Some time before Jean-Claude Rouget was a household name in Europe, Joseph Allen saw what others had yet to and it was War Flag's half-brother Battle Paint who brought the partnership to the forefront when second in the 2006 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. He was followed by the eventual GII Strub S. runner-up Blue Exit and 2009 G2 Prix de Sandringham scorer Homebound, before the floodgates opened and the green-and-white checks were prominent in the better French races year upon year.
War Flag has enjoyed the typical Rouget nursing early in her career, finishing runner-up on debut over 7 1/2 furlongs on Deauville's Polytrack Mar. 4 before winning over nine furlongs at Maisons-Laffitte Apr. 13 and finishing second over a mile and a quarter on turf here May 9. Back in the winner's spot returning to the Polytrack over 9 1/2 furlongs at this venue at the start of last month, the bay may have been one with most to find in this line-up but readily bridged the gap to enter the elite among her stable's talented 3-year-olds. Sluggish from the stalls and settled in last by Christophe Soumillon as the ultimately disappointing TDN Rising Star Maquette (Tapit) led early, she was delivered wide in the straight to gain the advantage from Chartreuse with a furlong remaining and was comfortably in command in the final yards. “She is a really nice filly who physicically looks outstanding,” Rouget commented. “She improves with every run and has a beautiful pedigree, so it is obviously great that she is a group winner now. We'll see where she runs next, as I have nothing in mind, but the [G2] Prix de la Nonette [at Deauville Aug. 23] could be a possibility.”
War Flag is also a full-sister to the former Aidan O'Brien-trained Lines of Battle, who was a G2 UAE Derby winner for that outfit before transforming into Helene Super Star in Hong Kong and winning the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup and earning champion stayer status. Black Speck is a half-sister to the leading sire Dynaformer and to the dams of the GI Suburban H.-winning sire Offlee Wild and G1 July Cup runner-up and sire US Ranger, as well as the GII Norfolk S.-winning sire Supremo and GII Chilukki S. scorer Sangrita (Mr. Greeley). Her unraced daughter Photograph (Unbridled's Song) is the dam of last year's G3 Prix de Guiche winner and G1 Prix du Jockey Club third War Dispatch, who like another of her group-placed sons George Patton is by War Front.
Sunday, Chantilly, France
PRIX CHLOE-G3, €80,000, CHY, 7-10, 3yo, f, 9fT, 1:48.68, gd.
1–#@WAR FLAG, 123, f, 3, by War Front">War Front
1st Dam: 1st Dam: Black Speck, by Arch
2nd Dam: Andover Way, by His Majesty
3rd Dam: On the Trail, by Olympia
O/B-Joseph Allen (KY); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Christophe Soumillon. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-2-0, €80,300. *Full to Helene Super Star, Champion Stayer & G1SW-HK, Hwt. 3yo-UAE at 9 1/2-11f, GSW-UAE, SW & GSP-Ire, $2,604,686; and 1/2 to Homebound (Dixie Union), GSW-Fr, $190,258; Blue Exit (Pulpit), SW-Fr & SP-US, $178,178; and Battle Paint (Tale of the Cat), G1SP-Fr, $187,188. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”us-bred-ky-bred”]2–Chartreuse (Ire), 123, f, 3, Lawman (Fr)–Bufera (Ire), by King's Best. (€100,000 Ylg '14 GOFORB). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing; B-Citadel Stud (IRE); T-Freddy Head. €16,000.
3–Magnolea (Ire), 123, f, 3, Acclamation (GB)–Carcassonne (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). (€150,000 Ylg '14 ARAUG). O-Faisal Salman; B-Ecurie des Monceaux (IRE); T-Jean-Claude Rouget. €12,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1 1/4, NO. Odds: 5.80, 3.50, 20.10.
Also Ran: Tickle Me Blue (Ger), Fireglow (GB), Maquette, Monaco Show (Fr), Besotted (Ire). Scratched: Switching, Aim to Please (Fr). 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.
