Chantilly 2YO Maidens - 20th July

PRIX DE LA BUTTE BLANCHE (F)

1:32.37 - Finishing Speed 113.3%

A steadily run Fillies maiden that developed into a sprint in the straight. Pulled wide to challenge, Arkansas has taken around 100m to get into top stride, but once quickening, she has pulled readily 3-lengths clear of the rest, finishing with furlongs of 11.22 and 11.65s, both ranked 1st. She is a Sottsass filly, out of a Lope de Vega mare from the family of Chriselliam and Very Special. She was a €180,000 yearling at Arqana in 2023. Seemed to enjoy the conditions (Souple 3,5) and visually looks to be a relatively powerful filly who should grow into her frame. Solid start.

Whaka (2nd) has enjoyed the run of the race in front and with such a slow pace, that may have slightly flattered her. She is a Chachnak filly whose Dam won on debut over 1,200m, reaching a peak rating of 35-kilos. The family has plenty of winners, without a stand out performer. Home-bred by JPH Dubois, she was sent off at 9.7 PMU SP (5th). Should find a maiden and to be fair to her, she has held the rest without being able to go with the winner.

Child of Vision (3rd) was well fancied, sent off at 3.6 PMU. Had every chance with a prominent ride from Barzalona, but readily left behind in the closing stages and didn’t go past Whaka. Wore a hood for this debut, very one paced. Lightly framed from the paddock pictures and surely needs more time and distance based on her pedigree. Similar comments can also apply to Tarateel (4th) who was the SP Fav at 3.5. Difficult to expect her to make up ground from the rear in this race, but only some limited progress in the straight. Her dam is an unraced daughter of Treve, so there are plenty of reasons for optimism from the pedigree and she is likely to be better in time. Shaped like a Filly who needed this experience, especially with the hood on for debut.

PRIX DU FOSSE LA COQUE (C&G)

1:30.15 - Finishing Speed 104.3%

A much stronger pace than the Fillies race. Race appeared to revolve around the runner-up, Feelings, who was sent off 1.6 Fav on the PMU for FH Graffard. Sat behind the 2 leaders, he was ideally placed by Barzalona but he was ridden along with 500m to run and struggled to quicken with the winner. Kept galloping to finish 2nd without looking like closing the gap. He’s a Too Darn Hot Colt out of Astronomy’s Choice, who was a winning debutante for John Gosden in 2017. She ran in Group company but didn’t really make her mark after a good start to her career. Clearly been showing something at home and every chance he bumped into an above average sort that knew his job, but still a slight concern that he lacked the expected turn-of-foot.

Gentlemanlike was visually the biggest horse in the field and having raced prominently, he was clearly ready for this debut (not surprising given the fact that Endaltsev has the ability when getting the right horse). Once asked to stretch, he put 4-lengths between himself and the rest and was the fastest horse in each of the last 3-furlong splits in the Chantilly straight. An Australia Colt, his Dam won over 5-furlongs before being sold to the US. A PMU SP of 19 suggests they weren’t sure, but this was relatively easy success. A bargain buy for €12,000, he is currently owned by Igor Endaltsev himself.

Persian Imp Cen made the running with the winner. Driven along in the straight, he kept on at one pace. Likely to improve for this experience, although no match for the easy winner. He is a Persian King half-brother to Dark Reckoning. Just held 3rd from Amy Murphy’s Budokan, who made some late progress to finish 4th.