TDN RISING STARS

April 12, 2024 - SAINT-CLOUD, Race 2, Cond, EUR €0, , .0000

Gala Real (Fr), F, 3, 2021 by Wootton Bassett (GB)

1st Dam: Cala Violina (Fr), by Lope de Vega (Ire)
2nd Dam: Aigue Marine (GB), by Galileo (Ire)
3rd Dam: Aiglonne, by Silver Hawk

Owner: Scuderia Dei Duepi, Ballylinch Stud, Ecurie des Charmes & Hisham Abdulwahed
Breeder: Noir et Or Elevage SA & Ecurie Skymarc Farm (FR)
Trainer: Alessandro & Giuseppe Botti

Alessandro and Giuseppe Botti trainee Gala Real (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) notched an 11-length tally when shedding maiden status at Lyon-Parilly last November and continued on the upgrade with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance in Friday's Prix Durban at Saint-Cloud.

The 73-10 chance, who had previously finished last of seven runners in her July 16 debut over seven furlongs at Chantilly, employed patient tactics from flagfall in this 10 1/2-furlong distaffers' test and settled off the tempo in sixth for the most part. Inching closer on the home turn, the daughter of Cala Violina (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) cruised to the front on the bridle passing the quarter-mile marker and was not for catching thereafter, lengthening clear under minimal urging inside the final 300 metres to easily outclass Wootton Zi (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) by an impressive 3 1/2 lengths. Gala Real becomes the sixth Rising Star for Wootton Bassett, whose existing quintet of inductees is headed by last term's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere runner-up Unquestionable (Fr).

“I was devastated when she lost first time out, but she won very well on her second start and I am not surprised she won so easily today,” admitted trainer Alessandro Botti. “She enjoyed a good winter, she worked with [Christophe] Soumillon and he said she sent him great vibes. The idea, and it was already the case before she ran today, is to have her at her best for the [June 16 G1] Prix de Diane [at Chantilly] and we will try to find a race for her between now and then.”