Winter Watch: Chantilly Showstoppers

[Wandering Eyes]

For the second week in a row we start in France and on the polytrack at Chantilly, the scene of not one but two sizzling debut performances on Friday's card.

The two newcomers blitzed their rivals by a cumulative margin of 11 lengths, with the four-length victory of Audubon Park (Fr) quickly being put in the shade by that of Tito Mo Cen (Ire) when he won the boys' equivalent race by nearly twice as far. The time clocked by the latter was also around 1.4 seconds faster as he romped to 'TDN Rising Star' status, becoming the second such horse we've seen on the all-weather in France this winter after Mandanaba (Fr) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), a six-length winner when making her debut over the same course and distance back in November.

Tito Mo Cen also became a first 'TDN Rising Star' in Europe for his late sire, Uncle Mo, to go with the 20 the former Ashford Stud resident has accumulated elsewhere. He brought up his score at Oaklawn Park on January 25, just a matter of weeks after his sad passing at the age of 16.

As for Tito Mo Cen's dam, the G2 Goldene Peitsche heroine Raven's Lady (GB) (Raven's Pass), she is perhaps best known as the dam of last year's G1 Prix de la Foret winner Ramatuelle (Justify), who was also placed at the top level on three other occasions, before selling to MV Magnier for $5.1 million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Raven's Lady herself was bought by Yeguada Centurion for $300,000 when she went through the ring in Lexington five years earlier.

It was in the familiar colours of Yeguada Centurion that their homebred Tito Mo Cen created such a deep impression on Friday. Sent straight to the front by Stephane Pasquier, he proceeded to grind his 10 rivals into submission with a remorseless display of galloping, ultimately winning by seven lengths in totally dominant fashion. He wasn't stopping at the line, either, clocking the fastest final furlong of any horse in the field to demonstrate that he can sustain a strong tempo, for all that he might lack Ramatuelle's irresistible turn of foot.

Instead, it had echoes of Big Rock (Fr), the former flagbearer for Yeguada Centurion who produced some memorable efforts from the front, notably winning the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot by six lengths in 2023. He too registered his first career win on the polytrack at Chantilly, when winning a handicap early in his three-year-old season by five and a half lengths.

Only time will tell whether Tito Mo Cen can emulate Big Rock by making a significant impact at the top level, but his connections are entitled to be dreaming of bigger and better things after such a promising start to his career. Those dreams might well include another tilt at the Prix du Jockey Club in which Big Rock filled the runner-up spot behind a certain Ace Impact (Ire) when sent off favourite in 2023. Tito Mo Cen featured among 151 entries for that Classic published on Wednesday.

Incidentally, whilst Big Rock was trained as a three-year-old by Christopher Head–who also had Ramatuelle throughout her career–Tito Mo Cen is based at the neighbouring yard of Head's sister, Victoria.

 

Wow!

A half-brother to Ramatuelle, Tito Mo Cen (Uncle Mo x Raven's Lady) dazzles for Stephane Pasquier and Victoria Head at @fgchantilly… pic.twitter.com/RATfX0iDxb

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 14, 2025

 

Graffard Fillies a Force to be Reckoned With

Francis-Henri Graffard, who trains just a short distance from the Heads in Chantilly, was responsible for the star turn among the fillies on Friday as Audubon Park kicked off her career in the best possible fashion.

The daughter of Dubawi (Ire) had more ahead of her than behind as the field of 10 newcomers reached the home turn, appearing locked against the inside rail. That gave her jockey, 6lb claimer Luca Carboni, a decision to make, whether to sit and suffer or take the safety-first approach by maneuvering his way to the outside to guarantee a clear run. After executing option B, Carboni then barely needed to shake the reins at Audubon Park for her to cut down the leaders entering the final furlong, even having the luxury of a look between his legs close home after his mount had sealed matters with a telling burst of acceleration.

It was a stylish debut from a filly who fetched €390,000 from Craig Bernick's Glen Hill Farm when offered at the Arqana August Yearling Sale. She was bred in partnership at Ecurie des Monceaux out of the Lope De Vega (Ire) mare Right Hand (GB), a half-sister to four black-type performers, including the G1 Prix Vermeille heroine Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and last year's G2 Prix de Pomone winner and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up Aventure (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

It's a competitive heat, but Audubon Park has the pedigree and potential to suggest she can take high rank in what looks a strong team of three-year-old fillies for Graffard to go to war with in 2025, alongside the one-two from last year's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, Vertical Blue (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and Zarigana (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), plus the aforementioned Mandanaba.

