Prix Sagan 2025 - Olga de Kiev

Prix Sagan

Auteuil 17th May 2025 - “Tres Souple 4,1”

3YO Fillies G3 Hurdle - 3,500m - €60,750

4:11.40 (1:11.82 Réduction KM)

A competitive race, but the 3 Fillies who came into this race with the strongest form have filled the places. Olga de Kiev was keen in the early stages, but she was ridden more prominently this time and settled once headed by Selma de Vary (5th) after jumping the first flight of hurdles. She still pulled at times and with a hood and a noseband combination on it was easy to see why she had been ridden patiently in her first few starts. However, once Baptiste Le Clerc let out some rein, she picked up readily, jumping the 2nd last on terms before heading across to the stands rail, asserting on the run-in to win by 8-lengths. She finished in 17.20s with a top speed of 55.4 km/h in the straight, over a second faster than anything else in the field on the run-in. She’s clearly very talented and saw out the trip very well. There’s always going to be a risk that she will be too keen, especially on heavy ground in the autumn, but this was a comprehensive victory and is on a par with the level of form achieved by the recent winners of this race.

Mille et Une Vies finished 2nd and did reverse the form with Delmegan from their meeting in the Prix Girofla last time. She is still a maiden after 3 starts, but she has shown more than enough to win a 3YO hurdle if they decided to drop in class. Took up the running at halfway and had every chance turning in. Slightly inconvenienced when the winner came across her at the 2nd last, but that would not have made a significant difference to the result. She is a daughter of The Grey Gatsby, but she hits the ground quite hard with her front legs and might be better on softer going.

Delmegan was unbeaten in her first 2 starts, but having led turning for home, she met the last 2 hurdles on the wrong stride and was soundly beaten in the end. To her credit, she has battled on all the way to the line to recover a 3rd placed finish. However, a top speed of 52.7 km/h may just have found her out on this ground. Very closely matched with the 2nd and a nice filly all the same, she may have been the most precocious of this year’s early crop and perhaps the others have now narrowed the gap.

Morgane du Large only made her debut at the end of April and took a big step forward from that 2nd placed finish in the Prix Wild Monarch (Pouliches). Had every chance and had the stands side rail to help her late on. Perhaps still in need of the experience, but kept on nicely without being asked for everything. A No Risk At All filly out of a Saint des Saints mare, she has plenty to recommend her. Beaten 10-lengths here. Selma de Vary finished 2nd in the Prix Geographie (where she split Delmegan and Mille et Une Vies) and ran at least as well here to finish 5th. Taken wide in the back straight (without any obvious benefit it should be added) she still had a chance at the 2nd last, but tired late. Another filly who will win a 3YO hurdle at some point. Just Happy finished 7th. She was kept wide in the home straight after tracking the pace, crashing through the top of the last to end any chance of hitting the frame. She won at Compiegne and looks a decent prospect, though perhaps lacks the finishing speed and strength of the principles at this stage of her career. Bellina du Berlais was badly outpaced but did plug on to finish 6th, taking 18.06s from the last to the line, a time only surpassed by the winner. Her Dam, Byzance du Berlais, was 4th in a French Champion Hurdle and she may simply need further than this to be seen at her best.