By Tom Frary
Andre Fabre already boasted the record of seven wins in this race before Sunday and he extended that tally with Godolphin's outsider Strathspey who timed her run to perfection to deny Listen In close home. Third on debut behind Gipoia (Fr) (Medicean {GB}) over a mile and a quarter at Maisons-Laffitte May 6, the bay was successful in an 11-furlong Lyon-Parilly maiden May 25 and was allowed to start at inflated odds lacking experience tackling some fillies with smart formlines here. Waited with in the final three early racing on the rail, the homebred got the split with 300 metres remaining where she had almost three lengths to make up on the long-time leader Listen In. Staying on strongly, she got to that rival on the line, as Elas Ruby fared best of the Brits to add substance to the result. “That was a nice pleasant surprise,” Godolphin's Lisa-Jane Graffard commented. “She had changed a lot physically over the winter and obviously she has improved and the trainer thought it was worth trying this.” Andre Fabre added that the winner would now wait for the G1 Prix Vermeille at Chantilly Sept. 10.
In winning this, Strathspey has comprehensively outshone Perfect Note's first foal Romance Story (Ire), a dual listed-placed filly also by New Approach. The second dam Mezzo Soprano captured Strathspey's next race, the G1 Prix Vermeille, before producing the G3 Prix du Lys winner Claremont (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) while the third dam Morn of Song is a sister to the leading sire Rahy and a half to the champion Singspiel (Ire) and fellow sire Rakeen. Among her descendants are a clutch of smart Japanese runners headed by this year's G1 Dubai Turf heroine Vivlos (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) who was also successful in last year's G1 Shuka Sho, and the dual G1 Victoria Mile winner Verxina (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Also from the family of the G1 NHK Mile Cup winner Danon Chantilly (Jpn) (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}) and former Godolphin stalwart Campanologist, the dam has a 2-year-old filly by Dubawi (Ire) named Demisharp (Ire) and a yearling colt by Teofilo (Ire).
Sunday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX DE MALLERET-G2, €130,000, SCD, 7-2, 3yo, f, 12fT, 2:31.95, g/s.
1–#@STRATHSPEY (GB), 123, f, 3, by New Approach (Ire)
1st Dam: Perfect Note (GB), by Shamardal
2nd Dam: Mezzo Soprano, by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Morn of Song, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
O-Godolphin SNC; B-Darley (GB); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, €89,300. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”frbc-chantilly”]2–Listen In (Ire), 123, f, 3, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Es Que (GB), by Inchinor (GB). (310,000gns Wlg '14 TATFOA). O-George Strawbridge; B-Es Que Syndicate (IRE); T-Freddy Head. €28,600.
3–Elas Ruby (GB), 123, f, 3, Raven's Pass–Elas Diamond (GB), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (160,000gns RNA Ylg '15 TATOCT). O/B-Newsells Park Stud (GB); T-John Gosden. €45,720.
Margins: SHD, 1 1/4, 1. Odds: 17.50, 5.30, 10.30.
Also Ran: Horseplay (GB), Baiyouna (Fr), Satine (Fr), Estelle Ma Belle (Fr), Normandel (Fr), Rythmique (Ire), Gipoia (Fr), Vintage Folly (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
