Beautiful Aspen shows her style in hot maiden at Chantilly

Aspen Darlin, whose racing career ended with an appearance for trainer Alan Bailey in the 1,000 Guineas, breathed life into her time as a broodmare when causing an upset in a fascinating newcomers' event at Chantilly on Tuesday.

Much of the pre-race interest centred upon Wildfede, a Galileo full sister to Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Waldgeist, appearing in the Newsells Park silks for Andre Fabre but owned in partnership with Gestut Ammerland and Coolmore.

Wildfede was hardly disgraced, recovering from a slow start and not being overly pushed to finish fifth, but she was no match for Aspen Darlin's Dabirsim daughter Beautiful Aspen in any event.

Aspen Darlin was bought by Bailey for just €10,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale and went on to win the Firth Of Clyde Stakes and finish second to Serious Attitude in the Cheveley Park Stakes.

She sprained a tendon in the stalls at the start of the 1,000 Guineas and was pulled-up, Bailey selling her later in 2009 for 110,000gns to Hubert Guy.

Three previous foals to have hit the track in France have failed to make any impression with Beautiful Aspen sold by Haras du Chateau de Rabodanges for €38,000 as a yearling.

Now trained by Eric Libaud, the three-year-old was up against some illustriously-bred and well-entered rivals in the Prix de la Serpentine but was always travelling well under a confident-looking Eddy Hardouin to come a length and a quarter clear of Rivaport and Loisaba.

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