3 minute read
Because She's Worth It.
Ampia Mede Sm represents Fabrice Souloy in the feature race this Sunday at Vincennes. The six-year-old had plenty of good form in Italy before mixed efforts this season at the Vincennes Winter Meeting. She has been unlucky sometimes, so can she gain compensation and a deserved top-level success now.
She could be the "it girl" of the Winter Meeting at Vincennes. She failed to make the final field of the Prix d'Amérique Legend Race (2700m) after being disqualified in the G2 Prix Tenor de Baune (2700m) which was one of the qualification races for the 'Big One'. If there was any debate about her though, it was closed following her last win in the Class A Prix de Munich (2100m). However, the Fabrice Souloy's six-year-old lacks a Group One success and she's keen to win one. The G1 Prix de Paris Marathon Race (4150m) winter meeting marathon might just be the race in which she can achieve an elite contest victory.
She is one of the "lower prizemoney earners" to compete in the G1 Prix de Paris Marathon Race (4150m) but this can be explained. As a five-year-old, she ran in France in March for the first time, having already won eight times…only this was in Italy where prize money is much lower than the levels offered in France. Whilst she was disqualified at her first start in France, she then produced a superb run of form - Twleve races for ten wins and twice runner up until the Prix d'Amerique Qualification in the G2 Tenor de Baune (2700m) when disqualified just before the final turn into the home-straight. Only the winner from that race qualified, the future sensation Galius. Unfortunately for Ampia Mede SM, she had not earned enough prizemoney to make the final field for the G1 Prix d'Amerique Legend Race (2700m).
Here we are now a few days before the G1 Prix de Paris Marathon Race (4150m). Trainer Fabrice Souloy regained confidence in the Ganymede's daughter on the back of the Prix de Munich (2100m) run and wants to achieve a Group One victory for her. The trainer holds a great record with international horses and operations: Exploit Caf, Premiere Steed, Lionel (Was this a former winner of the marathon?)....he could teach a masterclass about how to seek internationals and succeed. After a suspension period because of horses having tested positive to cobalt, the trainer is back in the game and Ampia Mede SM could be his first major win since Lionel in the 2016 G1 Prix de l'Atlantique (2150m).
In France you could say she has a temperament that suggests she should be called "Mademoiselle". You have to respect her space and leave her alone most of the time. If you consider her record, she gives all she has on the track. "She's not very impressive in training but in a race she can completely focus, be mean and competitive" said her trainer Fabrice Souloy.
Back to Ampia Mede SM and the G1 Prix de Paris Marathon Race (4150m) where it will be the first time she races further than 2850 meters tackling the French trotting marathon journey of 4125 meters. Fortunately, she handles long training sessions perfectly.
"In the G2 Tenor de Baune (2700m), I blame her failure on her poor trip. To me she's as good as Commander Crowe or Gu d'Héripré. She has the ability to win more Group races and deserves a Group One victory. She has stamina, speed, and is calmer than when she arrived from Italy and can handle long distances. There is strong opposition in the G1 Prix de Paris Marathon Race (4150m) including the G1 Prix d'Amerique Legend Race (2700m) winner Davidson du Pont and runner up Galius however she could definitely reach the top three".
