Lope de Vega’s Ecrivain Stays Perfect in the Chenes

[Wandering Eyes]

   Alain and Gerard Wertheimer’s homebred Ecrivain (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) overcame early troubles to prevail in his Aug. 20 debut going one mile at Deauville and followed up in style over the same trip in Sunday’s G3 Prix des Chenes at ParisLongchamp. He was allowed off at 41-10 for this pointer to the same venue’s Oct. 6 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and was restrained to track the tempo in third after breaking sharply and fighting for his head up front early doors. Shaken up soon after turning for home, the chestnut quickened smartly to wrest control from pacesetting stablemate Hopeful (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) approaching the final furlong and was pushed out to comfortably secure a career high by a length from that rival. Godolphin’s hitherto undefeated Al Dabaran (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was unable to deliver a decisive blow, despite threatening in the straight, and kept on to finish a half-length adrift in third.

   “It is always satisfying to finish first and second in a Group race and, obviously, we’re very happy,” said winning trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias after claiming a first edition of the contest. “Before the race I did not know which of the two would finish in front of the other, but the best horse won on the day. The [G1 Prix] Jean-Luc Lagardere is the usual target for winners of this race so we will be back here for that in four weeks.”

   Ecrivain becomes the first stakes winner from four runners and as many winners out of G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial second Sapphire Pendant (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who has also produced recent Listed Prix de Occitanie third Starifique (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and the yearling colt Statisticien (GB) (Intello {Ger}). Sapphire Pendant, who was bred to Empire Maker this year, is herself kin to three stakes performers including Listed Victoria S. runner-up Lacadena (Fasliyev), who in turn is the dam of GSW GI Mother Goose S. and GI Delaware H. third America (A.P. Indy). Ecrivain’s third dam Blush With Pride (Blushing Groom {Fr}) annexed the GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Santa Susanna S. and produced five stakes horses headed by GSW GI Acorn S. second Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister), who in turn is the dam of the MGISW GI Belmont S. and GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Rags To Riches (A.P. Indy).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX DES CHENES-G3, €80,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-8, 2yo, c/g, 8fT, 1:40.97, g/s.
1–ECRIVAIN (FR), 128, c, 2, by Lope de Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Sapphire Pendant (Ire) (GSP-Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Butterfly Blue (Ire), by Sadler’s Wells
3rd Dam: Blush With Pride, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (FR); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias; J-Maxime Guyon. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €53,500. *1/2 to Starifique (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), SP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Hopeful (Fr), 128, g, 2, Motivator (GB)–Monst (Ire), by Monsun (Ger). O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (FR); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias. €16,000.
3–Al Dabaran (GB), 128, c, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–Bright Beacon (GB), by Manduro (Ger). O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. €12,000.
Margins: 1, HF, NK. Odds: 4.10, 7.40, 0.80.
Also Ran: Happy Bere (Fr), Troilus (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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