French raider Siyouma, unleashed in the homestretch by Gerald Mosse, stormed past the leaders to post an impressive 1 3/4-length win in the $1,026,822 E. P. Taylor Stakes (Can-IT) at Woodbine Oct. 14 (VIDEO).
European-based runners dominated the 1 1/4-mile E. P. Taylor on a good turf course. The Irish-bred Siyouma, the slight 5-2 favorite in the field of 13 fillies and mares, defeated the French filly Pagera, also making her North American debut. Recent North American transplant Dream Peace, an Irish-bred that raced in France, finished third as the 3-1 second choice, while another Irish-bred and -raced filly, Kissable, was fourth.
Robert Jeffcock's 4-year-old Siyouma was coming off a sharp victory in the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes (Eng-I) Sept. 29 at Newmarket for French trainer Francois Doumen. Bred by Haras de Son Altesse L'Aga Khan Scea, the strapping bay filly is out of the Danehill mare Sichilla.
Racing under a firm hold while between horses by regular rider Mosse before she split rivals in the lane to take control under a firm hand ride, Siyouma was timed in 2:03.04.
Mosse was impressed with his filly's resilience after her winning effort at Newmarket just two weeks ago.
"To be honest, I was not worried about the track, the ground and the filly," said Mosse. "I was just a bit worried two weeks ago…she was in the UK and we won a group I already. It was a bit short in timing, but I told the trainer that if he chose to come, it means we are coming for something solid."
The victory provides a fees-paid starting berth in the 1 1/4-mile Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series.
German filly Kapitale showed the way early over Canadian hope Stars to Shine as Siyouma pulled her way up to the early leaders before wrestled back into the second flight while racing between horses. Chilean-bred Vamo a Galupiar ranged up on the outside to also be part of the pace scenario as Kapitale clipped off quarter mile fractions of :25.83, :50.53, and 1:14.93.
Kapitale reached the quarter pole in 1:39.20 but tired at mid-stretch as Dream Peace, Siyouma, and Pagera, along the inside, advanced. Siyouma, from between rivals, closed best of the challengers to get a one-length advantage at the furlong mark. She drew off quickly and held sway in deep stretch to win comfortably.
Pagera, who defeated Siyouma while winning a listed stakes at Saint-Cloud in March, settled for second under Olivier Peslier by a neck over the Chad Brown-trained Dream Peace, ridden by Ramon Dominguez. The latter was also third in last year's E. P. Taylor when trained by France's Robert Collet.
Peslier, who took the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) on Oct. 7 at Longchamp, had no complaints about his trip aboard Pagera.
"We traveled very well and had plenty of chance to gain the lead and did very well to be second," he said. "I think it's (the turf) more heavy, which is not for her, but she ran very well."
The fast-developing Siyouma ended a five-race losing streak with her victory in the one-mile Sun Chariot last time out. She has four wins and three thirds in 10 lifetime starts with earnings of $861,385.
Doumen purchased Siyouma last December for $294,580 out of the Aga Khan Studs consignment at the Arqana breeding stock sale for Jeffock, who has established a new stud in Normandy.
The trainer was full of praise for the Irish-bred Siyouma.
"She's so good and she's so calm," said Doumen. "She has got such a wonderful temperament that it allows her to travel beautifully well and takes all the effort away."
A half sister to French group I winner and sire Siyouni, she is from the family of multiple European group I winner and sire Slickly.
Carrying 124 pounds, Siyouma paid $7.70, $4.80, $3.30. Pagera, part of a $71.70 exacta, returned $11.50 and $6.90. Dream Peace was $3.10 to show.
Kissable was followed by Havant, Barefoot Lady, Moment of Majesty, All Star Heart, Stars to Shine, Princess Highway, Trois Lunes, Kapitale, and Vamo a Galupiar.