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Friday 25th June 2010, Maisons Laffitte (www.jourdegalop.com) Helleborine (Observatory), the full sister to the champion African Rose, shone on her first start in the €24,000 Prix Mary Tudor (Unraced 2yo Fillies-1,200m). “She has nothing in common with African Rose”, commented trainer Criquette Head-Maarek. “She is much more relaxed than her sister who was a livewire. She can do anything and runs just as well in front as behind. But she is still a baby and was very green today.” Helleborine doesn’t resemble African Rose physically either, her sister was chestnut with four white socks whereas Helleborine is bay. Ridden in front on the rails, she was attacked by Pontenuovo (Green Tune) – a well thought of daughter of Porlezza – but when jockey Johan Victoire asked her for an effort she picked up again nicely to catch her in the dying strides. They were the first two home some distance ahead of the rest of the field. The winner is estimated very highly by her trainer who declared, “She is one of my favourite horses, that is why she ran here today. It is not out of the question for her to run in a Listed race soon but I would prefer to give her another run before stepping up in class. She could run over a longer trip up to 1,400m.”
Yves de Nicolay’s charges Pontenuovo and Vauville (Invincible Spirit) took second and third place respectively. Vauville finished a full five lengths behind her stable companion with the rest of the field even further in the distance.
Bred by Juddmonte Farms, Helleborine is a daughter of New Orchid (Quest for Fame), a mare who excelled over distances of 2,000 metres or more. She has become an exceptional broodmare at stud with African Rose (Observatory), winner of the Sprint Cup (Gr1) at Doncaster as a 3 year old, being her first produce. New Orchid is a half sister to Distant Music (Distant View), unbeaten in three starts as a 2 year old including a win in the Dewhurst Stakes (Gr1).
Duplex – Manhaj shows promise
The winner of the colts’ version, the €24,000 Prix Duplex (Unraced 2yo Males-1,200m), was also bred in the purple. John Hammond’s Manhaj (Medicean) is out of a sister of Lavirco (Königsstühl) and Laveron (Königsstühl) and it seems that he has much in common with his relatives in terms of trip and staying power. Winning jockey, Gerald Mosse, commented afterwards; “He is a very nice horse. Today was my first time to ride him and he made a very good impression on me. He won today because of his class but I think he will be better over a much longer trip. He has a lot of room for improvement.” Quickly away at the start, Manhaj dominated the favourite, Yarubo (Muhtathir) 100 metres from the line. These two were a class above the rest with their closest rival, Gavriel (Tale of the Cat), finishing two lengths behind the pair.
Bred by Newsells Park Stud, Manhaj is the first offspring out of La Dangeville (Danehill), who was trained in Germany by Urs Suter. La Dangeville never showed much on the racecourse but has made up for that at stud.
Hampton – Delvita changes destination
Although Delvita (Pinmix) has produced her best performances at Chantilly the change of track did not seem bother her when she won the €52,000 Prix Hampton (L-3yo+ -1,000m) for the second time in a row. “She prefers the 1,000m at Chantilly”, confided Jean-Vincent Toux, “but she had previously run well here at Maisons-Laffitte. She came here of a good first run back at Chantilly so we were quite confident especially as it was a weaker bunch. Normally she will follow the same route as last year heading for the Prix de Ris-Orangis (Gr3).” Delvita finished second in the aforementioned race last year, beaten only by Tiza (Goldkeeper), who she finished more than three lengths ahead of on this occasion at Maisons-Laffitte. Delvita battled with Dam d’Augy (Bernebeau) the whole length of the straight before eventually winning by a head. English raider Moorhouse Lad (Bertolini) took third place a further half a length behind.
Delvita was bred by her owner Raymond Choupeaux. She is out of the mare Very Very Nice (Soviet Star), making her a half sister of Very Very Risky (Take Risks), who has been a regular in handicaps for seven seasons.
Rescousse – Ludiana wins for Aga Khan
The €29,000 Prix Rescousse (3yo Fillies-2,400m) was won by the Aga Khan filly Ludiana (Dalakhani), in the hands of Christophe Lemaire for trainer Alain de Royer Dupré. In a tight finish second place was taken by Casta Diva (Linamix) who finished just a nose behind the winner. Another Aga Khan filly, Parandeh (Kahyasi), was a further length and a half behind in third.
This was Ludiana’s second start after finishing second on her only other run at Longchamp less than three weeks ago.
Ludiana is out of Luna Caerla (Caerleon), a winner herself who has produced a total of seven winners at stud. She also has a yearling colt by Sinndar and a filly foal by Azamour.
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