Graffard is responsible for 16 of the 130 entries received for the G1 Prix de Diane, including all of the quartet above, as well as seven of the 114 in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. Audubon Park has not been given a Pouliches entry.

 

Prix du Château de la Reine Blanche @fgchantilly
Chantilly – Inédites – Pouliches – 3 ans – 1900m – 10 Pts – 27 000 €

Audubon Park (f) (Fr) Luca Carboni
(Dubawi (Ire) @DarleyEurope – Right Hand (Gb) par Lope De Vega (Ire))

Francis-Henri… pic.twitter.com/ZJYV5nDIZ8

— French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) February 14, 2025

 

More to Come from Kalaoun

Over at Cagnes-Sur-Mer on Sunday, the performance of Kalaoun (GB) perhaps didn't have the shock and awe of those posted by Tito Mo Cen and Audubon Park, but he must be considered an interesting prospect nonetheless, having confirmed the immense promise of his debut with a comfortable victory in the 10-furlong maiden.

The son of Kitten's Joy was one of three runners for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget when he made his first racecourse appearance over the same course and distance last month, in a race named after the stable's 2023 winner, Ace Impact. It doesn't take a genius to work out that it's a contest Rouget likes to target, nor was it a surprise when two of his challengers came to the fore, with the market leader, Leffard (Fr), just holding off the challenge of the fast-finishing Kalaoun by a short neck.

In truth, Kalaoun probably didn't need to improve on that form to go one place better as the odds-on favourite on Sunday, just needing to be kept up to his work to win by three quarters of a length, but his Jockey Club entry suggests he's thought capable of better by a trainer with a formidable record in that Classic. Ace Impact was Rouget's sixth winner of the race when successful in 2023, while the late Le Havre (Ire)–the sire of Leffard and the dam sire of Kalaoun–was his first back in 2009.

Leffard, who is out of an unraced half-sister to High Chaparral (Ire), also features among the stable's nine Jockey Club entries, but don't underestimate Denford Stud's homebred Kalaoun, the first foal out of the dual Listed-placed Ebony (Fr). He conceded first run to the winner first-time-out and wouldn't be a forlorn hope to reverse the placings should they meet again.

 

Prix De La Mer @hippocotdazur
Cagnes Sur Mer – Maiden – 3 ans – 2000m – 7 Pts – 23 000 €

Kalaoun (m) M. Grandin
(Kitten's Joy (Usa) – Ebony (Fr) par Le Havre (Ire))

Jean-Claude Rouget
Denford Stud
Denford Stud pic.twitter.com/U9GSlqvtcy

— French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) February 16, 2025

 

Lots to Like About Chelmsford Winner

If we saw a future star take to the track in Britain last week, then it was probably the Ralph Beckett-trained Likealot (GB), an emphatic winner of the fillies' novice run over 10 furlongs at Chelmsford on Thursday.

Runner-up Pearl Of Hope (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) very much enjoyed the run of the race, dictating a steady gallop, but she ultimately proved no match for Likealot after being joined by that rival early in the straight. At the line Likealot was three and a half lengths clear of her closest pursuer, beating Pearl Of Hope–a half-sister to Victor Ludorum (GB)–by even further than Glittering Surf (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) had when that exciting prospect made a successful debut of her own at Kempton in December.

It's solid enough form and perhaps most revealing is that Likealot returned an SP of 6-5, suggesting a performance of this nature was foretold by what she'd been showing on the gallops at Kimpton Downs. Beckett certainly knows a high-class filly when he sees one, anyway, and this daughter of Camelot (GB) has an attractive pedigree as a half-sister to the G3 Prix Daphnis and dual Listed winner Checkandchallenge (GB) (Fast Company {Ire}). Both were born and raised at Meon Valley Stud, whose homebred Oaks heroine Anapurna (GB) (Frankel {GB}) also started her career on the all-weather.

 

Eye-catching start

The very well-backed Likealot (Camelot) is a half-sister to Checkandchallenge and motors clear in the final furlong to make a lovely start for the @RalphBeckett team @Rossaryan15 | @ChelmsfordCRC pic.twitter.com/OLNLceVSV0

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 13, 2025

 

Ferguson Yard Continues to Advance

Likewise, a number of successful Flat trainers have used the all-weather to launch their careers, including James Ferguson, who saddled his first runners late in 2019, with his breakthrough winner following shortly afterwards when Arabian King (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) struck at Southwell on January 30, 2020. Coincidentally, it was exactly 12 months earlier that the aforementioned Anapurna had opened her account with victory in a fillies' maiden at Lingfield.

