Saturday 3rd July 2010, Longchamp. (www.jourdegalop.com) Joanna (High Chaparral) was the only the 3 year old filly at the start of the €80,000 Prix de la Porte Maillot (Gr3-3yo+ - 1,400m) but that didn’t prevent her from becoming the first filly since Nidd in 1993 to win this race. This was her third Group 3 success of her career, all of which have been over 1,400 metres, after the Prix du Calvados as a 2 year old and the Prix Imprudence at the start of the year.).

Joanna will now head for the Prix Maurice de Gheest (Gr1), at Deauville, according to trainer Jean-Claude Rouget: “She is brave and has a lot of speed. I think we need a bit longer before making our move with her as she eased up a little when she hit the front. She will normally go for the Prix Maurice de Gheest. I know that it is difficult for 3 year olds in these Group 1s but that was the case today and it didn’t stop her from winning!”

Joanna beat the reliable Salut l’Africain (Ski Chief) by a neck, while Dandy Nicholls’ Group 2 winner Lovelace (Royal Applause) took third place a further neck behind.

Bred by Giovanni Faldutto in Italy, Joanna is the first winner of a Group 2 in France by stallion High Chaparral. She is out of Secrète Marina (Mujadil), who was third in a Listed as a 2 year old. Joanna is her first winner; she was entered in the Arqana Arc Sale in 2009 but was withdrawn after her sale to Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum.

Daphnis – Emerald Commander in his element

Emerald Commander (Pivotal) achieved his first Group victory on his third run in France in the €80,000 Prix Daphnis (Gr3). He has always run well on French soil including finishing second to Jan Vermeer (Montjeu) as a 2 year old in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Gr1), and a third place in the Prix Paul de Moussac (Gr3-3yo Males-1,850m). Winning trainer Saeed bin Suroor explained afterwards: “He has improved a lot since his first run of the season. The rain this morning was an advantage for him. We will see how he comes out of this race but it is possible that he will come back to France to run in the Prix Eugène Adam (Gr2), over 2,000m.” The judge took a long time over the photograph of the finish before announcing a dead heat between Wealthy (Refuse to Bend) and Mellon Martini (Sadler’s Wells) half a length behind the winner.

Bred by Grangecon Stud, Emerald Commander was bought for GNS 40,000 in October 2008 at Tattersalls, then for £72,000 at the Doncaster 2 year old sales. His dam Brigitta ran in the colours of Mrs. Susan Magnier and was first trained by André Fabre, then Jean-Claude Rouget, for whom she won twice at La Teste and Marseille-Vivaux. Emerald Commander is her product who has achieved the lowest price at public auction but the most success on the racetrack.

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