By Tom Frary
Much of the focus was on Al Wukair, who was returning from a break having finished third in the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket May 6, but Taareef was able to give that immensely promising 3-year-old eight pounds and a ready beating as he continued his rise to prominence. Runner-up in the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau over a mile at Chantilly last April, the chestnut was seventh in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Deauville the following month before winning the nine-furlong G3 Prix Daphnis back at the former venue in June. Fourth behind Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {Ire}) in the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano over an extra furlong at Deauville in August, he had signed off with a win in the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein reverting to a mile at Chantilly in October and returned under a four-pound penalty to deny his G1 Prix Jean Prat-winning stablemate Zelzal (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the G3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil also at this trip back at Chantilly June 18.
Held up initially by Ioritz Mendizabal, he moved closer to the forcing tempo set by Shutterbug (Fr) (Soldier of Fortune {Ire}) at halfway before gaining the advantage from that rival approaching the furlong pole. Staying on strongly as Al Wukair made a move similar to that he had employed in the G3 Prix Djebel here in April, Taareef stayed in control as the line neared and had accounted for the Fabre runner with a degree of authority there. The stakes-placed dam is a daughter of Marianna's Girl, who captured the GIII Linda Vista H. and produced five stakes winners including the GIII Stars and Stripes H. winner Marastani (Shahrastani) and the GIII Poker H. scorer Christine's Outlaw (Wise Again). The third dam Marianna Trench, who produced the GII Oaklawn H. hero and GI Whitney H. runner-up Bold Style (Bold Commander), boasts several stakes performers among her descendants including the GIII British Columbia Breeders' Cup Oaks winner Summer Symphony (Summer Squall). Sacred Feather also has an as-yet unnamed 2-year-old colt by Point of Entry and a yearling filly by Bernardini.
Sunday, Maisons-Laffitte, France
PRIX MESSIDOR-G3, €80,000, MLF, 7-16, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:34.86, gd.
1–TAAREEF, 130, c, 4, by Kitten's Joy
1st Dam: Sacred Feather (SP-US, $187,177), by Carson City
2nd Dam: Marianna's Girl, by Dewan
3rd Dam: Marianna Trench, by Pago Pago (Aus)
($675,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Dixiana Farms LLC (KY); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Ioritz Mendizabal. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 9-6-1-0, €303,000. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”lanes-end-sales-grad”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″][bullet ad=”us-bred-ky-bred-keen-grad”]
2–Al Wukair (Ire), 122, c, 3, Dream Ahead–Macheera (Ire), by Machiavellian. (200,000gns Ylg '15 TATOCT). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Ballylinch Stud (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €16,000.[bullet ad=”mandore-purchased-by”]
3–Attendu (Fr), 128, c, 4, Acclamation (GB)–Gwenseb (Fr), by Green Tune. O/B-Wertheimer et Frere (FR); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias. €12,000.
Margins: 2, 2, HF. Odds: 2.10, 0.70, 8.00.
Also Ran: Shutterbug (Fr), Wireless (Fr), Mankib (GB). Scratched: Kourkan (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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