The Ferguson yard has continued to go from strength to strength in the interim, registering a personal-best tally of 33 winners in Britain in 2024, and there was further cause for celebration at Machell Place last week when newcomer Advancing (GB) ran out a well-backed winner of the one-mile maiden on Wednesday's card at Kempton.

Returning an SP of 13-2, having been available at 22-1 in the morning, Advancing duly produced an accomplished display to land the gamble. In a race run at a solid pace, he always looked to be in his comfort zone, travelling sweetly on the heels of the leaders, before stretching clear once asked for his effort to win well by a length and a half.

The first horse for a newly-launched syndicate named Uppingham Special, Advancing must have given its members a huge thrill with this debut performance. Most excitingly, he looks the type to progress further when he steps up in trip, certainly if his smart middle-distance pedigree is anything to go by.

The son of Lope De Vega (Ire) is the second winner from three runners out of the unraced Intisaar (War Front) who, in turn, is out of the G3 Noblesse Stakes runner-up Betterbetterbetter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The latter is a three-parts sister to no fewer than five black-type performers by Sadler's Wells, headed by the G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Yesterday (Ire) and G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Quarter Moon (Ire).

 

Nice debut

Lope De Vega colt Advancing travelled and quickened in the style of a smart colt on debut.

A nice horse for the @jamesferguson89 team pic.twitter.com/YdtmU9cgHK

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 12, 2025

 

Amo Dominance at Dundalk

Over in Ireland, it's been a productive spell for Adrian Murray and Amo Racing, who celebrated two winners in the space of three days at Dundalk last week, starting with 150,000gns purchase Spicy Margarita (Ire) when she won the seven-furlong fillies' maiden on Wednesday's card.

Only sixth when making her debut at Galway back in October, the daughter of Earthlight (Ire) left that form well behind to get off the mark at the second attempt, despite leaving the impression she's still learning on the job. Produced to lead over a furlong out, she proceeded to take a scenic route to the winning post, wandering both left and right, though it didn't seem to slow her down as she ran out a decisive winner by nearly three lengths.

Bred by Loughtown Stud, Spicy Margarita is the seventh winner from 11 runners out of the G1 Falmouth Stakes and G2 Lowther Stakes scorer Nahoodh (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}), with the others including last year's G2 Hochi Hai Fillies' Revue winner Etes Vous Prets (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}). She has more to offer but isn't necessarily bred to stay middle-distances, so it will be interesting to see how she fares when she steps up to 10 furlongs for a conditions race back at Dundalk on Friday.

As for stable-mate Tiberius Thunder (Ire), he seems sure to relish longer trips after his debut success in the one-mile maiden run last Friday. Backed as if defeat was out of the question, returning an SP of 8-15, he impressed most with his strength at the finish after coming under pressure from some way out, certainly giving his supporters a few anxious moments on his way to beating Waterford Flow (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) by three quarters of a length.

Like Spicy Margarita, Tiberius Thunder was purchased at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, this time for 220,000gns, having initially sold for 120,000gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale. He's the first foal out of the G3 C.L. & M.F. Weld Park Stakes winner Ellthea (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) who, in turn, is out of the G2 Royal Whip Stakes scorer Tropical Lady (Ire) (Sri Pekan).

Yet another new three-year-old winner for Night Of Thunder (Ire) in 2025, Tiberius Thunder is sure to progress and win more races, with a step up to 10 furlongs, at the very least, promising to play to his strengths.

 

Tiberius Thunder (Night Of Thunder) is out of a Group 3 winner and runs green on debut but ultimately justifies short odds for Adrian Murray, @waynemlordan and @amoracingltd @DundalkStadium pic.twitter.com/yH9kKqbkog

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 14, 2025

 

Winners in Waiting

Dancing Teapot (Ire), runner-up at Dundalk (November 22) since publication
Padua (Ire), seventh at Kempton (December 4) since publication
Marhaba Ghaiyyath (Ire), winner at Lingfield (December 3) since publication
Safe Idea (GB), third at Wolverhampton (December 21) since publication
Indian Springs (Ire)
Spanish Voice (GB)
Noble Horizon (GB)
Dixieland Blues (GB)
City Of God (Ire), winner at Southwell (January 17) since publication
War And Love (GB), runner-up at Chelmsford (January 11) and fifth at Newcastle (February 4) since publication
Cupola (GB)
Lady Lilac (Ire)

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