Tuesday 18 October 2011
Alain de Royer Dupré’s talented DALAKHANI colt VADAMAR picked up a well-deserved Group victory on Sunday at Longchamp when lifting the Gr 2 Prix du Conseil de Paris in a brave front-running performance. Traditionally considered as a consolation prize for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, this Group 2 event is run over the same course and distance two weeks later than Europe’s richest race.
VADAMAR was not among those to line up a fortnight earlier, when his stablemate Shareta (Sinndar) was a superb runner-up and Sarafina (Refuse To Bend) seventh, as his handler preferred to wait for more cut in the ground. He was rewarded as VADAMAR held on to secure his first Group success.
VADAMAR had already amply demonstrated his ability, winning the Listed Prix François Mathet in good style in April before a third in the Gr 2 Prix Greffulhe. Most recently, he finished a solid third in the Gr 2 Prix Niel behind fellow DALAKHANI colt, the Prix du Jockey Club hero RELIABLE MAN. The grey is a son of Gr 1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Vadawina (Unfuwain), who is in foal to DALAKHANI this year.
DALAKHANI’s family had been to the fore in the opening event on the Longchamp card as Dalkala made a winning début in the Prix de la Chapelle unraced fillies’ contest. The granddam of this daughter of Giant’s Causeway is a full sister to seven-time Gr 1 winner Daylami and half sister to the Prix du Jockey-Club and Arc de Triomphe scorer DALAKHANI. Dalkala’s dam Daltaya (Anabaa) finished second in the Prix de la Chapelle back in 2005 and she later won the Gr 3 Prix de la Grotte and finished fourth in the Gr 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches.
Updated on 18/10/2011.