Nicely bred newcomers to set the pulse racing in Valentine's Day contest at Chantilly

Our resident bloodstock experts profile the well-bred eyecatchers and expensive purchases set to grace the track.

AUDUBON PARK

Prix du Chateau de la Reine Blanche (1.57 Chantilly, Friday, 12.57 GMT)

What's the story?

Appropriately on February 14, the beautiful sylvan paradise of Chantilly to the north-east of Paris is where our eyes are turned and a contest for unraced three-year-old fillies could be one that ripples across the season.

Tell us more . . .

Audubon Park has an outstanding pedigree and, as the images from her yearling prep illustrate, had the athleticism and attractive features to enhance her prospects when the daughter of Dubawi came under the hammer at the Arqana August Yearling Sale of 2023.

Offered as part of the top-class draft from Ecurie des Monceaux, who raced her dam Right Hand, she was snapped up by De Burgh Equine on behalf of Glen Hill Farm for €390,000. 

She carries the same silks, those of Glen Hill's president Craig Bernick, as 2023's Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational winner Aspen Grove and of Les Pavots, who was third behind another daughter of Justify, Opera Singer, in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac that year.

Craig Bernick has expanded his European interestsCredit: Laura Green

Bernick purchased Audubon Park a day after watching Les Pavots win the Group 2 Prix du Calvados at Deauville and she is likewise under the care of Francis Graffard.

Speaking to my colleague after purchasing Audubon Park, Bernick remarked: "If you’d bred her and she’d come out like that, you’d be thrilled to have her. Not every foal is good-looking. We basically paid what her production cost is, not much more."

The filly is the first foal out of Right Hand, who disappointed on the track given the Lope De Vega filly's pedigree. She could manage only four places in seven starts at three and four, but is a half-sister to the Group 1 Prix Vermeille and Group 3 Prix du Psyche winner Left Hand, a daughter of Dubawi which means Audubon Park is very closely related to that filly, who was also second in the Prix de Diane and third in the Prix Vermeille and the Prix Jean Romanet.

Since Audubon Park was sold, her Wertheimer family has added even more success close up as Aventure, a Sea The Stars half-sister to Right Hand and Left Hand won the Group 2 Prix de Pomone last year and was runner-up to Bluestocking in both the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Prix Vermeille.

Another half-sister, the Listed winner Bilissie, by Dansili, produced last year's Prix du Jockey Club second First Look, who is by Right Hand's sire Lope De Vega.

Second dam Balladeuse won the Group 2 Prix Royallieu and is a Singspiel half-sister to the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Plumania and to the Listed-placed Dancequest, dam of 2023 Group 1 Prix Royal Oak victor Double Major by Daiwa Major.

Who does she face?

The Wertheimers may have sold Right Hand but they still have a formidable runner in their own colours, namely Nadala, who is by reigning European champion sire Camelot and is the first foal out of the Listed Prix Vulcain winner and twice Group 3 third Palomba. She is a Lope De Vega half-sister to the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac second Tasmania and to the Listed Prix Denisy second Cornelienne, who was bought for €250,000 at Arqana in December by Charlie Swan.

Their dam Australienne is a winning daughter of Monsun and is a half-sister to the Melbourne Cup hero Americain, by Dynaformer. It is also the family of leading eventing sire Big Sink Hope.

More bloodstock news

High Court rejects Steve Parkin's application to have Sands Of Mali removed from Ballyhane Stud 

From the other side of the world to the farm next door - rarity value pays as first Extreme Choice yearling in Europe tops Arqana trade 

Well-related Red Maids tops Tattersalls Online February Sale trade at 64,000gns