Andrew Caulfield, July 23-Chicquita (Ire) Remarkably, the filly was quickly on her feet. Even PEDIGREE INSIGHTS more remarkably, she reappeared just over three weeks B Y A N D R E W C A U L F I E L D later to finish a creditable second to the exciting Treve in the G1 Prix de Diane. And now Chicquita has broken Saturday, The Curragh her maiden by DARLEY IRISH OAKS-G1, i400,000, Curragh, 7-20, taking the Irish 3yo, f, 1 1/2mT, 2:35.01, gd/fm. Oaks, despite 1--s@#CHICQUITA (IRE), 126, f, 3, by Montjeu (Ire) again showing an 1st Dam: Prudenzia (Ire) (SW-Fr), by Dansili (GB) alarming tendency 2nd Dam: Platonic (GB), by Zafonic 3rd Dam: Puce (GB), by Darshaan (GB) to hang, this time (i600,000 yrl >11 ARQAUG). O-Paul Makin; B-Ecurie to her left. des Monceaux & Ecurie Skymarc Farm; T-Alain de So Paul Makin=s Royer-Dupre; J-Johnny Murtagh; i232,000. Lifetime i600,000 Record: G1SP-Fr, 4-1-1-1, i464,200. Werk Nick purchase at Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Arqana has gone Click for the Racing Post result, the brisnet.com PPs or from near-death Chicquita (Ire) the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, experience to Racing Post courtesy attheraces.com. Classic victory in Not for the first time, the Coolmore/Ashford axis was the space of two months. The Australian owner can in splendid form in the weekend=s big events, with surely now look forward to further triumphs from a filly Majestic Warrior, Dylan Thomas and the much-missed who--according to her trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre-- Montjeu all being in Group 1-winning form. For a few horrifying moments a couple of months ago, it seemed Acould have a great career if she manages not to do highly unlikely that Montjeu=s daughter Chicquita would anything stupid.@ Her handler, who has trained so many ever have the chance to add to her sire=s magnificent high-class fillies, nominated the G1 Prix Vermeille and record. Chicquita appeared to be heading for a decisive the G1 Arc as likely future targets, adding that Ashe victory on her second start when she ducked to her could be better at four than she is now.@ right, collided with the hedge and took a horrible-looking fall with only 100 metres left to race (video). This prediction concurs with what I wrote about Sadler=s Wells=s son Barathea was responsible for the Montjeu fillies in October 2011, following the victories G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Magical Romance and the of Sarah Lynx in the GI Canadian International and of G2 Lancashire Oaks winner Pongee, while another son, Miss Keller in the GI E.P. Taylor S. The full article is High Chaparral, got into the act via his son Golden available in the Columnists Archive, but the most Sword (out of a daughter of Souk). Golden Sword ran relevant part pointed out that: very well to be fifth in the 2009 Derby and second in Montjeu was a high-mettled individual, as was his the Irish Derby. It is Montjeu, though, who has the unusual record of broodmare sire Top Ville, and it wasn t long before = having sired stakes winners from three generations of there were reports that Montjeu=s fillies could be Chicquita=s female line. He sired the stayer Lion Sands difficult to manage and often need careful handling. For (Timeform 116) from Chicquita=s third dam, the example, I believe John Velasquez didn=t carry a whip Darshaan mare Puce, and also sired the 2008 Derby on Miss Keller at Woodbine. fifth Washington Irving (Timeform 115) from Puce=s I suspect it is no coincidence that Montjeu=s three three-parts-sister Shouk. Next came Pacifique, his Group 1-winning fillies all gained their Group 1 victories Group 3-winning daughter out of Chicquita=s second after the age of three--Montjeu=s dam Floripedes didn=t dam, the Zafonic mare Platonic. Pairing Montjeu with race at two, didn=t break her maiden until the August of Zafonic mares yielded some rich rewards. In addition to her 3-year-old season and didn=t become a Group Pacifique, this partnership=s 20 foals included the winner until Oct. 1. high-class Papal Bull, who went within half a length of Montjeu=s