A group of astute owners will be keenly watching the races at Saint-Cloud tonight when Paradia has her first race start in a 1400m 2yo race.
This light-footed athletic filly was purchased in Germany last year following the recommendation of her current trainer Mikel Delzangles. He felt that she was the best filly in the sale who possessed many of the hallmarks that many of his other great fillies had displayed, including Flotilla, who won the French Guineas and Breeders Cup. As a trainer for many large stables around the world, including the Aga Khan, Delzangles is well known in Australia due to Dunaden, winner of 2011 Melbourne Cup. His skills were at the fore when he took a relatively plain but athletic gelding from a claiming race to a number of G1’s, including our great race.
Being by Authorized, the sire of this year’s English Derby winner, Paradia will probably find the 1400m a touch short. However, she has had a faultless preparation as a two-year-old and is ready to improve her experience with a trip to the races. Mikel is confident in the filly that he has on his hands and hopes she lays a foundation over the next 3 months to be competitive in many of the 3yo classics of the French 2019 racing season. With a high-quality pedigree also on her dam side, she will be a most commercial mare should she be able to win a stakes race at any level.
The anticipation felt by Paradia’s owners who will no doubt sit up to watch tonight’s race is well justified. They have a filly with great potential, who hopefully will commence a career that is full of excitement.
