Redoute's Choice filly wins French Classic trial
One of the most valuable mares to visit Redoute’s Choice at HH The Aga Khan’s Haras de Bonneval in 2013 was the Wertheimers’ marvellous matron 22-year-old Born Gold (by Blushing Groom).
Born Gold achieved international fame as the dam of the 2010 European Horse of the Year Goldikova (by Anabaa) whose 17 wins included fourteen at Group 1 level.
But Goldikova is only the brightest of Born Gold’s stars. As at 2013 her dozen winning progeny also included Group 1-winning filly Galikova (by Galileo) and Group 3 winners Gold Round (also a very successful broodmare), Gold Sound and Goldikova’s full brother Anodin – a stunning record for any mare.
On Sunday the result of Born Gold’s mating with Redoute’s Choice, 3YO filly Gold Luck joined that wonderful list when she prevailed in a highly competitive battle for the Prix Vanteaux 1800m G3 at Chantilly. The Freddy Head-trained filly worked hard for her short head victory, but found enough under pressure to defeat last-start winner Monroe Bay and Hebah.
Watch Gold Luck win the Chantilly Prix Vanteaux G3.
The form-line is strong: Gold Luck split the Al Shaqab colt Al Wukair and Hebah in last October’s Deauville Prix Isonomy LR, and Al Wukair, who is 2000 Guineas-bound, extended his unbeaten record on Sunday in the Mainsons -Laffitte Prix Djebel G3.
Gold Luck’s win was more than usually special, as the Wertheimer brothers’ racing manager Pierre-Yves Bureau explained.
“As breeders it is an immense joy for us because Born Gold was 22 years old when covered by Redoute’s Choice. It was a difficult gestation so to have the mare still with us, and enjoying a happy retirement on the farm, is already a win. And now for this filly to have already won at Group level, it is a dream.
“She fought hard there today to come out on top of what looked a decent group of fillies. The Prix Saint-Alary is a logical next step and in theory the extra distance should be no problem to her.”
Gold Luck is the first Group or Listed winner among 14 winners from the first European crop of Redoute’s Choice. Another exciting 3YO prospect is Gold Luck’s stablemate and close relation, the Roth family’s filly Golden Attitude (ex Gold Round by Caerleon) who won at Chantilly in February and was third over 2100 metres at Saint-Cloud on 2 April.
Gold Luck’s milestone win concluded an outstanding week for the great son of Danehill who dominated the Inglis Easter sale-ring along with his sons Snitzel and Not A Single Doubt.
The father-and-sons dynasty claimed all of the Sale’s major stallion honours: Top Price ($2.5 million Redoute’s Choice-Secluded colt), Highest Aggregate (Snitzel, 38 lots sold for a total $20,425,000) and Highest Average (Not A Single Doubt, 3 lots sold for an average price of $750,000).
The trio sired eight of the Sale’s 17 $1 million-plus yearlings, including four of the top five lots, an achievement both explained and supported by their collective 47 winners of 57 Group & Listed Races in five countries since 1 August 2016.
