Sea the Stars's Armande Comes Good In the Corrida

Prior to this race, Armande had just the one win on her record and that came here on debut last April, but she had long promised to deliver in a decent prize and she duly delivered with authority here. One of the leading outsiders for last year's G1 Prix de Diane following her eye-catching effort when third after a troubled trip in the G3 Prix de Royaumont at Chantilly in June, the bay's fortunes dived further in that Classic when badly hampered and losing her regular rider Pierre-Charles Boudot. Brought back steadily by Andre Fabre for an autumn campaign, she was second on her reintroduction in a 12-furlong conditions event at Compiegne in early October before finishing fourth in the G3 Prix de Flore over this course and distance later that month and third in the Listed Prix Belle de Nuit over another two furlongs again here in November.

Beaten a neck by That Which Is Not again over this track and trip in the Listed Prix Zarkava Apr. 2, the homebred was ahead of that rival next time but still came up short when runner-up to The Black Princess (Fr) (Iffraaj {GB}) in the G3 Prix Allez France over 10 furlongs at Chantilly Apr. 30. Always in an ideal position racing in mid-pack against the rail, she was handed a perfect split at the top of the straight and was sent clear from there. With That Which Is Not held up for her run for precious seconds and last year's G1 Prix Vermeille heroine Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) failing to make any impact under her seven-pound penalty, it was all Armande in the closing stages as she stayed on strongly for the breakthrough success. “She's a lovely filly, but she got hurt last year in the Diane and it took her a while to get her confidence back,” owner-breeder Eduoard de Rothschild commented. “This year, she has improved with every start and fully deserved to win such a race. All being well, we'll be back here over a mile and a half for the [July 2 G1] Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.”

Alpine Snow, who was the winner of the Listed Prix Urban Sea and was third in the G3 Prix Fille de l'Air, is a half-sister to the smart stayer Terrubi (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) who won the G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil and was runner-up in the G3 Prix de Barbeville. Their dam, the unraced Altruiste (Diesis {GB}), is a half-sister to the great Urban Sea (Miswaki) whose multiple accomplishments on the track and in the paddocks include producing Sea the Stars, who of course is Armande's sire. Her remarkable dynasty is always at the fore and in recent weeks the filly Alluringly (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Franz Schubert (GB) (Dansili {GB}) have shown Classic potential, not to mention the sudden rise in profile as a sire of another of her descendants, the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois and G1 Prix Jean Prat-winning Tamayuz (GB). Alpine Snow's 2-year-old colt is by Invincible Spirit (Ire) and he is named Rapture's Delight (GB).

Tuesday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX CORRIDA-G2, €130,000, SCD, 5-23, 4yo/up, f/m, 10 1/2fT, 2:16.69, gd.
1–#@ARMANDE (IRE), 123, f, 4, by Sea the Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Alpine Snow (Ire) (SW & GSP-Fr), by Verglas (Ire)
2nd Dam: Altruiste, by Diesis (GB)
3rd Dam: Allegretta (GB), by Lombard (Ger)
O-Baron Edouard de Rothschild & Lady Chryss O'Reilly; B-Petra Bloodstock Agency Ltd & Ecurie de Meautry (IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 10-2-4-2, €152,600. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–That Which Is Not, 123, f, 4, Elusive Quality–Shiva (Jpn), by Hector Protector). O-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd; B-Flaxman Holdings Ltd (KY); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €28,600.
3–Haggle (GB), 123, f, 4, Pivotal (GB)–Barter (GB), by Daylami (Ire). (125,000gns 3yo '16 TATMAR). O-Mme Rebecca Hillen; B-Fittocks Stud (GB); T-Henri-Francois Devin. €13,650.
Margins: 3, 3/4, 2. Odds: 2.50, 6.10, 9.50.
Also Ran: Rosental (GB), Saimaa (Ire), Left Hand (GB), Redcold (Fr), Glade (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.