Al Shaqab Racing’s Perhaps wins Prix De La Prairie
PERHAPS (Lope de Vega) made easy work of her maiden scoring the Prix De La Prairie at Vichy, France, for her owners Al Shaqab Racing on Wednesday.
She had debuted a fortnight previously at Saint-Cloud when finishing last of 16 runners. She had run quite free that day and was very green in the straight when asked to accelerate. However, the lesson seems to have been learned and there was no doubt about it this time. Wearing a bonnet this afternoon, she comported herself professionally.
Initially, jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot went to settle her behind the leaders in the early stages, but she was unsettled by the slow pace. After they had run less than 400m, he let her go up to take the lead. Once in front, she settled well with a good action. Boudot sat quietly in the long straight and it was not until he was in the final 500m that he began to give her some encouragement. She simply stretched her legs and, without ever being touched by the whip, she pulled easily clear of her rivals. Perhaps won the mile race for three-yearold maiden fillies by a length. It was a stylish display for this Francis Graffard trained bay filly. The A. Marcialis-trained Anobar (Anodin), who gave chase but was never a danger, finished second under Tony Piccone. The S. Jesus-trained Princesse Ilia (Charm Spirit) was further three and a half lengths behind in third under Eddy Hardouin.
“I wanted to hold her up,” said Pierre-Charles Boudot, “but as there wasn’t much pace. I let her go to the front. She has a big action and I wanted her to be able to relax and use it to her full advantage. She accelerated well in the straight and won easily. Even though she made a mess on her debut, she works well in the mornings and should be able to step up in category.”