Autumn may now have well and truly set in across Europe, but on a pleasant afternoon at Saint-Cloud, daughter of Iffraaj and Shamardal outshone their rivals to land the two Black type contests of the day.
First came Blossomtime (Shamardal), who is trained by Alex Pantall for Godolphin. She was settled in mid-division behind the early leader and favourite Game Theory and once asked to quicken entering the home straight, Blossomtime made light work of the soft ground and eased past her rivals to win in convincing style. This was her fourth career victory and her first at Black type level.
Blossomtime was bred by Berend Van Dalfsen and is out of the Group-winning Cadeaux Genereux mare Bal De La Rose, a half-sister to Shamardal’s multiple Classic winner Lope de Vega.
Shamardal has now sired 22 individual Stakes winners in 2016, including G1 winners Dariyan, Speedy Boarding and Tryster.
Just half an hour later, three-year-old Iffraaj filly The Black Princess recorded her first Stakes win with a convincing victory in the Prix Solitude, run over ten furlongs.
John Gosden's charge was settled off the pace under Christophe Soumillon and picked up impressively close to home to sweep past long-time leader Maquette and win by three quarters of a length.
The Black Princess was bred by Petra Bloodstock Agency and is out of Larceny (Cape Cross), a half-sister to two G1 winners in Latice and Lawman.
Iffraaj, who will stand at Dalham Hall Stud in 2017 at a fee of £27,500 October 1st SLF, is also sire this year of outstanding Prix Jacques le Marois winner Ribchester and fellow G1 winner Turn Me Loose.