first female G1 winner, Montare, was four winning the King George, and the Group 2 winner Maria when she won the 2006 Prix Royal-Oak. The second, Royal. Miss Keller, was four before she became a Graded Although some of these smart performers hadn=t had winner and five when she won the E.P. Taylor S., a a chance to prove their worth before 2010, it is still easy to understand Montjeu s appeal as the first mate year after finishing a good second in the same race. = for Chicquita=s dam Prudenzia, a listed winner over And Montjeu=s third G1-winning daughter, Sarah Lynx, 1 3/8 miles, in 2009. Pacifique was only a yearling didn=t become a stakes winner until the August of her when Chicquita was conceived, but had already 4-year-old campaign, when she took the G2 Prix de garnered a listed victory and a Group 3 second by the Pomone. time her younger relative came under the hammer at The dates of the first group victories by Montjeu=s Arqana=s 2011 August sale. Pacifique later proved her other daughters stand at Oct. 23 of Clowance=s class and her stamina by taking the G3 Prix de Lutece 5-year-old campaign; July 31 of Pink Symphony=s over 1 7/8 miles. No wonder Grant Pritchard-Gordon of 4-year-old season; Oct. 27 of Albisola=s 3-year-old Badgers Bloodstock was prepared to go to i600,000 season; Oct. 2 for the 3-year-old Maria Royal; and Sept. to secure the young Chicquita on behalf of Makin. 4 of Pacifique=s 3-year-old year. AShe is a beautiful filly from a quality family that is In other words, the distinction of being the earliest only going to extend its influence,@ the agent explained. group-winning daughter of Montjeu belonged to Mont Pritchard-Gordon was clearly correct, as the 2012 Etoile, winner of the G2 Ribblesdale S. on June 22 as a Arqana sales saw Prudenzia=s next foal, a three-parts-sister to Chicquita by Galileo, sell for nearly 3-year-old, until Wading took the Rockfel S. twice as much. This i1.1-million filly--the sale=s top-priced filly--is now named Sinnamary and is in " " " training with Mikel Delzangles. Prudenzia=s current yearling--another filly by Galileo--is Lot 33 in next So, has this situation changed much in the month=s Arqana sale and she is followed by a 2013 colt intervening 21 months? The answer is a definite ANo,@ by Invincible Spirit. as Chicquita is the only new group-winning daughter of Chicquita is the first Group 1 winner produced by a Montjeu since October 2011. Nor has the imbalance daughter of Dansili. As Dansili has sired such talented between the sexes of Montjeu=s group winners changed racemares as Proviso, Passage of Time, Giofra, much, as his 22 Northern Hemisphere-sired Emulous, Fallen For You, The Fugue, Price Tag and Group 1 winners are dominated by 18 sons. There are Sunday=s Group 2 winner Dank, there is every reason to now 11 group-winning daughters, but they come from think that Chicquita could be the first of many top a total of more than 40. Strangely, the situation is winners. It may be worth remembering, though, that being reversed by Montjeu=s stallion sons (at least so Dansili started out at a fee of ,8,000 and spent his first far). All three of their Group 1 winners are fillies-- six seasons at ,12,500 or less. His record as a including Treve, the Motivator filly who defeated broodmare sire is therefore likely to improve Chicquita in the Prix de Diane--and their 18 Group exponentially when the progeny of his younger winners consist of 12 daughters and six sons. daughters reach the track. Montjeu is by no means the only member of the Another of Montjeu=s Grade I-winning daughters, Sadler=s Wells male line to have shone with Chicquita=s Sarah Lynx, is bred along similar lines to Chicquita, as family. For example, Sadler=s Wells himself sired the her dam is by Dansili=s sire Danehill. So too is the dam dual Classic winner Alexandrova--winner of the Irish of Montjeu=s Group 3-winning daughter Albisola, and it Oaks seven years before Chicquita--from Chicquita=s mustn=t be forgotten that Camelot, who went so close fourth dam Souk. to winning last year=s Triple Crown, has a Danehill mare as his second dam. .