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Andre Fabre set to unleash the latest Deep Impact runner in Europe

Muette set to represent owner-breeders the Wertheimer brothers

Andre Fabre: set to introduce Muette in a Longchamp maiden
Andre Fabre: set to introduce Muette in a Longchamp maidenCredit: Edward Whitaker

Many of the leading owners are represented by blueblooded newcomers in races for unraced three-year-old males and females over 1m2½f at Longchamp on Monday.

The most intriguing debutante, Muette, is due to appear in the fillies' contest, the Prix de Chaillot at 2.35 (1.35 BST).

The filly, trained by Andre Fabre for owner-breeders the Wertheimer brothers, is the latest European representative of Japanese supersire Deep Impact.


Racecards (via France Galop)

Prix Juigne for colts and geldings (Longchamp 1.00 BST)

Prix de Chaillot for fillies (Longchamp 1.35 BST)


She is out of Blarney Stone, a winning daughter of Peintre Celebre, and the decision to send her to Japan to be covered by Deep Impact is easy to understand, as she is a half-sister to Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Beauty Parlour and Saint-Cloud Listed scorer, both of whom were bred by the Wildenstein family from the son of Sunday Silence.

Blarney Stone, a winner over a mile at Chantilly at three for the Wildensteins, moved into the Wertheimers' ownership after being knocked down for €725,000 at the Arqana December Breeding-Stock Sale in 2014.

Deep Impact's few progeny to race in Europe have often hit the bullseye, with Saxon Warrior and Study Of Man landing Classics last year and Japanese-trained stars A Shin Hikari, Kizuna and Makahiki winning big prizes on the continent.

The stallion, however, is currently sidelined from covering due to a recurrent neck injury.

There are plenty of other persuasive pedigrees in opposition to Muette, including:

  • Dariyza, a daughter of Dawn Approach and Hong Kong Vase victress Daryakana, making her a half-sister to Prix Ganay winner and young Haras de Bonneval stallion Dariyan; trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre for the Aga Khan.
  • Fedya, by Mastercraftsman out of Pacific Pride, a winning daughter of Storm Cat and Group 3 scorer Race For The Stars from the family of Hawk Wing; trained by Francis-Henri Graffard for Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani.
  • Mighty Blue, a daughter of Authorized out of Prix de Diane runner-up Millionaia; trained by Henri-Francois Devin for Ballymore Thoroughbred.
  • Hawkamah, a New Approach three-parts sister to Listed winner and Group 1-placed Big Blue out of multiple Group 1-placed Board Meeting; a 250,000gns Book 1 yearling trained by Fabre for Godolphin.

The race also features two well-bred Dark Angel fillies – Sister Midnight, a daughter of Yoga, a Monsun half-sister to German and Italian Group 1 winner Saddex and thus a relative of Niarchos stars Chimes Of Freedom and Spinning World, and Forgiveness, who hails from the family of the great Sinndar.

Speaking of Sinndar, he is the sire of one of the more intriguing entrants in the colts' version of the race, the Prix Juigne at 2.00 (1.00 BST).

His son Belsanndi, out of the unraced Sea The Stars mare Starboard Beam, represents Royer-Dupre and owner the Aga Khan. He is descended from Prix Saint-Alary winner Behera, ancestress of Grand Prix de Paris winner Behkabad and 2,000 Guineas runner-up Vital Equine.

Sea The Stars is represented as a sire in the contest in his own right, through Segarelli, who is out of Samba Brazil, a Group 3-winning Teofilo half-sister to Group 1 winner Seismos from the outstanding family of Samum, Salve Regina, Schiaparelli and Sea The Moon.

He is trained by Fabre for Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani.

Martin StevensBloodstock journalist

Published on 21 April 2019inNews

Last updated 21:15, 21 April 2019

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