La Cressonniere

Last updated
La Cressonniere
Owner Gerard Augustin-Normand.svg
Racing silks of Gerard Augustin-Normand
Sire Le Havre
Grandsire Noverre
DamAbsolute Lady
Damsire Galileo
SexMare
Foaled5 April 2013 [1]
CountryFrance
Colour Bay
BreederFranklin Finance
OwnerEcurie Antonio Caro & Gerard Augustin-Normand
Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget
Record8: 8-0-0
Earnings£746,710
Major wins
Prix Isonomy (2015)
Prix Herod (2015)
Prix La Camargo (2016)
Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (2016)
Prix de Diane (2016)
Prix de la Nonette (2016)
Awards
Top-rated French 3-y-o filly (2016)

La Cressonniere (foaled 5 April 2013) is a French Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old in 2015 she won all four of her races including the Listed Prix Isonomy and Prix Herod but was not tested at the highest level. After winning another Listed race (the Prix La Camargo) on her three-year-old debut she was stepped up in class and recorded Group 1 victories in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and the Prix de Diane. She added a win in the Prix de la Nonette later that year but she then began to suffer from back problems and was retired undefeated in 2017.

Contents

Background

La Cressonniere is a dark-coated bay mare bred in France by Franklin Finance. During her racing career she was owned by Ecurie Antonio Caro & Gerard Augustin-Normand and trained by Jean-Claude Rouget. Her name is French for watercress .

She was sired by Le Havre, who won the Prix du Jockey Club in 2009, and whose other foal have included Avenir Certain, Wonderful Tonight and Suedois (Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes). [2] La Cressonniere's dam Absolute Lady showed little racing ability but was a great-great-granddaughter of the influential broodmare Highlight, whose descendants have included Highclere, Nashwan and Deep Impact. [3]

Racing career

2015: two-year-old season

La Cressonniere began her racing career in a minor race over 1400 metres at Clairefontaine on 25 July in which she was ridden by Gregory Benoist and won by one and a quarter lengths from Virginie at odds of 5/1. The filly followed up over 1600 metres at Craon two months later, starting at odds of 7/5 and coming home five lengths clear of Twinkly. On 22 October the filly was stepped up in class and matched against male opponents in the Listed Prix Isonomy on heavy ground at Deauville Racecourse. Ridden by Christophe Soumillon she was made the 11/10 favourite and won by three and a half length from Notte Bianca. [4] On her final run of the year La Cressonniere started odds-on favourite for the Prix Herod over 1400 metres at Chantilly Racecourse and won by two and a half lengths from Fourioso with Jet Setting in third. [5]

2016: three-year-old season

La Cressonniere was ridden in all four of her races in 2016 by Cristian Demuro. She began her second season in the Listed Prix La Camargo over 1600 metres at Saint-Cloud Racecourse in March and won by two and a half lengths from Qatar Power. [6] On 15 May the filly was stepped up in class on 15 May for the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches which was run over 1600 metres at Deauville as Longchamp Racecourse was closed for redevelopment. Qemah started favourite ahead of Alice Springs and Come Alive with La Cressonniere fourth in the betting on 15/2 and the best fancied of the other ten runners being the British challengers Nathra (Nell Gwyn Stakes) and Besharah (Lowther Stakes). After tracking the leaders she went to the front with 400 metres left to travel and stayed on strongly to win "readily" by a length from Nathra with Qemah a head away in third. [7]

In the Prix de Diane over 2100 metres at Chantilly on 19 June La Cressonniere started the 11/4 favourite. Her fifteen opponents included Ballydoyle (Prix Marcel Boussac), Swiss Range (Pretty Polly Stakes), Volta (Prix de Sandringham), Highlands Queen (Prix Cléopâtre), Camprock (Prix Penelope) and The Juliet Rose (Prix de Royaumont). After being restrained at the rear of the field he was switched to the outside to make a strong challenge on the outside in the straight. She gained the advantage entering the last 200 metres and won by half a length from the 50/1 outsider Left Hand. [8] After the race Demuro said "She is incredible. I said to myself at one stage we were too far back, but I know her by heart and I knew she could do it". [9]

After a break of over two months La Cressonniere returned in the Prix de la Nonette over 2000 metres at Deauville in August. starting at odds of 2/9 she recovered from a stumble at the start to take the lead 200 metres out and won "comfortably" by two lengths from Jemayel. [10] The filly was then aimed at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe but sustained a back injury in late September which ruled her out for the rest of the season. [11] [12]

