Champers Elysees lands Corrib Fillies Stakes
The Johnny Murtagh-trainer Champers Elysees (3 f ex La Cuvee by Mark of Esteem) broke through for her first black-type victory in the Corrib Fillies Stakes (Listed, 7f) at Galway on Tuesday and in the process provided Elzaam - who is a son of late Arrowfield Stud sire Redoute’s Choice (Danehill) - with his fourth stakes winner.
Sent off the well-backed 15/8 favourite, Champers Elysees never provided her supporters with any anxious moments, scooting clear to beat Auxilia (Free Eagle) by an emphatic seven lengths, while A New Dawn (Zoffany) was half a length further away in third.
The filly was purchased by Archway Stud from Mantlehill Stud at the 2017 Tattersalls Ireland November Flat Foals and Mares Sale for €12,500 from the Aughamore Stud, before being sold to her trainer for €28,000 at the Part 2 of the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale the following year.
The three-year-old filly is one of three winners out of the unplaced Mark Of Esteem (Darshaan) mare Le Cuvee, who is herself the daughter of German Group 3 winner Premiere Cuvee (Formidable).
Premiere Cuvee is also the dam of three-time Listed winner Cask (Be My Chief) and Italian Group 3 winner She Bat (Batshoof), who in turn produced Listed-winning trio She Is Great (Dalakhani), She Breeze (Selkirk) and She Spirit Di Su (Invincible Spirit).
Australian-bred Elzaam - who was sold to Shadwell as a yearling for €280,000 at the Arqana August Deauville Yearling Sale in 2009 - was trained by Roger Varian and won at Listed level as a three-year-old, having finished second in the Coventry Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) as a juvenile.
Champers Elysees joins Group 3 winner Waitingfortheday and Listed-winning duo Clem Fandango and Playa Del Puente as the stallion’s other stakes winners and stands at Ballyhane Stud where his fee in 2020 was advertised as €4,000.
Impressive - Champers Elysees is unbeaten this year and streaks to Listed success as the fine run continues for @JohnnyMurtagh and team @Galway_Races #GalwayRacesatHome
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 28, 2020
Results & replays https://t.co/GI57hUtDeF pic.twitter.com/i4yMLlJSNh
