Winter Watch: Chantilly Polytrack Continues to Produce

[Wandering Eyes]

Another 'TDN Rising Star' was born across the Channel on Tuesday, as We'll Defend (Fr) followed in the footsteps of Mandanaba (Fr) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) and Tito Mo Cen (Ire) (Uncle Mo) by producing a sparkling debut display on the Chantilly polytrack.

All told, We'll Defend is the sixth now-three-year-old to have earned 'TDN Rising Star' status in Europe since Winter Watch came into being in November, with Falakeyah (GB) (New Bay {GB}), Bowmark (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Opera Ballo (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) also having impressed in Britain in that time.

It was on cold Kempton evenings that both Bowmark and Opera Ballo first strutted their stuff, while a wintry Wolverhampton was the scene of Falakeyah's dazzling debut. However, if it's seeing exciting young talent that keeps you warm at this time of year, then Chantilly has been the place to be this winter above all others, with the added bonus of being in a rather more picturesque setting than Dunstall Park. Sorry, Wolves fans.

Carlos and Yann Lerner will certainly have a soft spot for Chantilly after last year's Prix du Jockey Club success with Look De Vega (Fr). Now, the father-and-son training duo can be forgiven if they're dreaming of further Classic glory with We'll Defend, who is a half-sister to their 2022 Prix de Diane runner-up La Parisienne (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}).

The reputation of this Zelzal (Fr) filly seemed to precede her as she arrived at Chantilly for this race run over an extended nine furlongs for unraced fillies. Fitted with a hood and a tongue tie, she was sent off the odds-on favourite and duly delivered by four lengths in effortless fashion, sprinting clear in the final furlong with jockey Christophe Soumillon barely having to break sweat.

Bought by the Lerners for €150,000 at the Arqana August Yearling Sale, We'll Defend became the seventh winner from as many runners out of the Hurricane Run (Ire) mare Skysweeper (Fr), with the others including the Listed winner Newlook (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), also trained by the Lerners, and the G3 Prix des Reservoirs third Scripturale (Fr) (Makfi {GB}).

A step up in class surely now beckons for Victorious Racing's We'll Defend, who holds Classic entries in both the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Prix de Diane. Victory in the latter event would no doubt taste sweet for the Lerners, especially for Carlos, who also finished second in the race with Volvoreta (GB) (Suave Dancer) back in 2000.

 

Très beau début de cette belle pouliche…
Prix De La Serpentine @fgchantilly
Chantilly – Inedites – Pouliches – 3 ans – 1900m – 7 Pts – 27 000 €

We'Ll Defend (f) Christophe Soumillon @CSoumillon
(Zelzal (Fr) @AlShaqabRacing – Skysweeper (Fr)… pic.twitter.com/UlnDEZDUBK

— French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) March 4, 2025

 

Le Havre Legacy Lives On

The success of Look De Vega in last year's Prix du Jockey Club was a rare one for a stable other than that of Jean-Claude Rouget, who has won that Classic five times since 2016, most recently with the brilliant Ace Impact (Ire) in 2023.

It remains to be seen which horse will lead Rouget's quest for a seventh Jockey Club triumph in 2025, but Leffard (Fr) must be in the picture now after back-to-back wins at Cagnes-Sur-Mer and Toulouse. Incidentally, the first of those victories came in the Prix Ace Impact, named after the Prix du Jockey Club and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner who had kicked off his career by winning the same contest two years earlier.

After beating stable-mate and next-time-out winner Kalaoun (GB) (Kitten's Joy) by a short neck at Cagnes-Sur-Mer, Leffard then made the switch to turf at Toulouse on Monday for a conditions race run over an extended 10 furlongs. There was depth to that contest, with five other previous winners in the field, but Leffard ultimately put them all to the sword a shade cosily, showing a smart change of gear in the final furlong to win by three quarters of a length.

A €150,000 purchase at the Arqana August Yearling Sale, Leffard is out of the unraced Montjeu (Ire) mare Let's Misbehave (Ire), whose siblings by Sadler's Wells include the multiple Group 1-winning sire High Chaparral (Ire) and the G2 Dante Stakes hero Black Bear Island (Ire), as well as Chenchikova (Ire), the dam of the Prix de Diane winner Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

Crucially, Leffard belongs to the final crop of Le Havre (Ire), Rouget's first winner of the Prix du Jockey Club in 2009, who died exactly three years ago yesterday (March 4). He also sports the same colours as his sire, those of Gerard Augustin-Normand, who owns this colt together with Antonio Caro, so it would be a poignant occasion all round should he make the necessary progress to line up at Chantilly as a leading contender for the Prix du Jockey Club.

