Coming to the fore when winning the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 17, Qemah returned home to confirm her lofty status among the miling fillies and continue the formidable streak of trainer Jean-Claude Rouget into the Deauville festival. Looking far from the filly she has become when introduced here in August, the bay quickly left behind the form of that debut sixth behind the TDN Rising Star Antonoe (First Defence) over 7 1/2 furlongs when dispatching the subsequent multiple listed winner Doha Dream (Fr) (Shamardal) over an extra furlong at Longchamp the following month. Third when still the unfinished article behind Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Turret Rocks (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac over a mile on the Arc card, she had signalled her intent on her 3-year-old bow when the impressive winner of the G3 Prix de la Grotte at Chantilly Apr. 20.
It is well-documented that the nervous filly that eventually finished third behind stablemate La Cressonniere (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches over this course and distance May 15 was not the Qemah that Rouget expected to see and so it was a relief to connections when the real version showed up at the Royal meeting. Enjoying a straightforward trip throughout the early stages of this first run against older fillies and mares despite tending to race freely in mid-division, she had Volta behind with dead aim at her. As Alice Springs (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) flattered to deceive inside the last quarter mile and Lumiere (GB) (Shamardal) began to drop away, Qemah was moved to the front approaching the furlong pole with Volta the only serious threat on her outer. Gradually extending her advantage over that compatriot as the line neared, they came clear of the older brigade in another show of strength for the Classic generation.
“Earlier in the season, we thought she had run a below-par race on this course because of the straight track, but in hindsight she just lacked experience at that stage and is getting stronger and stronger and more mature,” Rouget explained. “After winning the Coronation and this in good style again, she has proved herself the best 3-year-old filly in Europe over a mile. We knew before the start of the season that we had nice horses, but to win so many group ones is unbelievable and you feel good but also it is hard to keep up with that kind of pressure. Qemah gives a lot in her racing, so two weeks to the [G1 Prix] Jacques le Marois is not enough. She won't run in that and maybe it will be the [G1] Matron S. [at Leopardstown Sept. 10] next time.”
Volta's trainer Francis-Henri Graffard was delighted with the effort of the runner-up, who had been third in the G1 Prix de Diane and said, “She has run a great race, but was beaten by a better filly and has been group one-placed twice now so is very decent in her own right. We will freshen her up and probably go for the G1 Prix du Moulin [at Chantilly Sept. 11].” The ex-Jim Bolger-trained Steip Amach (Ire) (Vocalised) lived up to trainer David Smaga's expectations by snatching third and he said, “I am absolutely thrilled with the result and was hoping for that. She has run great and will maybe stay further, so she could come back here for the [Aug. 21 G1 Prix] Jean Romanet and if not go for the Moulin.”
Qemah's dam was third in the G3 Prix Fille de l'Air and is a daughter of the Listed Dahlia S.-winning highweight Cayman Sunset, who was also third in the GII Canadian H. She is in turn a sister to the G3 Beresford S. third Tarfaa (Ire) (Night Shift) from the family of the GII Lexington S.-winning sire Royal Roberto and the MGSP Seal Ring (Known Fact). Kartica also has a 2-year-old filly by Henrythenavigator named Niedziela (Ire), a yearling colt by Lawman (Fr) and a 2016 colt by Charm Spirit (Ire).
Sunday, Deauville, France
PRIX ROTHSCHILD-G1, €300,000, DVL, 7-31, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT, 1:38.09, gd.
1–QEMAH (IRE), 121, f, 3, by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
1st Dam: Kartica (GB) (GSP-Fr, $132,100), by Rainbow Quest
2nd Dam: Cayman Sunset (Ire), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Robinia, by Roberto
(€200,000 Ylg '14 ARAUG). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Haras du Cadran, SCEA Bissons & SAS IEI (IRE); T-Jean Claude Rouget; J-Gregory Benoist. €171,420. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, 7-4-1-2, €628,233. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
[bullet ad=”mandore-purchased-by”]2–Volta (Fr), 121, f, 3, Siyouni (Fr)–Persian Belle (GB), by Machiavellian. O-Ecurie David Salabi, Thierry de la Heronniere & Cluny Conseil SARL; B-Thierry, Amaury & Mme Danielle de la Heronniere (FR); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €68,580.
3–Steip Amach (Ire), 129, f, 4, Vocalised">Vocalised–Ceist Eile (Ire), by Noverre. O-Haras d'Etreham & Riviera Equine; B-Jim Bolger (IRE); T-David Smaga. €34,290.
Margins: 1 1/4, 2HF, HD. Odds: 3.20, 2.90, 121.90.
Also Ran: Esoterique (Ire), Siyoushake (Ire), Amazing Maria (Ire), Impassable (Ire), Alice Springs (Ire), Lumiere (GB), Positive Vibration (Ire). Scratched: Spectre (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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