By Tom Frary
Sottsass (Fr) had two deeply promising fillies in Saint-Cloud's Prix Kizil Kourgan on Tuesday and despite his Ultrafragola (Ire) starting favourite it was the other daughter Safia (Fr) who emerged best to earn TDN Rising Star status.
Carrying the colours of racing and breeding's rising force David Layani, the Fabrice Chappet-trained descendant of Sophisticat (Storm Cat) and Serena's Song (Rahy) travelled easily throughout the mile Classic pointer under Cristian Demuro and readily held White Birch Farm's TDN Rising Star Ultrafragola by two lengths.
Chappet was pointing to the May 11 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in the aftermath, with that ParisLongchamp Classic's course-and-distance trial, the G3 Prix de la Grotte, her next step four weeks earlier. “There was competition today and she confirmed what we thought of her,” he said. “She's made lots of physical improvement from two to three, has done everything we've asked of her and confirmed her quality today. She has a good mind and will progress from this. We'll take it step-by-step and the Grotte is definitely an option, the timing is perfect ahead of the Pouliches.”
Riviera Equine, Haras d'Etreham and Craig Bernick have maintained their interests in the winner, with Layani acquiring a 50% share after her winning debut by four lengths at ParisLongchamp in October. Entered in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, she is the first foal out of the unraced Stay Home (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) who is a daughter of the Listed Prix de Lieurey winner and GIII Noble Damsel Handicap-placed Sefroua (Kingmambo).
Also responsible for the G3 Prix Chloe winner Suphala (Fr) (Frankel {GB}), Sefroua is a daughter of the G1 Coronation Stakes heroine Sophisticat (Storm Cat) with the next dam being the celebrated champion Serena's Song (Rahy). Stay Home's 2-year-old colt Noble Memory (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}) was acquired by Chauvigny Global Equine for €230,000 at last year's Arqana Deauville August.
Nice performance!
Safia (Sottsass x Stay Home) – who has entries in the Prix de Diane and Poule D'essai des Pouliches – makes it two from two for @ChappetRacing at Saint-Cloud… pic.twitter.com/E8u0vMRMKn
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) March 25, 2025
5th-Saint-Cloud, €28,000, Cond, 3-25, 3yo, f, 8fT, 1:45.51, vs.
SAFIA (FR), f, 3, by Sottsass (Fr)
1st Dam: Stay Home (Fr), by Le Havre (Ire)
2nd Dam: Sefroua, by Kingmambo
3rd Dam: Sophisticat, by Storm Cat
Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €39,000. O-David Layani, Haras d'Etreham, Riviera Equine SARL & Craig Bernick; B-Haras d'Etreham, Glen Hill Farm, Riviera Equine SARL (FR); T-Fabrice Chappet. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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