Waldlerche waltzes to success in Diane trial
Report: France, Tuesday
Saint-Cloud: Prix Penelope (Group 3) 1m2½f, 3yo fillies
WALDLERCHE (Andre Fabre/Maxime Guyon) showed class and a little courage to maintain her 100 per cent record on soft ground which continued to absorb more rain as the day progressed.
A half-sister by Monsun to Ladbrokes St Leger winner Masked Marvel, she was adding to her sole success at two.
Guyon set very modest early fractions, with several of his rivals forced to fight their mounts in an attempt to settle.
Having briefly ceded the lead to the hard-pulling Joly Berengere, Waldlerche moved smoothly to take control two furlongs from home, and galloped all the way to the line to score by three quarters ofa length from Crecy.
"She's a big striding filly, and she's clearly a good one," said Guyon. "She's only had two races and I think she has a bright future."
Waldlerche is engaged in the Prix Saint-Alary and the Prix de Diane, but doesn't hold entries at either Epsom or the Curragh.
However while no filly has doubled up at Chantilly since Pawneese in1976, Fabre has sent two of his previous Penelope winners abroad.
Wemyss Bight took this race en-route to fifth place at Epsom behind stablemate Intrepidity, while the trainer's most recent winner Gagnoa chased home Zarkava in the Diane before finishing third to Moonstone in the Irish Oaks.
Runner-up Crecy just held the late progress of Rjwa, and has Yannick Fouin dreaming of a rare venture at the top level on the flat.
Fouin is one of the most astute jumps trainers in France, and will now set the daughter of Refuse To Bend on course for a potential Group 1 date.
"I have a very small flat string in comparison to the big boys, and it's great to have a filly to compete," said Fouin. "She could take in the Prix Cleopatre back here if she's very well, and the main aim is races like the Saint-Alary and the Diane. Today's distance is absolutely as far as she stays."
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