine, €30,000, Cond, 8-18, 2yo, c/g, 8fT, 1:42.10, vs.
DE SICA (FR) (c, 2, Demarchelier {GB}–Stella Di Camelot {Ire}, by Camelot {GB}) Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, €22,100. O/B-White Birch Farm (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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