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Deauville – 23rd November 2021.

The Prix de la Rocque tends to attract fillies with excellent breeding and the 2021 renewal was no different with the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Yukata recording a one and a half length success.

Despite a poor draw, jockey Coralie Pacaut was able to settle the juvenile at the back of the leading group in the early stages. Yukata breezed past the remainder of the field at the 300m marker and looked like a Group filly in the making. Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget was confident his juvenile would improve for the experience.

Yukata is the first winner out of Blue Kimono (Invincible Spirit). Her dam Bastet (Giant's Causeway) was a Listed winner in France as a three-year-old but excelled when commencing stud duties. She produced Barocci in 2008, successful in Listed company over 1600m, followed by Beauty Parlour (Deep Impact) in 2009 who won the Classic G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (1600m) and finished second in the G1 Prix de Diane (2100m). Barocci is currently standing at stud in Sweden and Beauty Parlour has already produced a Grade One winner in America (Blowout by Dansili). Yukata is the first raced foal out of dam Blue Kimono to be sired by champion Galileo.

With a beautiful pedigree to match her talent, it would be no surprise to see Yukata contest the French Classics in 2022.