Monday 28 June 2010
CHINESE WHITE became the third individual Group 1 winner from Dalakhani’s first crop when dominating the classic generation to lift the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday. This was a highly deserved victory for the five-year-old mare, who was recording her seventh win in fourteen outings, and her sixth success in Stakes company. CHINESE WHITE has enjoyed particular success at the Curragh, where she has also picked up the Gr 3 Dance Design Stakes and Gr 2 Blandford Stakes as well as a fourth place in the Gr 1 Irish Oaks behind fellow Dalakhani daughter Moonstone and a recent third in the Gr 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup. Owned and bred by Lady O’Reilly, the grey is already in foal to Cape Cross and she ended her illustrious racing career on a high before retiring to the paddocks.
There is no tougher horse in training than Sinndar’s son YOUMZAIN and he once again displayed his ability when a fast-finishing second in the Gr 1 Grand Prix de Saint Cloud on Sunday. Beaten just a nose on the line, Mick Channon’s charge was ahead of eventual winner Plumania both before and after the finishing post and so can be considered most unlucky not to end up in the winners’ enclosure. YOUMZAIN was tackling his 21st successive contest at the highest level and he already boasts two Group 1 wins, including the 2008 edition of this race. The seven-year-old has amassed over £3 million in prize money and is best known for his three second places in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The Longchamp showpiece will once again be his main target for 2010 and he could also take in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July.
HH Aga Khan’s DARYAKANA was another to finish strongly in the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud and she was just a short neck further back in third place. The Hong Kong Vase scorer is also entered in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. On the same card, dual winner Shamanova carried the Aga Khan’s silks to second place in the Gr 2 Prix Malleret on her first attempt in Pattern company.
Updated on 28/06/2010.
