By Tom Frary
There was no fairytale at Deauville on Sunday as Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) failed to fire on her European bow in the G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet won from the front by Elizabeth “Bunny” Roberts's Aristia (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). Aristia had found only Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) too strong in the G1 Nassau S. at Goodwood last time July 28 and that form saw to it that the Richard Hannon trainee traded at only 4-1 as Sean Levey sought to dictate to suit. Kept company by Rosscarbery (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) throughout, the bay ultimately had too much pace where it counted and found the line a neck ahead of that rival, with another 1 1/4 lengths back to Ebaiyra (Distorted Humor) in third. The 12-5 favourite Verry Elleegant went to post with positive vibes surrounding her, but was detached early and failed to get out of last place at any stage.
“It's amazing. Winning a Group 1 race here in France is hard to achieve–we've had many places, including an hour ago, but she is a very brave and tough filly,” Hannon said. “She can dictate the pace or come from behind, but from the one draw, Sean did well to let her go on. She's had her ups and downs, but she came in her coat very late in the season and that is why she is doing real well only now. She is a genuine filly. Jamie Magee had her for a period over the winter and he has done an excellent job and deserves a mention. The Opera on Arc day is a possibility, but also the Fillies' and Mares' race on Champions day.”
Roberts, president of Jersey's race club and sister of Robert Barnett whose Time Charter (Ire) achieved renown in the '80s, has had offers to refuse along the way for the winner, whose career began with a win at 20-1 at Newbury last April. Third in that track's Listed Haras De Bouquetot Fillies' Trial before upsetting Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) in York's Listed Lyric Fillies' S. either side of an eighth in the G2 Ribblesdale S., she rounded off her 2021 campaign with a below-par ninth in the G2 Prix de la Nonette here 12 months ago. Returning to be second in the G2 Middleton Fillies' S. back at York May 12, she threw in another bad one when ninth in Royal Ascot's Listed Wolferton S. June 14 before taking it to a new level in the Nassau and this prize which often falls to an improver.
Pedigree Notes:
Aristia's dam Aloisi (GB) (Kalanisi {Ire}), who also produced the Australian stakes winner Glorious Sinndar {Fr) (Sinndar {Ire}), is a daughter of the Listed Prix Rose de Mai winner and G3 Prix Penelope-placed Bellona (Ire) (Bering {GB}). She is in turn responsible for Es Que (GB) (Inchinor {GB}), whose four stakes winners are headed by the G1 Hong Kong Vase hero Dominant (Ire) (Cacique {Ire}) and the G2 Lennox S.-winning sire Es Que Love (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}). The third dam is the G3 Prix de Royaumont scorer Bellarida (Fr) (Bellypha {Ire}), whose G3 Prix de Flore-winning daughter In Clover (GB), also by Inchinor, produced a trio of top-level winners in Dansili's We Are (Ire) and With You (GB) and Frankel's Call The Wind (GB). Aloisi's 2-year-old colt by Aclaim (Ire) was a 52,000gns purchase by Rabbah Bloodstock at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale, while she also has a yearling colt by Bungle Inthejungle (GB) due to sell at the upcoming Goffs Orby and a filly foal by Gregorian (Ire).
Sunday, Deauville, France
DARLEY PRIX JEAN ROMANET-G1, €250,000, Deauville, 8-21, 4yo/up, f/m, 10fT, 2:08.03, gd.
1–ARISTIA (IRE), 126, f, 4, by Starspangledbanner (Aus)
1st Dam: Aloisi (GB), by Kalanisi (Ire)
2nd Dam: Bellona (Ire), by Bering (GB)
3rd Dam: Bellarida (Fr), by Bellypha (Ire)
1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST G1 WIN. O-Mrs E Roberts; B-Rathasker
Stud (IRE); T-Richard Hannon; J-Sean Levey. €142,850.
Lifetime Record: SW & G1SP-Eng, 9-3-2-1, $378,428. *1/2 to
Glorious Sinndar (Fr) (Sinndar {Ire}), SW-Aus, $220,422. Click
for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating:
A+++ *Triple Plus*.
2–Rosscarbery (Ger), 126, f, 4, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Rose Rized
(Ger), by Authorized (Ire). 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (130,000gns
Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Robert J W Moran; B-Gestut Wittekindshof
(GER); T-Paddy Twomey; J-Billy Lee. €57,150.
3–Ebaiyra, 126, m, 5, Distorted Humor–Ebiyza (Ire), by Rock of
Gibraltar (Ire). O-H H Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan Studs SC
(KY); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €28,575.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, HD. Odds: 4.20, 3.80, 4.60.
Also Ran: Rumi (Fr), Sundoro (Ire), Burgarita (GB), Verry Elleegant (NZ). Scratched: Ville De Grace (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.
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