Arapaho provides a familiar feeling for Andre Fabre at Deauville

Arapaho announced himself as a colt to watch in the opener at Deauville on Sunday - particularly as trainer Andre Fabre could hardly be more familiar with his page.

The doyen of the French training ranks was responsible for the immediate creation of Lope De Vega as a potential stallion, having guided him through a career featuring wins in his home Guineas and Derby before a move to stud at Ballylinch in Ireland.

Fabre also trained Arapaho’s mother, the Dansili mare Alzubra, who ran in the colours of his wife, Elisabeth, and was a product of her Ecurie Peregrine.

Alzubra gained her finest hour in the Listed Prix Dahlia at Saint-Cloud in 2015 while her mother Azabara was trained by the multiple champion to win another Listed race at the same Paris track. She beat no less a rival than Goldikova in a trial in 2008 before finishing fifth to the mighty Zarkava in the French Guineas.

Arapaho is Alzubra’s first foal and justified favouritism on his debut at Saint-Cloud a few weeks ago in the brown and pink silks of Mme Fabre. He is now running for the Coolmore triumvirate of John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith and took the Prix Ardan, a conditions event over six and a half furlongs, by a cosy length and a half.

The Fabres already have several relatives to look forward to - there is a Kendargent yearling named Alula Borealis and a colt foal by Almanzor.

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