 

Prix Jean-Paul Bosc
Toulouse – Classe 2 – 3 ans – 2100m – Bon Souple (3.4) – 8 Pts – 22 000 €

Leffard (m) (Ire) Jean-Bernard.Eyquem @JeanEyquem
(Le Havre (Ire) -Let'S Misbehave (Ire) par Montjeu (Ire))

Jean-Claude Rouget
… pic.twitter.com/eFWHf7G0Fc

— French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) March 3, 2025

 

The Clement Connection

A major development in French racing was announced on Monday, with Dutch-born Frauke Hermans joining Arc-winning trainer Nicolas Clement as joint-licence holder at their Chantilly yard.

Hermans was preceded in her previous role as assistant to Clement by Irish-born Tim Donworth, a rising star of the training ranks in France, who was in the news himself on Thursday when Tigress Of Gaul (Fr) maintained her unbeaten record in the conditions event run over a mile at Chantilly.

A decisive debut winner over the same course and distance back in December, Tigress Of Gaul justified prohibitive odds as she followed up last week with relative ease, just needing to be shaken up by Aurelien Lemaitre to beat another last-time-out winner, Poschiavo (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}), by three quarters of a length.

It was by no means the most prestigious win of Donworth's career to date, but the significance of it shouldn't be underestimated with a daughter of Siyouni (Fr) who fetched €700,000 at the Arqana August Yearling Sale, identifying her as the joint-second highest-priced filly. Bred by Ecurie des Monceaux, who have retained a share in her with owner Jose Aguirre-Moreno, she is out of the unraced Frankel (GB) mare Lucerne (GB) who, in turn, is out of a half-sister to the top-class miler and sire Charm Spirit (Ire).

Entered in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Tigress Of Gaul could be the breakout horse at the very top table for Donworth, who also spent a year as assistant to Rouget, before kicking off his own training career when he rented a portion of Clement's yard in September 2021.

 

Smart performance to make it two from two!

Entered in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Tigress Of Gaul wins cosily at @fgchantilly | @TimDonworth94 pic.twitter.com/YF0k3D19Wp

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 27, 2025

 

More to Come from Almanzor Sibling

Friday's action at Chantilly is also worth highlighting, including the maiden staged over an extended nine furlongs, which went the way of Kryon (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for trainer Victoria Head and owner-breeder George Strawbridge.

This colt doesn't hold any fancy entries, but he's bred to go to the top as a half-brother to Rouget's former stable star Almanzor (Fr), the European champion three-year-old of 2016 when his Group 1 wins included the Prix du Jockey Club, Irish Champion Stakes and Champion Stakes. Like Leffard, he was raced in partnership by Augustin-Normand and Caro.

Almanzor was blessed with explosive acceleration and Kryon looked fairly fleet of foot himself in this display, quickly putting the race to bed after moving up to lead over a furlong out. He hit the line three lengths clear of his closest pursuer, in an overall time around 1.8 seconds faster than that of the fillies' equivalent won by Sitora (Ire).

As well as giving a glimpse into his own bright future with this breakthrough win, Kryon also paid a compliment to Sumbe's Nizam (Fr) (Pinatubo {Ire}), who had him back in third when they made their respective debuts at Saint-Cloud back in October. Nizam has since won a Listed contest at Lyon Parilly and is entered in both the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Prix du Jockey Club.

As for Sitora, she was equally dominant as she outclassed her rivals by two and a half lengths, looking another useful filly in the making for Francis-Henri Graffard and the Aga Khan Studs. This homebred is the third winner from as many runners out of the Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) mare Simiyna (Ire) who, in turn, is out of a Listed-placed half-sister to the great Sinndar (Ire).

