By Sean Cronin
Alounak followed up a July 30 debut score going seven panels at Munich with a fourth, when upped to this trip, in Deauville's Aug. 18 Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage last time and upset odds-on favourite Royal Youmzain to secure a career high for himself and his freshman sire (by Montjeu {Ire}) here. Trailing his three rivals after a slightly awkward getaway, he was nudged along on the home turn and kept on relentlessly under late urging once powering into contention approaching the final furlong to get his head in front nearing the line.
Alounak becomes the first black-type winner for Camelot (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) and is kin to a yearling colt by New Approach (Ire). He is the first foal out of Awe Struck (GB) (Rail Link {GB}), who is an unraced half-sister to G1 Matron S.-winning Irish highweight Emulous (GB) (Dansili {GB}), G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron victor First Sitting (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and Listed Criterium de Vitesse victress Daring Diva (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who in turn produced three stakes performers including G2 Ridgewood Pearl S. heroine Brooch (Empire Maker) and MSW G2 Blandford S. runner-up Caponata (Selkirk). His grandam Aspiring Diva (Distant View), who ran third in the Listed Prix Herod, is out of GII Shuvee H. and GIII Sixty Sails H. victress Queen of Song (His Majesty), herself a full-sister to GI Jersey Derby hero Cormorant.
Sunday, Dusseldorf, Germany
GROSSER PREIS VON ENGEL & VOLKERS DUSSELDORF – 93RD JUNIOREN-PREIS -Listed, €25,000, DSS, 9-10, 2yo, 8fT, 1:39.52, sf.
1–ALOUNAK (FR), 128, c, 2, by Camelot (GB)">Camelot (GB)
1st Dam: Awe Struck (GB), by Rail Link (GB)
2nd Dam: Aspiring Diva, by Distant View
3rd Dam: Queen of Song, by His Majesty
*1st stakes win. (€110,000 Ylg '16 ARAUG). O-Darius Racing; B-East Bloodstock & SCEA des Prairies (FR); T-Jean-Pierre Carvalho; J-Marc Lerner. €14,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, €29,200.
2–Royal Youmzain (Fr), 126, c, 2, Youmzain (Ire)–Spasha (GB), by Shamardal. O-Jaber Abdullah. €6,500.
3–Dina (Ger), 122, f, 2, Nathaniel (Ire)–Diatribe (GB), by Tertullian. O-Gestut Rottgen. €3,000.
Margins: HD, 3/4, NK. Odds: 1.80, 0.60, 4.80.
Also Ran: Move Over (GB). Scratched: Tigre du Terre (Fr), Barista (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result.
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