By Tom Frary
She may have missed her first Classic launch mission, but His Highness The Aga Khan's TDN Rising Star Siyarafina (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) looked ready for another as she swooped to conquer in ParisLongchamp's G1 Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint Alary on Sunday. Unbeaten in two outings over a mile at Saint-Cloud Apr. 4 and here Apr. 22, the 7-10 favourite had quicker conditions to deal with this time but the result was the same as the homebred delivered with a deal of panache. Held up in fifth by Christophe Soumillon, the bay swooped on the pace-setter and eventual third Imperial Charm (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) with a furlong remaining before comfortably holding the outsider Olendon (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) by a length.
“We've known for a long time that she is a lovely filly and her two races so far had been good,” Alain de Royer-Dupre said. “We knew it was a test and we had to pass on the [G1 Poule d'Essai des] Pouliches, but she was in great form and I had no concerns about her staying the trip. She was maybe a little bit keen early on, but Christophe had her in the perfect spot and she relaxed and quickened beautifully. That was one race and now we have one more huge race to go for [the June 16 G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly]. Everyone knows we had a very moderate season last year and so it's nice to be back in the big league.”
She will be re-opposed there by the race's eye-catcher Olendon according to her trainer Pascal Bary. “That was a really nice performance and she has improved with every run,” he commented. “She stays well and deserves a crack at the Diane.” Imperial Charm's trainer Simon Crisford said of the third, “I'm delighted with her performance, as she's a filly who needs soft ground and would have liked it a little softer today. I'll see how she comes out of this and I'm in two minds at present, whether to try and keep going in the hope for good ground or stop with her and bring her back in the autumn.”
Siyarafina is out of the Listed Prix de Bagatelle winner Siyenica (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}), who was also third in the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein and G3 Prix de Lieurey. She is a half-sister to the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-winning leading sire Siyouni (Fr) also by Pivotal, the GI E. P. Taylor S. and G1 Sun Chariot S. heroine Siyouma (Ire) (Medicean {GB}) and Sayana (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}) who captured the Listed Prix Maurice Zilber and was runner-up in the G3 Prix Bertrand de Tarragon and G3 Princess Elizabeth S. The listed-winning second dam Sichilla (Ire) (Danehill) is a half to the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 Prix du Moulin-winning sire Slickly (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}). Siyenica's 2-year-old filly is by Invincible Spirit (Ire), while she also has a yearling colt by Golden Horn (GB).
Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
SAXON WARRIOR COOLMORE PRIX SAINT-ALARY-G1, €250,000, ParisLongchamp, 5-26, 3yo, f, 10fT, 2:06.48, g/s.
1–SIYARAFINA (FR), 126, f, 3, by Pivotal (GB)
1st Dam: Siyenica (Fr) (SW & MGSP-Fr, $102,865), by Azamour (Ire)
2nd Dam: Sichilla (Ire), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Slipstream Queen, by Conquistador Cielo
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Alain de Royer-Dupre; J-Christophe Soumillon. €142,850. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €172,850. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Olendon (Fr), 126, f, 3, Le Havre (Ire)–Talema (Fr), by Sunday Break (Jpn). (€65,000 Ylg '17 ARAUG). O-Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Franklin Finance SA, Mme Elisabeth Ribard & Sylvain Vidal (FR); T-Pascal Bary. €57,150.
3–Imperial Charm (GB), 126, f, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Reem Three (GB), by Mark of Esteem (Ire). O/B-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (GB); T-Simon Crisford. €28,575.
Margins: 1, HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.70, 49.00, 10.00.
Also Ran: Cala Tarida (GB), Merimbula, Fount (GB), Montviette (Fr), Phoceene (Fr), Morning Dew (Fr), Platane (GB), Idiosa (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
