Jean-Claude Rouget's 3-year-olds show no sign of relenting in 2016 and Al Wathna became the latest group winner to emerge from his Pau stable when justifying favouritism in this weak-looking renewal. Appearing to need further than 10 1/2 furlongs despite winning a conditions event on the Polytrack at Chantilly Mar. 22, the bay was too conservatively ridden to stand a winning chance in the 11-furlong Listed Prix de la Seine on turf at that venue May 10 but showed promise when staying on into third behind The Juliet Rose (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}). Behind that rival again when second on heavy ground upped to this trip in the G3 Prix de Royaumont also at that track June 5, she was never too far away from the early pace with Gregory Benoist settling her behind the leading trio. Moving up on the home turn to gain a narrow lead with two furlongs to race, she was tackled by Impressionist a furlong later but was always dong enough to hold that rival and win a shade comfortably. Al Wathna's fourth dam is the G2 Prix de Pomone scorer and G1 Prix Vermeille third Light the Lights (Fr) (Shirley Heights {GB}), whose daughter Laramie (Gulch) would achieve stardom courtesy of a trio of classy performers. They are the G1 Prix de Diane heroine Latice (Ire) (Inchinor {GB}), the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Prix Jean Prat-winning sire Lawman (Fr) and Satri (Ire), who although lacking in the extra gear that his siblings possessed still managed to be second in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest. Still to come from Lemon Twist is a 2-year-old full-sister to the winner named Pollatine (Fr) and a yearling colt by Motivator (GB).
Sunday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX DE MALLERET-G2, €130,000, SCD, 7-3, 3yo, f, 12fT, 2:39.38, gd.
1–#@AL WATHNA (GB), 123, f, 3, by Nayef
1st Dam: Lemon Twist (Ire), by Marju (Ire)
2nd Dam: Lia (Ire), by Desert King (Ire)
3rd Dam: Lisheba, by Alysheba
(€72,000 Ylg '14 AROCT). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Petra Bloodstock Agency Ltd (GB); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Gregory Benoist. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 7-3-2-1, €129,850. Werk Nick Rating: First SW from this cross. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Impressionist (Ire), 123, f, 3, Montjeu (Ire)–Charroux (Ire), by Darshaan (GB). (130,000gns Ylg '14 TAOCT). O-Papillon Stables; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €28,600.
3–Do Re Mi Fa Sol (Fr), 123, f, 3, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Maitresse (Fr), by Singspiel (Ire). (€31,000 RNA Ylg '14 AROCT). O-Ecurie Seyssel & Haras de Saint-Voir; B-Haras de Saint-Voir (FR); T-Philippe Decouz. €13,650.
Margins: SNK, HD, HF. Odds: 0.90, 3.90, 10.60.
Also Ran: Mango Tango (Fr), Fee du Hazard (Fr), Gambissara (Fr), Jollify (Ire). Scratched: Deremah. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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