Silver Frost came roaring down the center of the course to easily capture the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (Fr-I, French Two Thousand Guineas) by two lengths at Longchamp May 10. One race later, Elusive Wave won the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Fr-I, French One Thousand Guineas).
The victory in the Poulains, which is the first classic of the French racing season, was the first career group I win for Silver Frost’s trainer, Yves de Nicolay.
The win solidified the credentials of Silver Frost, who now has notched victories in three straight stakes. The 3-year-old son of Verglas began the season with a win in the listed Prix Omnium II, and then captured the Prix de Fontainebleau (Fr-III) in April.
Held up toward the rear of the 11-horse field by jockey Christophe Soumillon, Silver Frost had just two rivals behind him at the halfway point of the eight furlong contest. The gray colt was traveling strongly as he made headway with over a furlong left and took command 150 yards from the wire. Silver Frost won comfortably while being geared down by Soumillon in the final strides.
Le Havre ran on well to capture second by a neck over favored Naaqoos. Jockey Olivier Peslier, who was aboard sixth-place finisher Handsome Maestro, lodged an objection against Davy Bonilla and Naaqoos, who had hung sharply to the right and interfered with Handsome Maestro in the home straight. Naaqoos was subsequently disqualified and placed sixth. Westphalia, an Aidan O’Brien trainee who was runner-up in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last year, was promoted to the show spot.
Final time for the eight furlongs was 1:35.43 over the good turf course.
Silver Frost was bred in Ireland by Ecurie Skymarc Farm, and is owned by John D. Cotton. He is the first foal out of the Anabaa mare Hidden Silver, a daughter of Hint Of Silver, by Alysheba. Silver Frost hails from the female family of champion Silver Spoon and multiple grade I winner State Dinner.
Elusive Wave Crashes Fantasia’s Classic
Elusive Wave took the lead at the break and never looked back on her way to posting a half-length victory over stablemate Tamazirte in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Fr-I) one race later on the Longchamp card.
Favored Fantasia, who had captured the Nell Gwyn Stakes (Eng-III) impressively in her last start, could only get up for third, two lengths behind the winner. Final time for the eight furlongs was 1:36.87.
Elusive Wave has now won five of six lifetime starts for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget and owner Martin Schwartz. The bay filly is by Elusive City out of Multicolour Wave, by Rainbow Quest. She was bred in Ireland by Pier House Stud.