By Sean Cronin
Alain Chopard's homebred Livachope (Fr) (Goken {Fr}) became the first winner for her Haras de Colleville-based freshman sire (by Kendargent {Fr}) when annexing a May 13 newcomers' heat at Chantilly, registering a first stakes success for Goken back there in the June 14 Listed Prix La Fleche last time, and completed the hat-trick in pattern-race company by plundering Thursday's G3 Prix du Bois over five furlongs at ParisLongchamp. She was the sharpest of six into stride and dictated on the lead at a modest pace through the initial strides of the straight dash. Increasing the tempo from halfway, the 16-5 second favourite came under pressure when threatened with 350 metres remaining and was ridden out inside the final furlong to comfortably withstand the persistent attention of 11-10 pick Axdavali (Fr) (Goken {Fr}) by 3/4-of-a-length. Princesse de Saba (Fr) (Dariyan {Fr}) raced behind the leading duo throughout and ran on well to finish one length further adrift in third.
“It is a wonderful result for her owner-breeder Alain Chopard, who is so passionate, and all those working in the yard and I'm moved to tears,” admitted assistant trainer Florent Guy. “Jane [Soubagne] detected her potential very early on and has done a sensational job training her to a third win with the filly showing improvement in each start. She is now a Listed and Group 3 winner, she's still undefeated and we've yet to find her limit. Entries for the [July 19] G2 Prix Robert Papin were made this morning, but she wasn't among them as we felt four races and four trips from the South West in such a short period could be too much. We can now freshen her up and have next month's [G1] Prix Morny [at Deauville] in mind.” Winning rider Anthony Crastus added, “I let her do her own thing and when I saw that the favourite [Axdavali] could not give more alongside us I felt very confident and was always in control. We know she has a tendancy to hang right so I was wary, but she didn't do it today and that's a sign that she's getting more mature and professional. She gave me the feeling that she was a five-furlong filly in first two runs, but we won with something in hand and I've changed my mind after this. She could have gone an extra furlong without any problem and would still have won easily. This leads me to conclude that she can go up in class again and is definitely one to be reckoned with.”
Livachope is the first of two foals produced by Listed Criterium de Vitesse third Laia Chope (Fr) (Soave {Ger}) and the February-foaled homebred bay is a half-sister to the yearling filly Lizie Chope (Fr) (Captain Chop {Fr}). Descendants of her fourth dam Ellebanna (GB) (Tina's Pet {GB}), herself a half-sister to MGSW G1 Haydock Sprint Cup runner-up Bolshoi (Ire) (Royal Academy), include another G3 Prix du Bois-winning filly in Cosachope (Fr) (Soave {Ger}) and Listed John of Gaunt S.-winning sire Mine (Ire) (Primo Dominie {GB}).
Thursday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX DU BOIS-G3, €56,000, ParisLongchamp, 7-2, 2yo, 5fT, :57.03, g/s.
1–LIVACHOPE (FR), 122, f, 2, by Goken (Fr)
1st Dam: Laia Chope (Fr) (SP-Fr), by Soave (Ger)
2nd Dam: Chopinette (Fr), by Sin Kiang (Fr)
3rd Dam: Ducie (GB), by Distant Relative (Ire)
1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Alain Chopard (FR); T-Jane Soubagne; J-Anthony Crastus. €28,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €60,000. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Axdavali (Fr), 126, c, 2, Goken (Fr)–Key Success (Ire), by Kodiac (GB). O-Alain Jathiere, Mme Camille Vitse & Yann Barberot; B-Mme Camille Vitse, Yann Barberot & Nicolas Madamet (FR); T-Yann Barberot. €11,200.
3–Princesse de Saba (Fr), 122, f, 2, Dariyan (Fr)–Aniysa (Fr), by Dalakhani (Ire). (€11,000 Ylg '19 AROCT). O-Ecurie d'Englesqueville & Andrea Marcialis; B-Haras des Trois Chapelles (FR); T-Andrea Marcialis. €8,400.
Margins: 3/4, 1, 4. Odds: 3.20, 1.10, 4.10.
Also Ran: Citadelle (Fr), Pom Malpic (Fr), What's Up (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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