 

Prix Du Four A Tuile @fgchantilly
Chantilly – Maiden – Males – 3 ans -1900m – 12 Pts – 27 000 €

Kryon (m) (Gb) Christophe Soumillon @CSoumillon
(Sea The Stars (Ire) @AgaKhanStuds – Darkova (Usa) par Marias Mon (Usa))

Victoria Head
M. George… pic.twitter.com/5Pas0V6m0B

— French and International Horse Racing (@Vincenzo0612) February 28, 2025

 

Port Light the Best of Britain

Kingman (GB), the sire of Sitora, was also among the winners at Newcastle on Thursday as we begin our round-up of what's been an uneventful few days in Britian, certainly compared to what we've seen in France.

The seven-furlong novice won by Regalian (GB) was about as weak a race of its type as you'll find, but the William Haggas trainee got the job done in good style as the 2-5 favourite, drawing right away late on to win by three and a quarter lengths. Stiffer tasks lie ahead for Isa Salman Al Khalifa's homebred, but he's bred to be smart as a son of Missrock (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), a multiple Group 1-placed sprinter in Australia. Her first foal, Theory Of Tides (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), was a dual winner for the Gosdens last year.

The Charlie Appleby-trained Tribal Act (Ire) also deserves a mention, having defied a penalty to double his career tally in the 11-furlong novice on Friday's card at Southwell. The son of Sea The Stars (Ire) still looked far from the finished article as he hung left through the final furlong, but at the line he was well on top, two and a half lengths clear of his closest pursuer. He's since been allotted an opening BHA mark of 92 and should be capable of winning handicaps with further progress expected.

Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see which way Archie Watson goes with Port Light (Ire) after his pillar-to-post success in the one-mile novice at Chelmsford on Thursday. He now finds himself on a mark of 98, so handicaps will be an option, though he's not too far off the level required to make him competitive in minor stakes company.

There was certainly plenty to like about his win at Chelmsford, by five lengths from Crack On Boys (GB) (Cracksman {GB}), who'd created a favourable impression when opening his account at Newcastle a few weeks earlier. Port Light himself was a debut winner at Southwell in November, before being beaten just a head by the subsequent Listed runner-up Rajeko (Ire) (Kameko) at Chelmsford the following month.

Whatever the future has in store, the son of City Light (Fr) already looks a very shrewd purchase at the €41,000 it cost to secure him at the Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-up Sale, having first sold for 24,000gns at the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale.

 

Port Light justifies short odds to run out a comfortable winner in the @bet365 Restricted Novice Stakes opener at @ChelmsfordCRC@Archie_Watson | @HollieDoyle1 pic.twitter.com/w1YiFYyKir

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 27, 2025

 

Dundalk Form Boosts for O'Brien Duo

We'll sign off with a quick spin through Friday's action at Dundalk, where Joseph O'Brien had reason to smile despite drawing a blank on the card.

The Michael O'Callaghan-trained Athlumney Warrior (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) ran out a comfortable winner of the one-mile maiden under Colin Keane, by two and a quarter lengths, having previously filled the runner-up spot behind O'Brien's Snapaurum (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) over the same course and distance. Keane later completed a double when winning the maiden over an extended 10 furlongs aboard Heather (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) who, again, had finished second to an O'Brien trainee, Sweet Illusions (Get Stormy), when making her debut there in December.

Heather is trained by Ger Lyons, but she's from a family that O'Brien knows well, having won the Irish Derby with her full-brother, Latrobe (Ire). She's also a full-sister to the Oaks runner-up Pink Dogwood (Ire), which points to her finding more improvement when she steps up to a mile and a half. That was backed up by the manner of this victory, looking better the further she went as she hit the line two lengths clear of her closest pursuer.

Elsewhere on the card, Sands Of Mali (Fr) filly Songhai (Ire) looked a bright prospect for Johnny Murtagh when making a winning debut in the six-furlong maiden, showing a good attitude to hold off a more-experienced rival by three quarters of a length. Bought for €40,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, she seems sure to progress and win more races.

 

She knew her job alright

Songhai is a winning debutant for the @JohnnyMurtagh
& @BenCoen2 team.

Always well placed, the Sands Of Mali filly came home well to mark herself down as potentially useful.@DundalkStadium pic.twitter.com/1KnRBRv8pC

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 28, 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) and runner-up at Wolverhampton (February 18) and Southwell (February 28) since publication
War And Love (GB), runner-up at Chelmsford (January 11) and fifth at Newcastle (February 4) since publication
Cupola (GB), seventh at Wolverhampton (February 18) since publication
Lady Lilac (Ire), third at Dundalk (February 28) since publication
My Kinda Ghaiy (Ire)

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