GROUP 1 WINNER FOR BEAT HOLLOW
Article taken from the EBN
After the debacle of the Prix de l’Abbaye’s false start, the Marcel Boussac was the first top level race on the card and was won in very taking fashion by Proportional (BEAT HOLLOW). The Crqiuette Head-Maarek-trained bay is the first Gr.1 winner for her sire, BEAT HOLLOW, and is, like Saturday’s Gr.1 E P Taylor Stakes winner Folk Opera, out of a daughter of Minskip (The Minstrel).
After the race, her trainer commented, “I was convinced that she would win on her debut but I was disappointed when she did not understand what was asked of her. Then I ran her over seven furlongs at Chantilly to avoid any travelling, but I knew that the distance was too short for her. I asked the Prince to run her in this fillies’ criterium and was convinced that she had a leading chance. She is bred to stay further and will now have a break. You will see her next year.”
Khaled Abdulla’s homebred Proportional powered home in the Gr.1 Prix Marcel Boussac, beating the previously unbeaten pair of Gr.3 winner Elusive Wave (Elusive City) and Copperbeech (Red Ransom). She had been beaten by the latter when fourth on her debut but scored nicely second time out at Chantilly.
She is the first top level winner by her sire BEAT HOLLOW (Sadler’s Wells), winner of five Gr.1 races from nine to ten furlongs and third behind Sinndar and Sakhee in the Derby. His first crop of 38 were headed by Gr.3-winning juvenile Charlotte O Fraise and the Listed-winning trio Donoma, Riario and Streets Ahead. Probably the best of his 38 three-year-olds is Patio, who was fourth in both the UAE 1,000 Guineas and UAE Oaks, while his third crop of 54 two-year-olds also includes the Listed-placed pair Jazz Police and Beat Seven (fourth in last weekend’s Gr.1 Fillies’ Mile).
Proportional is the fourth surviving foal out of the Generous mare Minority, a winner at three and twice Gr.3-placed in France. Also the dam of last season’s juvenile winner Out Voted (Linamix), Minority is a halfsister to the Listed scorers Skipping (Rainbow Quest) and Innocent Air (Galileo), plus four other winners. Their dam, Minskip (The Minstrel), also produced the dam of Saturday’s Gr.1 E P Taylor Stakes heroine Folk Opera, and is herself a full-sister to the four times US Graded Stakes winner Savinio. The third dam, Fabulous Native (Le Fabuleux), also produced the Italian Champion Three- Year-Old and dual Gr.1 winner St Hilarion (Sir Ivor), Irish Gr.3 winner Ballet de France (Northern Dancer; dam of Gr.1 winner and sire Muhtarram and Gr.3 winner Profit Column) and French Listed winner Native Justice (by Muhtarram’s sire Alleged).
Minority has a yearling filly by OBSERVATORY.
Proportional has been given quotes of around 6-1 for the 1,000 Guineas, slightly lower than the 2,000 Guineas quotes for Naaqoos (OASIS DREAM), winner of the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.
Heads you win
by Jon Lees
It is 16 years since Criquette Head Maarek celebrated the last of her three 1,000 Guineas victories, but the trainer has never lost her touch with fillies, as Proportional demonstrated at Longchamp yesterday.
As the winner of an ordinary Chantilly Maiden Proportional had a lot to find on form in the Total Prix Marcel Boussac, a Group 1 that included the Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Again.
Yet, as her trainer had hoped, Proportional rose to the challenge as she dismissed two previously unbeaten fillies, Elusive Wave and Copperbeachm, by three lengths in a race-record time, with a never dangerous Again finishing back in 14th.
Proportional was introduced into the Stan James 1,000 Guineas betting at a top priced 8-1 by the sponsors, and there is a strong chance she could head to Newmarket, where her trainer triumphed with Hatoof, Ravinella and Ma Biche.
‘I was convinced that she would win on her debut and I was disappointed in that race as she did not understand what was asked of her’ she said. ‘Then I ran her over 7f at chantilly to avoid any travel, but I knew that the distance was too short for her. She is bred to stay further. She will be entered in the 1,000 Guineas and then we will see.’
Owner KhalId Abdullah’s Racing Manager, Teddy Grimthorpe said, ‘She has done it really well. Criquette has always had a very good opinion of this filly. She looked fantastic and it’s nice when things go to plan.’
Date:
06 October 2008