Last term's Listed Prix Goldikova victrix Gregarina (Fr) (De Treville {GB}--Gagarina {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) changed hands, privately, for i210,000 at Arqana's December Breeding Stock sale and claimed a career high with a last-gasp lunge to make a winning start for new connections in Monday's G3 Coolmore Stud Little Big Bear Irish EBF Athasi S. at the Curragh.
The 5-year-old mare snagged 2022's Listed Prix de la Cochere and placed twice at Group 3 level, in one dozen black-type starts for former trainer Fabrice Chappet, and also ran third in 2022's G3 Premio Elena e Sergio Cumani and second in last term's G3 Prix Quincey.
Gregarina, last seen running seventh in Deauville's Nov. 29 Listed Prix Miss Satamixa, was positioned at the tail of the field for most of this first outing for the Joseph O'Brien stable. Picking off rivals inside the final quarter-mile, the 16-1 outsider went seventh passing the furlong marker and unleashed a telling burst under whipless cajoling to nail You Send Me (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) by a head on line.
"She was quite a hard puller in her races in France and we just had the objective today of getting her settled," the winning trainer explained. "We didn't want her over-racing on her first run of the season and she switched off lovely. I was surprised with the kick she showed, it really was very impressive visually, and it was a cool, patient ride from Dylan [Browne McMonagle]. She will either come back here for the fillies' race on Guineas weekend [G2 Ridgewood Pearl S.] or more likely go straight to [Royal] Ascot for the one-mile Group 2 [Duke Of Cambridge S.]."
Pedigree Notes
Gregarina is the fourth of five reported foals and one of three scorers produced by a winning half-sister to GII San Clemente H. and GII Honeymoon Breeders' Cup H. victrix Altima (GB) (Zafonic) and G3 Prix des Chenes second San Domenico (GB) (Zamindar). Descendants of the March-foaled chestnut's third dam Atropa (Vaguely Noble {Ire}) include G3 Prix de Psyche victrix Tenuous (GB) (Generous {Ire}), dual stakes-winning G3 Prix de Cabourg and G3 Prix d'Aumale third Kithira (GB) (Danehill) and stakes winning dual Group 3 runner-up Tombelaine (First Defence).
TDN 24/05/07