Monday 15 July 2024
The weekend of 14th July (Bastille Day in France) started in the best possible way, with a Group 1 victory for SEA THE STARS thanks to the brilliant win of his son Sosie in the Grand Prix de Paris. The Wertheimer and Frère homebred had finished an excellent third in the Gr.1 Prix du Jockey Club on his first attempt at Stakes level, and he confirmed the high regard of his connections by winning by two lengths at ParisLongchamp on Saturday. He becomes the 22nd Group 1 winner for SEA THE STARS and could now be aimed at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
The next day at Chantilly, ZARAK's son Caramelito continued his progression by winning the Gr.3 Prix Messidor. This gelding, carrying the colours of his breeder Patrick Sabban, secured the seventh win of his career, having won at Listed level in May. He thus becomes the 17th Group winner for his sire.
SIYOUNI also had his share of success, including a double in the two-year-old newcomers races at Chantilly. Scandalo won the first event on the card on his debut and is likely to be aimed at the Listed Critérium du Fonds Européen de l'Élevage in August at Deauville.
Another SIYOUNI debutant, ZARIGANA, made a striking visual impression by winning the Prix de la Butte Blanche by four lengths. The filly comes from one of the finest families in the Aga Khan stud book, being a granddaughter of champion Zarkava and a daughter of Group 1 placed Zarkamiya. Her jockey, Mickael Barzalona, commented after the race: "She has an engine, but she is still very green. I wanted to ask her to accelerate gradually, but she put in a burst of speed all at once. Despite this, she managed to reach the finish while still easing off. She is full of class."
The Aga Khan silks also made it to the podium in the Gr.2 Prix de Malleret with a third place finish for Candala, and in the Gr.2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil, where Shembala recorded her fourth consecutive Group placing.
