Pearl Sky, a 4yo daughter of Kahyasi, easily took the first European Group race of the year, the competitive Gr.3 Prix Exbury at Saint Cloud on March 10th. The going was officially heavy but that did not affect Pearl Sky and she won easily by five lengths beating several stakes winners, notably Montare, Bellamy Cay, Freedonia, Elasos and Runaway. This was her third consecutive win and her first one at a Group level as she finished last season by winning the Listed Prix Petite Etoile.

Pearl Sky was bred by Mrs Patricia Beck and is out of a full sister to the Gr.1 Prix de Diane winner Lypharita. She is the best foal to date of her unraced dam Patissima (by Lightning). According to trainer Yves de Nicolay she may now run in the Gr.3 Prix Allez France on May 2nd at Chantilly with some big race objectives in view for the second part of the season.

On the same card the Aga Khan owned and bred filly Elva, impressively won a B race over a mile by 8 lengths. This was her second win in only 2 starts. A 3yo filly by King’s Best out of Evora, she looked to have real potential and might appear now in either the Gr.3 Prix de la Grotte or the Gr.3 Prix Cleopatre next time out. Elva is trained by Jean-Claude Rouget who has started the season in great form as he trained another recent winner for the Aga Khan Studs: the 3yo filly Brofalya (Fasliyev-Broad and High). She is still unbeaten having won her 2nd race at Saint-Cloud at the beginning of March.

Updated on 13/03/2007