Tuesday 16 June 2020
SIYOUNI celebrated no less than ten winners during the weekend, and the standout of these was SOTTSASS who lifted his second Group 1 victory in the Prix Ganay. H.H. the Aga Khan’s silks were carried to success by the talented EBAIYRA, ELDAMA, ZENYA and MAKALOUN, while Aga Khan-bred Variyann recorded his second win for new connections after being sold last autumn.
Prix du Jockey Club hero and Arc de Triomphe third SOTTSASS returned to the winners enclosure at the highest level on Sunday, with a comfortable success in the Prix Ganay. Last year’s Longines World’s Best Three-Year-Old Colt relished the return to Chantilly and made a first step towards a second tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October. The in-form Haras de Bonneval sire was represented by ten winning progeny from Friday to Sunday and another notable performance was supplied by newcomer ELDAMA who quickened nicely to score with something in hand at Leopardstown. This daughter of SIYOUNI is out of a half-sister to Group 1 stars Enzeli, Estimate, Ebadiyla and Edabiya, and she is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Edelmira. Dermot Weld’s charge holds entries in the Irish Oaks and Pretty Polly Stakes.
The same illustrious family was to the fore in France thanks to EBAIYRA (Distorted Humor) who stepped up in class to lift the Group 3 Prix de Royaumont on her first attempt over a mile and a half. Trained by Alain de Royer Dupré, she is the second Stakes winner out of Group 2 winner Ebiyza and is entered in the Prix de Diane.
The famous green and red colours also shone thanks to juvenile MAKALOUN (Bated Breath), who opened his account at Toulouse, and three-year-old ZENYA, a Raven’s Pass half-sister to Group 3 scorer Zannda from the family of Zarkava, who won at the first time of asking at Roscommon. Four-year-old Hamariyna (Sea The Moon), already a Group 3 winner last season, stayed on well to finish a creditable second in the Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes at the Curragh after three months absence and she is entered in the Pretty Polly Stakes.
Finally, Aga Khan bred Variyann, a son of Shamardal and Prix Saint-Alary heroine Vazira, is unbeaten in two outings for new connections after recording a quick handicap double in June. The gelding was purchased for 25,000€ at the Arqana Autumn Sale last November.
Updated on 16/06/2020.
