Mandesha was a convincing winner of the Prix Vermeille Lucien Barriere (Fr-I) on Sunday at Longchamp.
The 3-year-old filly, owned by the Aga Khan's daughter, Princess Zahra, was never in any danger and won easily by 1½ lengths under Christophe Soumillon. Soumillon won five races on the card, including a sweep of the three stakes races that serve as preps for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I).
The daughter of Desert Style may now be supplemented for the Arc. The Aga Khan stated, "We went for the Vermeille instead of the Prix de l'Opera (Fr-I) and it has paid off." He continued, "We will look at the sectional times before deciding if she will run in the Arc. She gave us the feeling that she was right for the race, hence we chose to run today. It's a very nice problem to have (whether to supplement for the Arc)."
The win in the Prix Vermeille marked Mandesha's second Group 1 victory. The Alain de Royer-Dupre trainee had previously won the Prix d'Astarte (Fr-I).
Montare finished strongly for second, a ½-length in front of Royal Highness.
Mandesha is a bay filly by Desert Style out of Mandalara, by Lahib. She hails from the female family that has also produced Manndar, winner of the Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT) and Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT).
Group 1 Hat-Trick for DiesisMandesha's victory in the Prix Vermeille (Fr-I) capped an impressive Group 1 hat-trick for the stallion Diesis.
Both Dylan Thomas (winner of the Baileys Irish Champion [Ire-I]) and Sixties Icon (winner of the Ladbrokes St. Leger Stakes [Eng-I]) are out of daughters of Diesis. Mandesha is out of a granddaughter of the stallion.
Love Divine, the dam of Sixties Icon, won the Vodafone Epsom Oaks (Eng-I) as a 3-year-old in 2000. Lagrion, dam of Dylan Thomas, has also produced champion 2-year-old filly, Queen's Logic.
Diesis, who is pensioned, resides at Mill Ridge Farm in Kentucky.
