Wednesday 16 May 2012
DALKALA became the latest Group winner in her illustrious bloodline on Tuesday when taking the Prix Cléopâtre in impressive style at Saint-Cloud. The filly is a daughter of Giant’s Causeway and Daltaya (Anabaa), who is out of a Doyoun half-sister to Prix du Jockey Club and Arc hero Dalakhani and seven-time Group 1 scorer Daylami. Daltaya herself was a Group winner, picking up the Gr 3 Prix de la Grotte in 2006 before finishing fourth in the Gr 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches.
Now unbeaten in three outings, the Alain de Royer Dupré-trained DALKALA won her maiden as a juvenile at Longchamp and returned to the same track to make a successful return to action in a conditions race in April. The step up in class to the Gr 3 Prix Cléopâtre was well within her means and DALKALA ran out a comfortable winner four lengths clear of her nearest rival. The well-bred filly looks to have a bright future and her next race is likely to be the Gr 1 Prix de Diane.
The Aga Khan silks are set to be represented in the Prix du Jockey Club by KESAMPOUR and MANDOUR. It has been decided to aim the unbeaten Gr 2 Prix Greffulhe scorer KESAMPOUR (King’s Best) at the Chantilly Classic rather than the Epsom equivalent and the colt will be joined by MANDOUR who carries the colours of Princess Zahra Aga Khan. MANDOUR is a Smart Strike son of triple Group 1 winner Mandesha (Desert Style) and he finished a close third last Friday in the Gr 3 Prix de Guiche at Chantilly, beaten just a short neck and a neck after leading the field for much of the race.
Newcomers Ridasiyna and Bayrir were both impressive winners on their first appearance. Three-year-old Ridasiyna made a five-length winning debut in a newcomers contest at Longchamp on Sunday. This daughter of Motivator and Ridafa (Darshaan) is from the same maternal line as recent Chester Vase scorer Mickdaam (Dubawi). At Maisons-Laffitte, the son of Medicean and Balankiya (Darshaan), Bayrir, succeeded easily by two and a half lengths over 9 furlongs.
Updated on 16/05/2012.
