By Tom Frary
His Highness The Aga Khan's Shendam (Fr) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) was sent off at 11-2 and broke well to lead in this newcomers' event. Shaken up by Christophe Soumillon to press home his advantage turning into the straight, the homebred maintained the gallop to register an authoritative three-length beating of Battle of Toro (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}). Crete (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), the half-brother to the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and GI Canadian International winner Erupt (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), never threatened to get involved but ran a satisfactory debut to be a total of 8 3/4 lengths away in fourth. The winner is the first colt produced by the smart Shemima, successful in the G3 Prix de Lutece and G3 Prix Allez France. Also runner-up in the G2 Prix de Pomone, G2 Prix Chaudenay and G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil, she is a daughter of the G1 Prix de Diane heroine Shemaka (Ire) (Nishapour {Fr}) whose descendants include the G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Shakeel (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}), the G1 Prix du Jockey Club runner-up Shamkiyr (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and G2 Prix Eugene Adam-winning sire Shimraan (Fr) (Rainbow Quest) and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere third Shediak (Fr) (Selkirk). Also linked to the sires Shakapour (Ire), Sharannpour (Ire) and Shahrastani, her yearling filly is by Siyouni (Fr) while she also has a colt foal by Kingman (GB).
4th-ParisLongchamp, €27,000, Debutantes, 10-18, 2yo, c/g, 9fT, 1:59.49, gd.
SHENDAM (FR) (c, 2, Charm Spirit {Ire}–Shemima {GB} Hwt. Older Mare-Eng at 14f+, MGSW-Fr, $294,379}, by Dalakhani {Ire}) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €13,500. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-His Highness The Aga Khan; B-S A Aga Khan (FR); T-Mikel Delzangles.
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