Shamardal’s very promising three-year-old son Graphite landed his first Group contest on Sunday 9 April when taking the G3 Prix la Force at Chantilly. The Godolphin owned colt was held up in midfield early in the 1800m contest before challenging in the straight for a battling victory over Phelps Win and Franz Schubert. This was a perfect start to the season for the lightly raced colt who holds entries in all the French Classics.
Bred by Scea Haras de Saint Pair and sold as a yearling for €250,000, Graphite is a half-brother to G2 Del Mar Derby winner Fairly Ransom and Stakes winner Fairly Fair. He is out of the G3-placed Linamix mare Fairly Grey, who is a sister to G1 Prix Ganay winner Fair Mix.
Shamardal, who is now the sire of 180 Stakes performers, has sired 18 G1 winners including his first-crop star Lope de Vega, who won both the Poule d’Essai des Poulains and Prix du Jockey Club.
