3 minute read

Saint Cloud – 25th March 2021.

Sibila Spain looked a class act last Thursday at Saint Cloud when making all the running and winning in impressive style to finish nine lengths ahead of her rivals…

Race 5 – Prix Monade (Unraced three-year old filles) (Turf - Heavy, 2000m) 

Sibila Spain (Christopher Head/ Aurélien Lemaitre) 

A field of fourteen debutants contested this heavy ground 2000m fillies contest last Thursday at Saint Cloud.   

Jockey, Aurélien Lemaitre did well to get Sibila Spain to the front after a good beginning from the stalls despite being widest drawn. She showed good technique leaving the barriers and showed good early speed to set the pace throughout.  

The three-year-old daughter of superstar Frankel only adopted an even pace down the back straight on the heavy going with two market supported contenders stalking behind in second and third as they went through halfway.  

When the field moved from the long left-handed turn into the home straight, it appeared many had chances but with 500m to go, fancied rivals were begging to struggle and had to be asked to quicken to catch the leader, Sibila Spain. Gradually the Christopher Head trained filly was quickening away and with 350m left she already drew four lengths ahead with Aurelien Lemaitre only nudging her along. 

Suddenly the eye was drawn to this Frankel filly when she moved up a notch and opened away in impressive style. At the 300m mark she was six lengths clear, and this was only going to get bigger with no rival able to respond to Sibila Spain's turn of foot. Lemaitre was able to have a long look around for dangers, but he would have been surprised to see how far ahead he was as he eased her right down to win by nine lengths unchallenged.  

The pedigree connection to Frankel looks notable as a champion of the 1600m distance in his career and was unbeaten in fourteen career outings and proved himself as one of the best thoroughbreds in recent decades. The dam, L'Ancresse was a top-class mare with excellent form including runner up in the 2003 G1 Irish Oaks (2400m) at The Curragh and filled the same position at Santa Anita (USA) in 2003 in the G1 Breeders' Cup Fillies and Mares Turf (2000m).  

Sibila Spain is open to plenty of improvement after this debut win and if she can come close to her sire's or dam' achievements, this Yeguada Centurion Slu owned filly looks one to note going forward.