Connections of Malavath will have some interesting conversations over the coming weeks after last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) runner-up posted a taking success under Christophe Soumillon in the April 7 Prix Imprudence (G3) at Deauville.
Exciting filly! 2nd in the @BreedersCup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November, Malavath holds French and English Guineas entries and takes the Group 3 Prix Imprudence for Christophe Soumillon and @GraffardRacing... pic.twitter.com/lDEF1HRftE
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 7, 2022
Paddy Power was certainly impressed and cut Malavath's odds from 14-1 into 7-1 for the Qipco One Thousand Guineas (G1) after the daughter of Mehmas sprinted clear of fellow Newmarket entry Zellie to score by 1 1/2 lengths.
It is unlikely trainer Francis Graffard and the ownership group—which includes agents David Redvers and Ghislain Bozo as well longtime owner/breeder Barbara Keller—will rush to a decision with the key trials for the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (G1) still to be run.
Graffard said: "When you have the whole winter thinking about a comeback run on a given date, it's great that she turned up on the day and won in magnificent style.
"We'll have a chat with the owners and I'll talk to Christophe as well. I still have a slight doubt whether she will truly get a mile at Newmarket but maybe her attitude will allow her to do so. She's in both races and normally we love to challenge the best in Europe so we'll go away and talk about it."
Soumillon was in no doubt that Malavath had produced a high-class performance and did not seem concerned about her ability to stay the mile in whichever Classic she ends up in.
"I ducked inside from my wide draw but we weren't going a great pace and so I pulled her out sooner than I would have liked," the jockey said. "It's very holding ground and even though they went slow early, that rode like a proper 1,400 or even 1,600 meters. I loved her last year but she's really improved again over the winter.
"I was very confident after riding her last two pieces of work on Les Reservoirs."
Zellie tracked stablemate Fleur d'Iris and was essentially done for speed by the winner and Accakaba , but strode out well under a hand ride from Olivier Peslier and was able to reclaim second without being asked too many serious questions.
She essentially outstayed her rivals on even deeper ground over a mile in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac Criterium des Pouliches (G1) on Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) day, while she still appeared to be carrying plenty of condition here.
Rock Boy Enhances Classic Credentials
Rock Boy added group 3 success in the Prix Djebel (G3) to a pair of victories at Vichy and Marseille-Borely last autumn to leave her vocal support team dreaming of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (G1)
The son of Rock of Gibraltar was taking a major step up in class here but came from near last to first under Mickael Barzalona to beat Loubeisien , himself winner of the listed Prix Montenica on the Chantilly all-weather last month.
"Wow, that's incredible!" said Richard Chotard, who trains Rock Boy for an assortment of Marseille-based owners and breeders who go by the collective name of Team Calas. "He's a good horse but he was making his comeback and while he had some work under his belt, still, wow! I'm a bit emotional.
"I entered him in the Poule d'Essai at the start of the year because he was unbeaten in two starts and because he really impressed me in the mornings.
"He's quite lightly made and he never ceases to surprise me. He'll go to the Poule now."