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Mint Julep to Irish-bred mare Mintd and Jannah Flower wins in Longchamp
Irish-bred mare Mintd (5 m ex Lisanor by Raven’s Pass) became the eighth stakes winner for former Arrowfield shuttler Olympic Glory (Choisir) when she won Saturday’s Mint Julep Stakes (Gr 3, 8.5f) on turf at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Brendan Walsh, Mindt beat Grade 1 winner Juliet Foxtrot (Dansili) by a half length with She’sonthewarpath (Declaration Of War) another two and a half lengths further back in third.
"This horse has been very progressive in her development,” said Walsh.
“She ran a great race on Kentucky Oaks Day and had a beautiful breeze over the turf (at Churchill Downs). I thought we had a good chance against some very nice fillies and Ricardo gave her a fantastic ride."
Mintd becomes the first stakes winner for her dam, Lisanor (Raven’s Pass) who has also produced dual winner September Power (Mastercraftsman). Her second dam is Group 2 placed mare Arthur’s Girl (Hernando) who is herself a half-sister to Listed winner Apple Charlotte (Royal Applause). Further back this is the family of Group / Grade 1 winners Miss Keller (Montjeu) and Poet’s Word (Poet’s Voice).
On Sunday at Longchamp, Olympic Glory added his ninth stakes winner when the Pascal Bary-trained Jannah Flower (3 f ex Azafata by Motivator) broke her maiden in the Prix Melisande (Listed, 2100m) at Longchamp.
Starting favourite, Jannah Flower beat Adhafera (Sea The Stars) by a short-head while Well And Truly (Teofilo) was another length and a quarter further back in third. Bought by Shawn Dugan for €400,000 at the 2019 Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale, Jannah Flower becomes the third winner and second stakes winner for her dam, the three-time winner Azafata (Motivator) who has also produced Group 2 winner and Group 1 placed filly Fleeting (Zoffany).
Azafata was bought by White Birch Farm for 625,000gns at the 2019 Tattersalls December Mare Sale and she is herself a daughter of the Listed placed mare Anysheba (Alysheba).
Olympic Glory shuttled to Australia for three seasons between 2015 and 2018. He is based at Haras de Bouquetot in France where his 2021 fee was set at €5,000.