Successful start for first-season sire Make Believe in France

Make Believe, who earned his position as a stallion with victory in the 2015 French Guineas, was off the mark with his first runner in his former homeland at Clairefontaine on Friday.

Now based at Ballylinch Stud in County Kilkenny, from where the former Andre Fabre trainee has been offered at €12,000 this year, Make Believe has already sired two individual winners, the Mark Johnston-trained Makyon and Rose Of Kildare, from a handful of runners in Britain and Ireland.

Miss Believe started off in a seven-furlong claiming event at the Normandy track, finishing three lengths clear in the hands of Cristian Demuro.

Out of the Dalakhani mare Miss Bex, the filly was offered at the Arqana Deauville February Mixed Sale 2019 but was withdrawn and remains under the ownership of Pietro Sinistri and trainer Attilio Giorgi.

Her Zoffany half-brother Vengeful won both in France, as well as in a Thurles maiden hurdle for Gordon Elliott.