Harry Angel's half-brother Pierre Lapin not for catching on debut

Harry Angel's half-brother Pierre Lapin got his racing career off to the perfect start when scurrying clear of his rivals on debut in the 6f British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes at Haydock on Friday.

The same race was won last year by Arthur Kitt, who subsequently went on to land the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.

His chief rival on paper was fellow debutant Visible Charm, an Invincible Spirit half-brother to Erupt who was purchased by Godolphin for 575,000gns at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale, but he could not keep pace with the turn of foot shown by Pierre Lapin.

Bred by CBS Bloodstock, the aptly named Pierre Lapin is out of the Cadeaux Genereux mare Beatrix Potter, and takes his name from the French for Peter Rabbit.

Beatrix Potter is half-sister to the two-time Champions Mile winner Xtension and the Listed-placed A Huge Dream, dam of the Polonia and Lansdown Stakes scorer Mrs Gallagher.

Harry Angel struck in Group company at two, three and four, and completed a memorable July Cup-Haydock Sprint Cup double as a three-year-old, earning him a place at Dalham Hall Stud, where his opening fee this year was set at £20,000.

A first winner for his sire, Pierre Lapin became the most expensive offspring of first-crop sire Cappella Sansevero sold at public auction when purchased by his trainer Roger Varian for 140,000gns at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

The January-foaled colt looks to be worth keeping tabs on, with an early entry for the Group 2 Railway Stakes at the Curragh in late June.

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