Friday 6 May 2011
SARAFINA returned to winning ways with a smooth victory in a classy renewal of the Gr 2 Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud on Monday, and her campaign will now be laid out with the 2011 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as its major target. The daughter of Refuse To Bend demonstrated that she has successfully made the transition from three to four years old and has progressed since her second place on her seasonal debut in the Gr 1 Prix Ganay. Christophe Lemaire settled his partner towards the rear of the field before making progress at the entrance to the straight and quickening well to take the lead inside the final furlong. The filly eventually recorded a two-length verdict over dual Gr 3 winner Announce and Prix de l’Opéra winner Lilly Of The Valley on her first attempt on a left-handed track. On this occasion, SARAFINA won in 2’10”5, breaking the record of the race which stood at 2’12 since 1985.
Last year SARAFINA recorded a double in the Gr 1 Prix Saint-Alary and Prix de Diane before finishing third in both the Prix Vermeille and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Alain de Royer Dupré’s charge holds an entry in the Gr 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot but is due to remain in France in the immediate future. The filly could return to Saint-Cloud to take in the Gr 1 Grand Prix de SaintCloud in a month’s time.
SARAFINA’s half-brother SANDAGIYR (Dr Fong) looks to have inherited the same family talent as he recorded a facile two-length win in the Listed Prix de Pontarmé at Chantilly on Friday. Like SARAFINA, SANDAGIYR did not make his racecourse debut until relatively late and this was his second victory in three outings since April. His major objective for the early summer will be the Gr 1 Prix Jean Prat over a mile at Chantilly on 3rd July and he could well take in the Gr 3 Prix Paul de Moussac in June as a further preparation.
SARAFINA and SANDAGIYR’s placed dam SANARIYA (Darshaan) has enjoyed great success in the paddocks as in addition to her current pair of black-type winners, she is also dam to dual Listed scorer and multiple Group 1 placed Sanaya (Barathea) and the triple-Group 3 placed Sanjida (Polish Precedent).
Updated on 26/05/2011.
