Owned in partnership by Qatar Racing Limited, Infinity Nine Horses, Ecurie Des Monceaux and Alexandre Giannotti, MANGOUSTINE (Dark Angel x Zotilla) remains unbeaten following an impressive display when taking the Criterium De Lyon, a Listed contest for two-year-olds over mile, at Lyon-Parilly, France, on Thursday, September 23rd.
Already highly regarded by her trainer Frederic Rossi following her impressive debut, MANGOUSTINE made light work of some noteworthy rivals under a cool ride from Christophe Soumillion. The filly looks a classic prospect for next season.
Breaking quickly from the stalls, MANGOUSTINE was taken back and placed in mid-field of the eight runners. QUESSIGNY (Recorder) took the field along at a good rhythm through the first half of the contest. MANGOUSTINE travelled well throughout and was poised to challenge on the turn for home. Entering the straight, it was EVEREST ROSE (Dubawi) who took over in the lead, but was tracked closely by MANGOUSTINE. Asked for her effort just inside the 400m pole, MANGOUSTINE produced an impressive turn of foot and quickened clear down the outside. Once in front, she was strongly challenged by TOIMY SON (Twilight Son). The pair drew clear, but MANGOUSTINE was always doing enough and went on to win by a length and a quarter from the Yann Barberot-trained and the Gregory Benoist-ridden TOIMY SON. The Fabrice Chappet-trained and the Stephane Pasquier-ridden ROCCA NERA (Dream Ahead) was further three lengths back in third..
“That was very nice”, said MANGOUSTINE’s trainer Frederic Rossi after the race, “We are delighted to win for the owners, everyone involved and Christophe Soumillion. It has been a little time since I have had a very good filly. Winning a listed on only her second start, its great and a very good sign for the future. I think the Marcel Boussac will come too quickly for her. I have already won this race and it has always been a good steppingstone towards the Reservoirs. Therefore, I think that if the ground doesn’t go too soft, then we could run there. She is a filly that will be even better next season and we will certainly look after her. She looks like a filly for the Poule d’Essai (French Guineas).”
“It’s great what she has done there, two races and two victories”, said winning jockey Christophe Soumillion, “It’s only her second race and she had a lot less experience than most of the field. That was a good race and she has done everything perfectly for me. She was quick out of the stalls. I think her optimal distance could be 1,400 metres because she travelled so strongly. Turning for home, I was going better than everyone else, but I didn’t want to go too quickly because at Deauville she flattened out a bit when in front. She is a very good filly and can be top-class next season.”
Bred by Ecurie Des Monceaux, Lordship Stud and Qatar Bloodstock Limited, MANGOUSTINE is by Yeomanstown Stud’s Dark Angel (Acclaimation). Her dam, ZOTILLA (Zamindar) raced once at three. The second dam LOUVAIN (Sinndar) was a Group Three winner in the US and has produced the dual Group One winner FLOTILLA (Mizzen Mast) and the unbeaten Listed winner BIG FIVE (Frankel).
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club