This is the Final part of this series and whilst the earlier horses that I highlighted made high profile debuts, the debut of this Filly has gone largely unnoticed. Jerome Reynier and Jean-Claude Seroul have enjoyed a lot of success in recent years, but it is their placement that sets them apart. Horses like Marianafoot and Skalleti began their careers in Southern France before moving on to Group 1 glory.
Now there is a very long way from a November maiden at Salon-de-Provence to Group 1 glory in Paris or Deauville, but every horse needs to start somewhere and she could not have been more impressive. There will be plenty of winning opportunities for a Filly like this, especially if she continues her career at tracks like Marseille, Toulouse and Cagnes-Sur-Mer. On paper, she isn't bred to be a superstar, but the same could be said for her connections other recent success stories and with 1 win from 1 start, she has earned her connections the opportunity to dream.
AMELIELYMPIQUE - 2YO Filly
Trainer: Jerome Reynier
Owner: Jean-Claude Seroul
Breeding: Olympic Glory x Celebre (Peintre Celebre)
Winner 2YO Maiden at Salon-de-Provence - 1m2f on Very Soft - 22.11.2022
Breeding: 4th Foal, Full-sister to 5 time winner and Listed placed Olympie, half-sister to 2 other winners. Dam Listed placed and winner of 6 of 20 starts, half-sister to winners in US and Peru. Related to 1000 Guineas placed Afjan.
Form: Slowly away but recovered to tracked leader. Shaken up turning in and switched wide to lead at 400m pole, quickened clear readily. Won by 6-lengths. Placed horses have official ratings of 34 and 33-kilos, though 2nd, 3rd and 5th have all been beaten since. Overall time was 0.5s faster than the Colts and Geldings maiden over the same course and distance, though 1.8s slower than the Class 2 stakes race for 3-year-olds won by Scorpio.
Comments: This was one of the last turf meetings of 2022 and the standard of the fields on offer did reflect that “end of season” feel. In truth, Amelielympique did not have to run beyond a mark of 35-kilos to win this, but the manner of her victory, despite being slowly away, would suggest that she is an above average type. A full-sister to Olympie, who has been a model of consistency for the same connections and she looks the type to win plenty of races in the South, where her connections have enjoyed so much success. The yard have enjoyed success in these maiden races in the past, winning the Colts race with subsequent Listed winner Jo Pickett in 2019.
After the race, Jerome Reynier told Jour de Galop “This field suited her today. The filly was ridden up with the pace, we knew she was ready and performing well on this type of ground. It's good to impose ourselves in this way, we can spend the winter quietly. She does everything with great ease and that confirms what we thought of her”.
Is she a Group 1 winner in waiting? The probability is No, but this debut looks to have gone largely unnoticed and although the race that she won was a low key affair, she produced a very taking performance and with her connections, she is likely to be a horse to follow, especially in the South.