Breeding & Racing Magazine

Marju Adds French Gr2

Also in France overnight, former Collingrove shuttler Marju (Last Tycoon-Flame Of Tara, by Artaius) added a French group success when Irish-bred 6YO entire Watar (Marju-Ombrie, by Zafonic) gained the decision in a 3-way photo-finish to the €130,000 (A$176,000) Gr2 Prix Maurice De Nieuil (2800m) for 4YOs & up at Longchamp. Watar (ridden by Davy Bonilla for trainer Freddie Head) scored by a short-neck from UK-bred 5YO gelding Times Up (Olden Times-Princess Genista, by Ile De Bourbon) with a further head to Irish-bred 4YO mare Shamanova (Danehill Dancer-Shamadara, by Kahyasi). Watar took his record to 4 wins (also including 2008’s Gr2 Prix Chaudenay over 300m at Longchamp & Listed Prix Michel Houyvet over 3000m at Deauville) & 7 placings (including May’s Gr3 Prix D’Hedouville over 2400m at Longchamp & April’s Listed Prix Lord Seymour over 2400m at Longchamp, plus 2010’s Gr3 Prix Gladiateur over 3100m at Longchamp, as well as 2008’s Gr3 Prix De Lutece over 3000m at Longchamp, Gr3 Prix Du Lys over 2400m at Longchamp, Gr3 Prix La Force over 2000m at Longchamp & Listed Prix De L’Avre over 2400m at Longchamp) from 16 starts.