By Sean Cronin
Thrown into this Classic trial after a debut success in which the winning margin of a short neck did not tell the whole story over a mile on the Polytrack at Chantilly Mar. 2, Via Ravenna proved that Andre Fabre's renowned judgment has not wavered an inch by readily dismissing her rivals and completing an afternoon double for her in-form trainer. Anchored in last early as stablemate Al Wukair (Ire) (Dream Ahead) had been in the earlier G3 Prix Djebel, the homebred was similarly able to close down a sizeable deficit within the space of a furlong as she was brought wide for her challenge by Vincent Cheminaud. Swooping on Thais with 150 metres remaining, the bay asserted to put herself firmly in the picture for a tilt at the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at Deauville May 14. “She is still a little bit green and inexperienced, so there is room for improvement,” her trainer said. “She holds an entry in the Pouliches and that is where she will go.”
The winner, who captured the G3 Prix des Reservoirs as a juvenile, is a half-sister to the G3 Prix de Lieurey winner Via Medici (Ire) (Medicean {GB}). She was later the dam of the listed-winning and G1 Premio Lydia Tesio third Via Pisa (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) and the G2 Balanchine runner-up Via Firenze (Ire) (Dansili {GB}). Others out of Via Milano are the stakes-placed Fifth Commandment (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and the G3 Prix Vanteaux third Via Manzoni (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}), while she has a 2-year-old colt by Mastercraftsman (Ire) named Mister President (Fr).
Monday, Maisons, Laffitte, France
PRIX IMPRUDENCE-G3, €80,000, MLF, 4-10, 3yo, f, 7fT, 1:25.80, gd.
1–#@VIA RAVENNA (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Raven's Pass
1st Dam: Via Milano (Fr) (GSW-Fr, $131,706), by Singspiel (Ire)
2nd Dam: Salvinaxia (Fr), by Linamix (Fr)
3rd Dam: Salve (Ire), by Sallust (GB)
O/B-Haras de Saint Pair (IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Vincent Cheminaud. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €52,500. *1/2 to Via Medici (Ire) (Medicean {GB}), GSW-Fr, $111,524. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Thais (Fr), 126, f, 3, Rio de la Plata–Tianshan (Fr), by Lahint. (€140,000 Ylg '15 AROCT). O-Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard & Mme Georges Sandor; B-G & Mme G Sandor (FR); T-Pascal Bary. €16,000.
3–Silver Storm (Fr), 126, f, 3, Kendargent (Fr)–Fantastic Filly (Fr), by Myrakalu (Fr). O/B-Mme Yolande Seydoux de Clausonne & Eric Puerari (FR); T-Christophe Ferland. €12,000.
Margins: 1, 1HF, 3/4. Odds: 7.60, 5.90, 19.90.
Also Ran: Speed As (Fr), Gokena (Fr), Normandel (Fr), Double Lady (Fr), Deep Inside (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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