By Tom Frary
Having tricked connections into believing that she needed extremes of trip, Godolphin's Morgan Le Faye (GB) (Shamardal) confirmed her niche as a quality 10-furlong performer on Sunday when taking the G3 Prix Allez France Longines at ParisLongchamp. Having been shortened up three weeks previously when successful in the 10 1/2-furlong Listed Prix Zarkava here, last year's G1 Prix Royal-Oak and G1 Prix du Cadran third was tackling the shortest trip in her career but Mickael Barzalona was unfazed as he settled the 5-year-old towards the rear early. Making smooth progress down the outer to swamp Tosen Gift (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) with 150 metres remaining, the 7-10 favourite drew away to score in facile fashion by two lengths. “She is a really sweet filly–she is not very big, but has a lot of heart and is very fluent and now fully mature, so we look forward to the rest of the season,” Godolphin's Lisa-Jane Graffard commented. “There will be various options for her, one is to follow the usual path and take in the [G2 Prix] Corrida [at Saint-Cloud May 20], and the aim is to try and win a group 1. Of course, we'll leave it with M. Fabre to decide where she goes.”
Morgan Le Faye must have been giving Fabre signals that she possessed speed last summer, as she was sent over shy of a mile and a half for the first time when second in the 10 1/2-furlong Listed Prix de la Pepiniere at Maisons-Laffitte in July. She had the misfortune to run into the subsequent G1 Prix Jean Romanet scorer Nonza (Fr) (Zanzibari) there and after a fourth in the G2 Prix de Pomone at Deauville in August was sent back over staying distances. That is no surprise given that she is the first foal out of the 2012 Cadran heroine Molly Malone (Fr) (Lomitas {GB}) descended from a full-sister to Germany's champion and leading sire Monsun (Ger). Also connected to the G3 Prix Chloe and GIII Matchmaker S. scorer Wekeela (Fr) (Hurricane Run {Ire}), who was also runner-up three times at the highest level, and the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Brametot (Ire) (Rajsaman {Fr}), Molly Malone has an as-yet unraced 3-year-old filly by Makfi (GB) named Makeba (GB) and a 2-year-old filly and yearling colt by Golden Horn (GB). The former, who is named Moonlight and Gold (GB), was led out unsold at €370,000 at the 2017 Arqana August Sale.
Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX ALLEZ FRANCE LONGINES-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 4-28, 4yo/up, f/m, 10fT, 2:04.43, g/s.
1–MORGAN LE FAYE (GB), 122, m, 5, by Shamardal
1st Dam: Molly Malone (Fr) (G1SW-Fr & GSP-Eng, $317,300), by Lomitas (GB)
2nd Dam: Moonlight Melody (Ger), by Law Society
3rd Dam: Morning Queen (Ger), by Konigsstuhl (Ger)
1ST GROUP WIN. (€350,000 Ylg '15 ARQAUG). O-Godolphin SNC; B-Dieter Burkle (GB); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona. €40,000. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 14f+ & MG1SP-Fr, 12-3-2-4, €198,215. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tosen Gift (Ire), 122, f, 4, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Miracolia (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). (€98,000 Ylg '16 GOFORB). O-Takaya Shimakawa; B-Kildaragh Stud (IRE); T-Satoshi Kobayashi. €16,000.
3–Shahnaza (Fr), 122, f, 4, Azamour (Ire)–Shanndiyra (Ire), by King's Best. O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Alain de Royer-Dupre. €12,000.
Margins: 2, 3/4, 2. Odds: 0.70, 42.00, 3.80.
Also Ran: Lunch Lady (GB), Watayouna (Fr), Qualisaga (Fr), Lady Sidney (Fr), Dramatic Queen, Bella Bolide (Fr), Sully (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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