Freshman Sire Victor Ludorum Off the Mark With Viva La Skids at Saint-Cloud

Haras d'Etreham resident Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal) became Europe's latest first-crop sire to get off the mark when his Adam West-trained daughter Viva La Skids (Fr) pounced late in the Thursday's six-furlong Prix Royal Hampton at Saint-Cloud to defeat 11 rivals on debut.

Occupying a position off the tempo towards the rear for the most part, the 77-2 outsider made relentless headway under pressure out wide inside the final quarter-mile and inched ahead in the dying strides to defeat Kalkara (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}) by a neck.

Viva La Skids, kin to a yearling filly by Wooded (Ire) from the family of Group 1-winning duo Satwa Queen (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}) and Spadoun (Fr) (Kaldoun {Fr}), is the first of two foals produced by a granddaughter of Lumiere Rouge (Fr) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), herself a half-sister to the dual Group 1-placed G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte and G3 Prix Daphnis victor Signe Divin (Bering {GB}). Lumiere Rouge is the dam of three stakes performers, headed by GI Manhattan Handicap-winning sire Desert Blanc (GB) (Desert Style {Ire}), and her descendants include dual Group-winning G1 2000 Guineas and G1 Dewhurst Stakes placegetter Wichita (Ire) (No Nay Never) and last year's G2 Rockfel Stakes-winning TDN Rising Star Bubbling (Ire) (No Nay Never).

 

🇫🇷Prix Royal Hampton
Saint Cloud – Classe 3 – 2 ans – 1200m – Bon Souple (3.3) – 12 Pts – 30 000 €

🏆Viva La Skids (f) 🏇Fabrice Veron
📖(Victor Ludorum (gb) @DarleyAus – Mandoline (Ire) par Muhaarar (Gb)

🕶️Adam West
🎩R.Deacon
🐎Ecurie Biraben pic.twitter.com/Jrym1eU0Fi

— French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) May 1, 2025