Shamardal’s Shaman Prevails in the Force

[Wandering Eyes]

   Freshened by a decisive win in last month’s Listed Prix Omnium II at Saint-Cloud, Alain and Gerard Wertheimer’s Shaman (Ire) (Shamardal) continued on an upward trajectory and on course for Classic encounters with victory in Sunday’s G3 Prix La Force at ParisLongchamp. The homebred chestnut followed up a July 8 debut win at Chantilly with a second back there in the Aug. 12 Listed Prix Francois Boutin and closed his juvenile campaign with an Oct. 25 Deauville conditions score after running third in the Sept. 9 G3 Prix des Chenes and fifth in the Oct. 7 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at this track. Shaman assumed control during the opening exchanges and held sway thereafter. Rowed along when threatened passing the two pole, the 7-5 favourite came under increased urging in the latter stages and was driven out to hold the late bid of Rockemperor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) by a neck. “I thought we’d go straight for the [May 12 G1 Poule d’Essais des] Poulains after he won at Saint-Cloud last time,” explained trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias. “That would have meant going almost two months without a run, but he was doing so well at home we decided this was an ideal opportunity for him and it was a good way to test his stamina. He had to make an early effort to get on the lead from an outer draw, but he kicked on again when challenged and stayed on nicely. I was a little concerned about the ground after winning so well on heavy going last time, but he handled it fine and it was a good decision to run. We’ll wait and see the Guineas trials before making a decision on whether to drop back in trip for the Poulains or keep him at this trip.”
   Shaman, who also holds an entry in the June 2 G1 Prix du Jockey Club, is one of five winners produced by dual stakes scorer and G3 Prix Imprudence third Only Green (Ire) (Green Desert), and he is kin to Listed Albury Gold Cup and fellow Listed Prix Omnium II victor Green Sweet (Smart Strike) and the 2-year-old filly Cordova (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Only Green is herself a half to three black-type performers headed by MG1SW European champion Occupandiste (Ire) (Kaldoun {Fr}), who in turn is the dam of four stakes winners–headed by MG1SW Mondialiste (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})–and the granddam of G1 Prix du Jockey Club-winning sire Intello (Ger) (Galileo {Ire}).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX LA FORCE-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 4-7, 3yo, c/g, 9fT, 1:50.24, gd.
1–SHAMAN (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Shamardal
1st Dam: Only Green (Ire) (MSW & GSP-Fr, $165,007), by Green Desert
2nd Dam: Only Seule, by Lyphard
3rd Dam: Elle Seule, by Exclusive Native
1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (IRE); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias; J-Maxime Guyon. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 7-4-1-1, €138,440. *1/2 to Green Sweet (Smart Strike), SW-Aus & Fr, $239,142. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Rockemperor (Ire), 128, c, 3, Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)–Motivation (Fr), by Muhtathir (GB). (€50,000 Ylg ’17 ARAUG; €12,000 2yo ’18 ARQMAY). O-Mme Claudine Escoubet, Scuderia Scolari, Jerome Vallier & Pierre Beziat; B-Haras du Mezeray SA (IRE); T-Simone Brogi. €16,000.
3–Roman Candle (GB), 128, c, 3, Le Havre (Ire)–Holy Dazzle (GB), by Sunday Break (Jpn). (€190,000 Ylg ’17 ARAUG). O-Godolphin; B-Ecurie Melanie, Ecurie Haras du Cadran & Adrian von Gunten (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €12,000.
Margins: NK, 2, HF. Odds: 1.40, 13.00, 3.20.
Also Ran: Veronesi (Fr), Sottsass (Fr), Getchagetchagetcha (GB), Urwald (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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