Claiming her first stakes success, the Al Shaqab Racing-owned homebred Jouza (Toronado) showed an exciting turn of foot to land the Listed Prix Madame Jean Couturie at Vichy on Thursday, July 21st.

Trained in Chantilly by Henri-Francis Devin, who also won this race last term with La Parence (Saonois), the February-born Jouza has now won three of her six career starts. A maiden winner at Chantilly last winter, before making a winning seasonal debut at Fontainebleu in April, Jouza was having her third start of the year at Listed level and her first at 2,000m.

Ridden by Clement Lecoeuvre, who is attached to the Devin stable, Jouza was settled in behind the English-trained Arion (Dubawi). Jouza joined the leader inside the final 300m and was quickly asked for an effort. The three-year-old was game in front and held off the challenges of Pearl Rouge (Zelzal), who finished two lengths back in second, with Blue Wings (Wings Of Eagles) a nose back in third.

The winning jockey Clement Lecoeuvre said after the race: “That is a nice winner for the boss. He has won it twice now. I wanted to ride her a little differently, but thankfully it all worked out. It is exciting for the future. She is really starting to use herself like a very good horse.”

Bred by her owners, Jouza is a daughter of Rasmiya (Galileo), who was also Al Shaqab Racing-owned and was a maiden winner at Bath for William Haggas. Rasmiya also has a yearling filly by Shalaa and a colt foal by Ectot. The second dam, Crystal Valkyrie (Danehill) has produced eleven winners as a broodmare. Her most successful products include the Gr.3 winner Above Average (High Chaparral), Gr.3 winner Sent From Heaven (Footstepsinthsand), who is the dam of the Listed-placed Almania (Australia) and the Listed winner Freyja (Gleneagles).

Source: Qatar Racing Equestrian Club