In the 2016 World's Best Racehorse Rankings was given a rating of 117, making her the 110th best racehorse in the world and the sixth-best three-year-old filly. [13]

La Cressonniere stayed in training as four-year-old but a recurrence of her back injury forced her into retirement in April 2017. [11]

Pedigree

Pedigree of La Cressonniere (FR), bay mare, 2013 [1]
Sire
Le Havre (IRE)
2006
Noverre (USA)
1998
Rahy Blushing Groom (FR)
Glorious Song (CAN)
Danseur Fabuleux Northern Dancer (CAN)
Fabuleux Jane
Marie Rheinberg (GER)
2002
Surako Königsstuhl
Surata
Marie d'Argonne (FR)Jefferson (GB)
Mohair
Dam
Absolute Lady (IRE)
2006
Galileo (IRE)
1998
Sadler's Wells (USA)Northern Dancer (CAN)
Fairy Bridge
Urban Sea (USA) Miswaki
Allegretta (GB)
Lil's Jessy (IRE)
1998
Kris (GB) Sharpen Up
Doubly Sure
Lobmille (GB) Mill Reef (USA)
Light o' Battle (Family: 2-f) [3]

Related Research Articles

Golden Lilac is an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. She won her first six races including the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and the Prix de Diane as a three-year-old in 2011. In May 2012, she defeated Cirrus des Aigles to win the Prix d'Ispahan.

Ravinella was an American-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare, best known for being the outstanding European filly of her generation in 1987 and for winning the classic 1000 Guineas in 1988.

Detroit was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1980. Unraced as a two-year-old, Detroit won her first four races in 1980 including the Prix Fille de l'Air, Prix Chloé and Prix de la Nonette. She was beaten when favourite for the Prix Vermeille before winning the Arc in record time. She remained in training as a four-year-old and won three more races including the Prix Foy. She was retired to stud where she produced the Arc de Triomphe winner Carnegie.

Avenir Certain French-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Avenir Certain is a French Thoroughbred racehorse who was unbeaten until racing in the 2014 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. She only raced twice as a two-year-old, and after winning one minor race in 2014, she won the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Prix de Diane and the Group 2 Prix de la Nonette. She is trained by Jean-Claude Rouget and owned by Antonio Caro and Gerard Augustin-Normand.

Dancing Maid was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. After winning one of her two races as a two-year-old she emerged as one of the best fillies in Europe in 1978, winning the Prix Vanteaux, Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Prix Chloé and Prix Vermeille. She also finished a close second in the classic Epsom Oaks and third in Europe's most prestigious all-aged race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. She was retired from racing after one unsuccessful start as a four-year-old. She was not a success as a broodmare.

Theia was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She was widely regarded as the best European filly of her generation in 1975, when she was unbeaten in three races including the Prix du Calvados and the Critérium des Pouliches. In the following year she added wins in the Prix Vanteaux and Prix de la Nonette and finished second in a strongly-contested renewal of the Prix Saint-Alary, but appeared to be just below top class. She was later exported to race in the United States, where she campaigned with limited success. She was later a useful broodmare, producing several winners.

Immortal Verse Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Immortal Verse is an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old she showed promise by winning on her debut and finishing second in the Prix d'Aumale. Her early form in 2011 was disappointing as she was beaten in her first two races and refused to enter the starting stalls in the 1000 Guineas. She then made rapid improvement, winning the Prix de Sandringham and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot before defeating a strong international field in the Prix Jacques Le Marois. She went on to finish third to Frankel in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes but failed to reproduce her best form in two races as a four-year-old. After her retirement from racing she was sold at auction for 4.7 million guineas setting a European record price for a broodmare.

Esoterique Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Esoterique is an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. As a three-year-old she won the Prix Vanteaux and finished second in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches but then missed the second half of the season. At four she won the Dahlia Stakes in England and the Group One Prix Rothschild in France and in 2015 she added further Group One victories in the Prix Jacques Le Marois and the Sun Chariot Stakes.

Vorda is a French Thoroughbred racehorse and prospective broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from April 2013 until October 2014 she won four of her eleven races. After being bought cheaply as a yearling she was one of the best juvenile fillies in Europe in 2013. In France she won the Prix La Flèche and the Prix Robert Papin as well as finishing second in the Prix Morny before being sent to England to record her biggest victory in the Cheveley Park Stakes. She failed to win as a three-year-old but ran well in several major races before being retired at the end of the season.

