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11.06.2023

All-the-way stakes success for Tasleet filly American Sonja

The Jospeh O'Brien trainee made all to win impressively under Christophe Soumillon

American Sonja illustrated why Tasleet is one of the best value stallions in Britain or Ireland with an impressive all-the-way success in the Listed Prix Volterra at Longchamp on Sunday.

The Mark Dobbin-owned filly was the wide-margin winner of a Curragh maiden last October and bolted up again in a competitive Gowran Park handicap on her three-year-old bow in April, before running a fair fourth in the Cornelscourt Stakes at Leopardstown last month.

American Sonja’s debut black-type victory was achieved by one and a quarter lengths from Listed-placed Turn Cartwheels, and a step up to Pattern company now looks on the cards.

The first clue that the filly had serious talent came at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale, when she was sold by Con Marnane’s Bansha House Stables to Peter Trainor for 95,000gns. That was a significant mark-up on her £30,000 yearling price tag and 22,000gns foal value.

American Sonja was bred by Whatcote Farm Stud out of Gumhrear, a Kodiac half-sister to Listed-placed sprinter Wildcat Wizard.

She is the second stakes winner to have emerged from the first crop of Tasleet, following last year’s decisive Coventry Stakes hero Bradsell. The crop, which comprises only 69 foals, has produced a further 22 winners and another 12 placed runners, for an admirably high strike-rate.

The sire’s second crop numbers only 34 horses, but it has already yielded a two-year-old winner this season in the shape of Daleet, as well as a filly who sold to Shamrock Thoroughbreds for 110,000gns at this year’s Craven Breeze-Up Sale.

Tasleet, a high-class sprinter by the influential Showcasing and from a prolific family, stands under the Shadwell banner at Nunnery Stud where he has been popular again this year at his great value fee of £6,000.

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