Camelot’s Ballet Russe a New Rising Star At Compiegne

[Wandering Eyes]

Compiegne’s Prix de Verberie threw up a TDN Rising Star on Tuesday as Michael Tabor’s Ballet Russe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) made light work of a confidence-boosting maiden outing laid on by Andre Fabre. Having already caught the eye when coming home strong to be runner-up on his racecourse bow over 10 furlongs at Saint-Cloud Mar. 30, the bay was unhurried early by Pierre-Charles Boudot showing keenness towards the rear. Cruising to the leaders without turning a hair and taking control with 300 metres remaining, the 3-5 favourite who was a 300,000gns Tattersalls October graduate sauntered clear under hand riding to record a facile four-length success from Reliable Son (Fr) (Reliable Man {GB}).
The Juddmonte-bred dam Seatone (Mizzen Mast) was a 5 1/2-furlong maiden winner at Dieppe for Criquette Head-Maarek before being sold for just 115,000gns at the 2011 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Her family is an outstanding one that Fabre knows well, having trained the G3 Prix Corrida-winning second dam Diese (Diesis {GB}) and her illustrious champion G1 Dewhurst S. and G1 Prix de la Salamandre-winning half-brother Xaar (GB) (Zafonic) and fellow sire sibling Masterclass (The Minstrel). Fabre also initially handled Diese’s daughter Speak in Passing (Danzig) before she went Stateside and captured the GIII San Simeon H., while another of her daughters Cochin (Swain {Ire}) produced Permit (GB) (Dansili {GB}) who was also with the master of Chantilly in his formative period–and won at this track–prior to going on to G2 Schweppes Chairman’s H. success in Australia.
Diese’s most notorious produce was Juddmonte’s GI United Nations H. and GI Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship-winning sire Senure (Nureyev), one of a total of four stakes performers, with one of her descendants being the recent listed scorer Still Standing (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). This is of course the dynasty of the matriarch Monroe (Sir Ivor), the Phoenix S. runner-up who is a sister to the champion Malinowski and fellow sire Gielgud and a half-sister to the Kentucky Oaks heroine Blush with Pride. There are an abundance of high-class performers in this pedigree including the Juddmonte sires Cityscape (GB) (Selkirk), Bated Breath (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and the spectacular Close Hatches (First Defence).
Seatone’s first foal was the stakes-placed Australian export Romanesque (Ire) by Camelot’s sire Montjeu (Ire), while her 2-year-old colt Victory March (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) was snapped up by M V Magnier for 220,000gns at Tattersalls October. She also has a yearling filly by Zoffany to follow.

3rd-Compiegne, €25,000, Mdn, 4-23, 3yo, c/g, 12fT, 2:40.37, gd.
BALLET RUSSE (IRE), c, 3, by Camelot (GB)
    1st Dam: Seatone, by Mizzen Mast
    2nd Dam: Diese, by Diesis (GB)
    3rd Dam: Monroe, by Sir Ivor
Sales history: 300,000gns Ylg ’17 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, €17,500. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier; B-Lynch-Bages Ltd & Camas Park Stud (IRE); T-Andre Fabre.

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