By Sean Cronin
Prior to Wednesday, Andre Fabre was boasting a 28% strike-rate so far in 2019 and he carried that sensational form into Saint-Cloud's bank holiday fixture with a Group 2 double completed by Roman Candle (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}) in the G2 Prix Greffulhe. Already holding the record in this time-honoured Derby prep with a tally of a dozen winners, the king of Chantilly was not stopping there as he supplied the latest Classic candidate via Godolphin's progressive son of France's unstoppable homegrown sire. Third behind Shaman (Ire) (Shamardal) in the nine-furlong G3 Prix la Force at ParisLongchamp Apr. 7, the 11-5 second favourite was expected to play second fiddle to that colt's stablemate Starmaniac (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) here. Pushed up by Mickael Barzalona to shadow the leader Pappalino (Fr) (Makfi {GB}) soon after the start, he applied the pressure approaching the final furlong and after edging ahead a furlong out stayed on to prevail by a neck. The Wertheimers' 6-5 market-leader Starmaniac was given a lot to do, but failed to make significant inroads from rear and was ultimately a disappointing three lengths further away in third. Godolphin's Lisa-Jane Graffard said of the winner. “He's a sweet horse with a lovely temperament who had run a nice race last time. He fights hard and has a big heart. We believe he can improve more and M. Fabre has just told me he will run straight up in the [G1] Prix du Jockey-Club [at Chantilly June 2].”
Pedigree Notes
Roman Candle, who becomes the eighth individual black-type scorer for his sire so far this season, is the second foal out of the G3 Prix Imprudence runner-up and G3 Prix Miesque third Holy Dazzle (GB) (Sunday Break {Jpn}). She is the leading performer for Belle Alicia (Fr) (Smadoun {Fr}), herself a half-sister to the listed-placed Civil Courts (Fr) (Kaldoun {Fr}) and also kin to the dam of the G1 Prix Lupin and G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Chichicastenango (Fr) from a mating with Smadoun. Holy Dazzle also has a 2-year-old filly by Toronado (Ire) named Moisson du Ciel (Ire).
Wednesday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX GREFFULHE-G2, €130,000, Saint-Cloud, 5-1, 3yo, c/f, 10 1/2fT, 2:12.55, gd.
1–ROMAN CANDLE (GB), 128, c, 3, by Le Havre (Ire)
1st Dam: Holy Dazzle (GB) (MGSP-Fr, $116,058), by Sunday Break (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Belle Alicia (Fr), by Smadoun (Fr)
3rd Dam: Small Partie (Fr), by Fabulous Dancer
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€190,000 Ylg '17 ARAUG). Godolphin SNC; B-Ecurie Melanie, Ecurie Haras du Cadran & Adrian von Gunten (GB); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1, €115,000. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Pappalino (Fr), 128, c, 3, Makfi (GB)–Bartira (GB), by Cape Cross (Ire). (€18,000 Ylg '17 AROCT). O-Gerald Laroche & Jean-Louis Quiniou; B-Stud RDI (FR); T-Jerome Reynier. €28,600.
3–Starmaniac (GB), 128, c, 3, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Plumania (GB), by Anabaa). O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (GB); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias. €13,650.
Margins: NK, 3, 3/4. Odds: 2.20, 11.00, 1.20.
Also Ran: Goya Senora (Fr), Sound of Victory (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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