Cala Tarida winning the Group 3 Prix des Reservoirs at Deauville in October
A member of GARSWOOD’s first crop, CALA TARIDA, is set to line up in Sunday’s Group 1 Coolmore Prix Saint Alary at ParisLongchamp. The filly became one of two Group winners from GARSWOOD’s first crop of two-year-olds when she claimed the Group 3 Prix des Reservoirs at Deauville. CALA TARIDA made a very promising reappearance in the Group 3 Prix de la Grotte, finishing only two lengths behind Castle Lady (Shamardal), who was subsequently victorious in the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches. The step up in trip should hold no fears for the imposing Frederic Rossi-trained filly, who met trouble in running before hitting the line very strongly over a mile last time.
The unbeaten SIYARAFINA (Pivotal) is likely to start favourite for Alain de Royer Dupre and Christophe Soumillon – and it is easy to see why. Unraced at two, she has brushed aside all before her both starts this spring, including a classy field in the Prix du Louvre on her second outing. That form has been significantly boosted by the runner-up, Commes (Le Havre), who was defeated by the narrowest of margins in the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches on her next start, and the third, Noor Sahara (Lope de Vega), a comfortable winner of the Listed Prix du Pontarme at ParisLongchamp earlier this week. Bred and owned by H H Aga Khan, SIYARAFINA is very closely related to SIYOUNI (Pivotal), being out of a half sister to Haras de Bonneval’s star stallion. If SIYARAFINA was to triumph on Sunday she would become PIVOTAL’s 30th worldwide Group/Grade 1 winner.