By Sean Cronin
Coolmore and Westerberg's TDN Rising Star Avec Toi (No Nay Never) maintained his unbeaten record and followed up a first stakes victory in last month's Listed Prix Roland de Chambure with a dominant performance in Sunday's G3 The Aga Khan Studs Prix Francois Boutin at Deauville.
“He really is an incredible horse and what a machine he is,” beamed trainer Christopher Head. “He's been like this since the beginning of the season and we just don't know his limit. It's sky high and he's probably the best horse I've ever trained. I love the No Nay Nevers and they really do a fine job. We're really lucky with him mentally and he's more like a three-year-old. We need to discuss plans with the owners and there's a possibility he might go to the [Sept. 6 G3 Prix La] Rochette before the [Oct. 4 G1 Prix Jean-Luc] Lagardere. The Breeders' Cup is also an option, he can go anywhere, and we'll see what the lads want to decide.”
The 7-10 favourite was swiftly into stride and accepted a tow from Godolphin's one-for-one Jassas (Dubawi) through halfway in this seven-furlong contest.
Sweeping by that rival with 300 metres remaining, he was soon beyond recall and surged clear in the closing stages to easily overpower Silver Dominion (Gleneagles) by an impressive four lengths. The race sponsor's three-race maiden Zakkan (Siyouni) finished with a rattle and failed to grab second by a head.
Pedigree Notes
Avec Toi, who becomes the 51st pattern-race winner for his sire, is the second of three foals produced by G1 Yorkshire Oaks and G1 Prix Vermeille third La Joconde (Frankel), herself kin to G1 Irish Derby hero Santiago (Authorized) and the dual Group 3 winner Grosvenor Square (Galileo).
La Joconde is out of a dual-winning half to stakes-winning G1 Prix du Jockey Club third Motamarris (Le Havre) and the stakes-placed duo Riqa (Dubawi) and Saraaba (New Approach).
Riqa is the dam of three-time Group 3 victrix Tantheem (Teofilo) and the dual Group-placed Monumental (Kingman), and her descendants include the eight-time Group 1-placed G1 Dubai Turf hero Facteur Cheval (Ribchester).
La Joconde, who has a yearling colt by Justify to come, was bred back to Justify last year.
He could be VERY special!
Avec Toi outclasses them all in the Group 3 Prix Francois Boutin…@CHeadRacing pic.twitter.com/pg5aY1oHDH
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 16, 2026
Sunday, Deauville, France
THE AGA KHAN STUDS PRIX FRANCOIS BOUTIN-G3, €73,200, Deauville, 8-16, 2yo, 7fT, 1:24.68, g/s.
1–AVEC TOI, 126, c, 2, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: La Joconde (Ire) (G1SP-Eng & Fr, SP-Ire), by Frankel (GB)
2nd Dam: Wadyhatta (GB), by Cape Cross (Ire)
3rd Dam: Thamarat (GB), by Anabaa
TDN Rising Star. 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Mrs John Magnier, Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Orpendale, Chelston (Ireland), Wynatt & Westerberg Ireland (KY); T-Christopher Head; J-Pierre-Charles Boudot. €36,600. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €77,750. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Silver Dominion (Ire), 126, c, 2, Gleneagles (Ire)–Allso (Ire), by Slade Power (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€200,000 Ylg '25 GOFORY). O-Hay/Cannings; B-D Farrington & Canning Downs; T-Oliver Cole. €14,640.
3–Zakkan (GB), 126, c, 2, Siyouni (Fr)–Zarka (Fr), by Dubawi (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Aga Khan Studs; T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €10,980.
Margins: 4, HD, 3/4. Odds: 0.70, 9.00, 7.90.
Also Ran: Cut A Dash (GB), Jassas (GB).
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