GROWING GLORY (Francois Rohaut/Stephane Pasquier) revived memories of Liliside when running down the front-running Romeo Lima to claim a first Listed success.
Pasquier sat at the head of the chasing pack as Ioritz Mendizabal looked to make the most of Romeo Lima’s speed from the front, before throwing down his challenge a full two furlongs from home aboard the daughter of Orpen.
Growing Glory finally took the measure of the leader 100 yards from the line and was always just holding the challenge of favourite Djoko and Roberto-Carlos Montenegro.
“We were drawn well in stall one and I told Stephane he shouldn’t be afraid to go forward if there was no pace,” said Rohaut. “But the leader took us along very deep into the closing stages and she did it well.”
Growing Glory carries the same blue and yellow checked silks of Anthony Forde as 2010 Californie heroine Liliside, who went on to pass the post first in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches before being disqualified by the Longchamp stewards.
Rohaut was in no rush to commit to a similar campaign, having also gained automatic qualification for the 32Red.com Three Year Old Trophy on Lingfield’s All Weather Championships card.
“Four years ago I won this race for the same owner with Liliside and we know were she ended up, so she will be given Classic entries,” reflected Rohaut. “There is also Lingfield to consider. I’ll talk to the owner and we’ll take out time to decide.”
Growing Glory was taking revenge over Djoko, who proved a length and three quarters her superior when the pair met over course and distance here last month.
This time the verdict was a quarter length in Growing Glory’s favour, with outsider Muqaawel just running Romeo Lima out of the places.
Also on Sunday
Cagnes-sur-Mer: Grand Prix de la Riviera Core d’Azur (Listed) 1m2f AW, 4yo+
KEROSIN (Jean-Pierre Carvalho/Gerald Pardon) proved a quick learner as he converted group-class form on the turf in his native Germany on only his second all-weather start.
A runner-up in a Krefeld Group 3 on his final start at three last November, the son of Tertullian finished behind Pump Pump Boy on his Cagnes debut but was able to turn that form around when getting the better of a blanket finish.
The free-running Allez Henri stuck on tenaciously having been passed by Kerosin half way up the home straight, and was only caught on the line for second by the hard-charging Affaire Solitaire.
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