By Sean Cronin
Sonjeu was a May 25 debut winner going 5 1/2 panels at Tarbes and doubled her tally when successful in a July 4 conditions heat upped to six furlongs at La Teste de Buch next time, but slipped to fifth tackling seven in Vichy's Listed Prix des Jouvenceaux et des Jouvencelles on stakes bow last time Aug. 5. Smartly into stride and positioned fourth within range of the pace through the early fractions here, she made smooth headway inside the final quarter mile to challenge at the eighth pole and kept on well under a late drive to narrowly deny Beau Ideal for a career high.
Sonjeu was a first winner for Intello (Ger) (Galileo {Ire}) when annexing her Tarbes debut and the half-sister to a yearling filly by Le Havre (Ire) becomes the first stakes winner for the Haras du Quesnay-based freshman. She is the leading performer for G3 Prix Vanteaux second Wait and See (Fr) (Montjeu {Ire}), herself a half-sister to G3 Prix Allez France victress Daksha (Fr) (Authorized {Ire}), and her third dam is G1 Coronation S.-winning European highweight Golden Opinion (Slew o'Gold), who also hit the board in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 July Cup. Golden Opinion, herself a daughter of G2 Nassau S. heroine Optimistic Lass (Mr. Prospector), is also the granddam of G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches third Rahiyah (Rahy), who in turn is the dam of G3 Prix la Rochette runner-up Decathlete (Medaglia d'Oro).
PRIX SARACA-Listed, €60,000, MLF, 9-11, 2yo, 6 1/2fT, 1:18.70, vsf.
1–SONJEU (FR), 125, f, 2, by Intello (Ger)
1st Dam: Wait and See (Fr) (GSP-Fr, $111,658), by Montjeu (Ire)
2nd Dam: Dareen (Ire), by Rahy
3rd Dam: Golden Opinion, by Slew o' Gold
*1st stakes win. (€120,000 Ylg '16 AROCT). O-Wertheimer & Frere; B-Sydney Vidal (FR); T-Christophe Ferland; J-Maxime Guyon. €30,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, €53,000. *1st SW for her freshman sire (by Galileo {Ire}).
2–Beau Ideal (GB), 128, c, 2, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–Lay Time (GB), by Galileo (Ire). (150,000gns Ylg '16 TATOCT). O-Godolphin SNC. €12,000.
3–Fastidious (Fr), 128, c, 2, Zanzibari–Rapid Transaction, by A.P. Indy. (€8,000 RNA Ylg '16 ARAUG). O-Jean-Philippe Dubois, Louis Baudron & Ecurie Victoria Dreams. €9,000.
Margins: NK, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 6.10, 1.20, 7.20.
Also Ran: So Hi Society (Ire), Yayajonh (Fr), Salt Lake City (Fr), Yori (Ire), Sagres (GB), Blue Tango (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