Ervedya French-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Ervedya is a French Thoroughbred racehorse best known for her performances over 1600 metres. She showed top-class form as a juvenile in 2014 when she won her first three races including the Prix de Cabourg before finishing third in the Prix Morny and second in the Prix Marcel Boussac. In the following year she won the Prix Imprudence and then recorded Group One wins in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and the Coronation Stakes. Later that season she added another major victory when she took the Prix du Moulin. In 2016 she failed to win but ran prominently in several major races.

Qemah is an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed considerable promise as a juvenile in 2015 when she won one minor race and finished third in the Prix Marcel Boussac. In the following spring she took the Prix de la Grotte and went on to record Group 1 victories in the Coronation Stakes and Prix Rothschild. The highlight of her four-year-old season was a win in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes.

Zalaiyka was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. After finishing fifth on her first appearance she won her two other races as a two-year-old including the Prix des Réservoirs. In the following year she took her winning run to four with victories in the Prix de la Grotte and the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches but was beaten in her two remaining starts and was retired at the end of the season. As a broodmare she had little success as a dam of winners.

Vereva was an Irish-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a brief racing career which lasted from April to August 1997 she won three of her four races. After winning minor events on her first two starts she recorded her most important victory in the Group 1 Prix de Diane. She was retired from racing after being narrowly beaten in her only subsequent race and eventually continued to have some successes at stud, being the source of multiple winners and some blacktype performers.

Teppal is a French-bred, British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2017 she won two minor races from two starts. On her first appearance of 2018 she recorded her biggest victory when she won the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. She was unplaced in two subsequent starts that year.

Watch Me is a French Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2018 she showed promise as she won the Listed Criterium du Languedoc on the second of her two starts. In the following year she won the Prix Imprudence and recorded her biggest win when she took the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. In 2020 she was unbeaten in two starts, namely the Prix de la Calonne and the Prix Rothschild.

Senga (horse) American-bred racehorse

Senga was an American-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2016 she showed promising form as she won her second of her three races and finished a close fourth in the Prix Marcel Boussac. In the following year she won the Prix de la Grotte on her seasonal debut and recovered from defeats in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Prix de Sandringham to record her biggest win in the Prix de Diane. She was beaten in her three subsequent races and was retired from racing at the end of the year. She died in 2018.

Nebraska Tornado was a Kentucky-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She was unraced as a two-year-old but quickly established herself as a top-class performer in the spring of 2003, winning her first three races including the Prix Melisande and Prix de Diane. She sustained her first defeat in the Prix Jacques Le Marois but then produced her best performance to overcome a strong international field in the Prix du Moulin. She failed to win in 2004 but ran well in defeat to finish third in both the Prix d'Astarte and the Sun Chariot Stakes and fourth in the Queen Anne Stakes. After her retirement from racing she produced several winners.

Coeursamba is a French Thoroughbred racehorse. She showed high-class form as a juvenile in 2020 when she won one race and was placed in both the Prix Six Perfections and the Prix d'Aumale. In the following spring she took the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.

Mangoustine is a French Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2021 she was undefeated in three races including the Listed Criterum de Lyon and the Group 3 Prix Miesque. After sustaining her first defeat when running third on her three-year-old debut she returned to winning form to take the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.

Rougir is a French-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2020 she won three races including the Group 3 Prix des Reservoirs and also finished third in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac. In the following year she was beaten in her first six races before taking the Prix de l'Opera and at the end of the season she was sold for €3,000,000. She was then sent to race in the United States where she won the Beaugay Stakes as a four-year-old.

References

  1. 1 2 "La Cressonniere pedigree". Equineline.
  2. "Le Havre- Stud record". Racing Post. 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2014-06-15.
  3. 1 2 "Hyacinthus Mare – Family 2-f". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 2012-07-30.
  4. "Prix Isonomy result". Racing Post. 22 October 2015.
  5. "Prix Herod result". Racing Post. 24 November 2015.
  6. "Prix La Camargo result". Racing Post. 20 March 2016.
  7. "Poule d'Essai des Pouliches result". Racing Post. 15 May 2016.
  8. "Prix de Diane result". Racing Post. 19 June 2016.
  9. "French Classic Double for La Cressonniere". The Blood-Horse . 19 June 2016.
  10. "Prix de la Nonette result". Racing Post. 23 August 2016.
  11. 1 2 Burton, Scott (23 April 2017). "Time called on La Cressonniere's career as back injury resurfaces". Racing Post .
  12. "Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: La Cressonniere pulled out of race". BBC. 25 September 2016.
  13. "The 2016 World Thoroughbred Rankings". International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities. Retrieved 2016-01-19.