The History of First Page: Winning the Jean-François Bernard Maiden Prize

Courses / 26.03.2023

La Teste-de-Buch, Sunday

First Page (Bated Breath) opened its prize list for its fourth outing, in the Prix Jean-François Bernard (Maiden). The representative of Patrick Fellous, Alain Giaoui and Stephanos Constantinidis remained on two good outings on the PSF of Pau, which certainly allowed him to learn his trade and to toughen up. The race picked up pace under the impetus of Famous (Al Wukair), First Page being always well placed in ambush while, in the rear, Sea of Lau (Born to Sea), perhaps thwarted by the terrible weather and the gusts of wind, gave Marlène Meyer a lot of trouble. The weather and the wind had an impact on the straight, where the colts floated a lot. First Page finally won by two lengths, after a long acceleration. Second place goes to Sayed (French Fifteen). Axiom (Dubawi) is third by a length, not always looking comfortable on the course.

He is learning his craft nicely.

First Page, resident of Jean-Claude Rouget, was ridden by Jean-Bernard Eyquem, freshly returned from Dubai and its 30 degrees in the sun, very different from the March weather in La Teste. The jockey confided to the microphone of Equidia: “The other day, when he was second in Pau, it was very good. We wanted to ride him so he could learn his trade. Today, he came out well and ended up in third position. He came to win after a long acceleration. I slapped him twice to keep him in line because, with the wind, the foals tended to seek support. I’m happy, that’s what he’s doing today. »

La souche de Reach for the Moon

Bred by James Ortega, First Page is a son of Bated Breathstallion of Juddmonte, andAureana (Kyllachy). He was bought for €40,000 by Jean-Claude Rouget at the Arqana October yearling sale. Aureana raced once in Great Britain, without showing off. First Page is its second product and its first winner. The first, Pretty Persuasive (Footstepsinthesand), failed to shine in three outings. The mare has a yearling by The Grey Gatsbyits latest product.

The second mother, Going for Gold (Barathea), won a handicap at 3 years old over 2,400m, for the colors of Her Majesty the Queen of England. She gave a black guy, chicadoro (Paco Boy), second in the Pretty Polly Stakes (L). It is the strain of Phantom Gold (Champs Élysées), winner of the Ribblesdale Stakes and the Geoffrey Freer Stakes (Grs2), or of Reach for the Moon (Sea the Stars), winner of the Solario Stakes (Gr3) and who was a classic prospect for the Derby (Gr1). But it is also the strain of the “Ward” Twilight Gleaming (National Defense), who won the Prix de la Vallée d’Auge (L) after finishing second in the Queen Mary Stakes (Gr2), before winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (Gr2).