Contesting a claimer for the first time, the three-year-old filly FAYONA (Power x Sierra Slew) got back to winning ways and carried the colours of her owner His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani to a cosy success in the Prix De La Cour Des 49 at Saint-Cloud on Tuesday, September 14th.
Trained by Henri-Alex Pantall, regained winning thread following a string of placed efforts. FAYONA has now won two races from eight career starts, having won a maiden at Deauville in November 2020.
Ridden by Olivier Peslier, FAYONA was quickly into stride for the 2,000m contest, but was forced wide around the first turn. Upsides DE LA FAYETTE (Soldier Hollow) at the head of the field, FAYONA ran keen through the first 400m. Heading down the back straight, FAYONA was left in front and began to settle. Peslier steadied the pace on the turn for home and FAYONA travelled exuberantly and was joined by ABOUT MIDNIGHT (Biraaj) inside the final 600m. Nudged along by Peslier inside the final 400m, it was clear that FAYONA was getting the better of ABOUT MIDNIGHT and began to draw clear. DE LA FAYETTE raised another effort inside the final 200m, but could not get to FAYONA, who went on to win by three quarters of a length. ABOUT MIDNIGHT stuck on well to take third.
“I wanted to drop her in behind horses and get a bit of cover ideally,” said sinning jockey Olivier Peslier after the race, “but the pace slackened around me. I didn’t want her to get too lit up, so I just left her stride on in her action and she done it well.”
Bred by Petra Bloodstock Agency Ltd, FAYONA is by Irish 2000 Guineas winning stallion POWER (Oasis Dream). Her dam SIERRA SLEW (Fantastic Light) was unraced and has now produced four winners. The second dam SAHARA SLEW (Seattle Slew) won the Ribblesdale (Group Two) at Ascot.
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club