Lawman’s Luminate Keeps Her Perfect Tally Intact In the Penelope

[Wandering Eyes]

With the rain seemingly never-ending in Europe, Tuesday’s G3 Prix Penelope at Saint-Cloud proved another stamina test and that played into the hands of Luminate (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) as she maintained her unbeaten record with a game display. Not seen since beating the colts convincingly in the G3 Prix de Conde over nine furlongs at Chantilly in October, Highclere Thoroughbred Racing’s bay tracked the leader Tosen Gift (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) racing enthusiastically in the hands of Olivier Peslier. As that rival folded with two furlongs remaining, it was Homerique (Exchange Rate) who had first run with Luminate taking time to extend. Peslier refused to panic on the 6-5 favourite and after raising his whip was able to coax her past that rival in the final 50 metres for a half-length success, with seven back to Tosen Gift in third.
Freddie Head admitted to concern as the finish unfolded. “She is a filly who does not show much in the morning, so there was a question mark today. I was a little bit worried when the other filly hit the front, but we all know Olivier Peslier has no nerves,” he said. “He was biding his time, as this filly stays very well and I have no doubt that she’ll stay a mile and a half later on. For the time being, we’ll stay at this trip and we have a choice between the [G3 Prix] Cleopatre or the [G1 Prix Saint-Alary]. At this stage, I would favour the Cleopatre as the easier way in order to keep her fresh for the [G1 Prix de] Diane the next time. It’s good that this kind of syndicate is as enthusiastic as they are–they come racing and to watch her train in the morning–and it is a good example for France.”
Luminate, who also scored over a mile on debut at Deauville in August, draws her stamina from her Aga Khan damline. Another of an endless line of shrewd bargain purchases by John Warren, she is out of Kalandara who is a half-sister to none other than the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf and G1 Champion S.-winning sire Kalanisi (Ire) (Doyoun {Ire}), as well as the talented G2 Scottish Derby winner and G1 St. James’s Palace S. runner-up Kalaman (Ire) (Desert Prince {Ire}) and the Listed Prix Melisande scorer and G2 Prix de Malleret second Kaloura (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}). Connected to the G2 Queensland Guineas-winning sire Saxon (Aus) (Danehill), she was sold at the 2013 Goffs November Mares Sale to Philip and Jane Myerscough’s Kildare-based Colbinstown Stud for just €35,000 after failing to get off to a satisfactory start as a broodmare. She also has a 2-year-old filly by Lope de Vega (Ire) named Chamundi Hills (Ire) who was purchased by Godolphin for 370,000gns at Tattersalls October, and a yearling full-brother to Luminate.

Tuesday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX PENELOPE-G3, €80,000, SCD, 5-1, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT, 2:13.08, sf.
1–LUMINATE (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Lawman (Fr)
1st Dam: Kalandara (Ire), by Rainbow Quest
2nd Dam: Kalamba (Ire), by Green Dancer
3rd Dam: Kareena (Ire), by Riverman
(€85,000 Ylg ’16 GOFORB). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing; B-Philip & Jane Myerscough (IRE); T-Freddy Head; J-Olivier Peslier. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €93,500. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Homerique, 126, f, 3, Exchange Rate–Chiquita Picosa, by Congaree. ($34,000 RNA Wlg ’15 KEENOV; 22,000gns RNA Ylg ’16 TATOCT; €75,000 2yo ’17 ARQMAY). O-Ecurie De Montlahuc; B-Nicky Drion & Francois Drion (KY); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €16,000.
3–Tosen Gift (Ire), 126, f, 3, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Miracolia (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). (€98,000 Ylg ’16 GOFORB). O-Japan Health Summit Inc; B-Kildaragh Stud (IRE); T-Satoshi Kobayashi. €12,000.
Margins: HF, 7, 6. Odds: 1.20, 2.40, 2.70.
Also Ran: Tempel (Fr), Sweety Dream (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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