Mashoora - Maisons-Laffitte - 05.04.2012
PICTURE: ScoopDygaMashoora back in groove with Longchamp success
Report: France, Saturday
Longchamp: Prix de la Porte Maillot (Group 3) 7f, 3yo+
MASHOORA (Jean-Claude Rouget/Christophe Soumillon) scored for the first time since impressing in the Prix Imprudence, in the process putting a disappointing effort in the Qipco 1,000 Guineas firmly behind her.
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Settled by Soumillon in a handy position tracking the leaders on Longchamp's helter-skelter 7f course, the Barathea filly took command passing the first winning post and was half a length too good for the rallying Shamalgan at the finish.
Mashoora finished second to Laugh Out Loud in the Prix Sandringham over 1m last time out and connections now has a decision to make about the trip for her next start.
"She's become very relaxed and she only does the minimum required," said Rouget.
"She's entered in both the Prix Rothschild [over 1m] and the Maurice de Gheest [6½f] at Deauville and if her training goes well she'll run in one of the two. I'll have to discuss it with the owner and the jockey."
Kendam deserves credit for her performance in running on for third having blown the start under Maxime Guyon.
Also on Saturday
Longchamp: Prix Daphnis (Group 3) 1m1¼f, 3yo colts & geldings
So Beautiful (Sandrine Tarrou/Thierry Jarnet) punctured a few big reputations in brushing aside the challenge of his five rivals, including Mashoora's stablemate Abtaal, who could finish only third under his 3lb penalty.
On his first start over more than 1m So Beautiful swept from last to first under an assured ride from Jarnet, putting the race away in a matter of strides to score by a length and a half from Mainsail.
Tarrou had kept the option of Sunday's Group 1 Prix Jean Prat until the middle of the week but said she did not regret taking the lesser prize.
"He only made his debut in the spring and I decided he wasn't quite mature enough to take on a Group 1 yet," said Tarrou.
Indeed although one of the standouts in the parade ring beforehand, the chestnut son of Zamindar was notably coltish and proved a bit of a handful for his two handlers.
Despite a less-than-electric early pace, Jarnet bided his time, preferring to bank on So Beautiful's speed at the end.
"I told Thierry above all not to put pressure on the horse early on and whatever happened at the finish to accept it, whether he finished placed or better," added Tarrou.
Tarrou declined to name a target for her fledgling talent but, with a Group 3 already in the bag, a race like the richly endowed Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville looks a tempting option.
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