Family connections for Flowrider in Prix Saint-Alary

Flowrider tries to continue a fine family tradition as she takes the leap from maiden success to contesting the G1 Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp, France, on Sunday, 27 May.

The three-year-old Street Cry filly is a daughter of Wavering, who captured the 10-furlong race for Godolphin in 2011, while her grand-dam Summertime Legacy also performed admirably the race when coming home third in 2002.

Flowrider (Andre/Fabre/Mickael Barzalona) heads into the Prix Saint-Alary on the back of an exciting debut performance in a mile newcomers’ race Saint-Cloud on 8 May, when she quickened away from her rivals inside the final furlong to score by two and a half lengths.

She takes on four other three-year-old fillies, with G1 1000 Guineas runner-up Laurens and With You, who is unbeaten in two starts, set to provide the main opposition.

Lisa-Jane Graffard of Godolphin commented: “Flowrider is taking a big step up in class from her maiden win, but goes into this race in great form.

“Her dam won this race and physically she looks very similar. She is a filly with plenty of ability and we hope that she can run well.”

Elsewhere on Sunday’s card, four-year-old filly Agathonia (Henri-Alex Pantall/Mickael Barzalona) stretches out to 15 furlongs in the G2 Prix Victomtesse Vigier.

The daughter of Street Cry has run consistently well at shorter distances, including when going down by a neck in a G3 contest over 11 furlongs at Hanover, Germany, in October.

She gained a game neck success last time out in a 14-furlong conditions race at Saint-Cloud on 8 May.

Agathonia lines up against nine rivals in the Prix Victomtesse Vigier headed by multiple G1 winner Vazirabad, who is seeking a third straight victory in the race, and last season’s G1 Prix Royal-Oak scorer Ice Breeze.

Lisa-Jane Graffard added: “Agathonia is a very tough filly, who tends to run well wherever she runs.

“She is a very laid-back filly and appears to keep going in her races, so we are hopeful that she will stay this distance.

“She looks to be up against it in this race, but hopefully she can pick up a place.”

Ispolini (Charlie Appleby/James Doyle), a 10-furlong maiden winner on Polytrack at Kempton Park, UK, in November, makes a third consecutive appearance at G3 level in the Prix du Lys over a mile and a half.

The three-year-old Dubawi colt was headed near the line when going down by a short-head in the Classic Trial over a mile and a quarter at Sandown Park on 27 April and came home fourth in the 12-furlong Chester Vase at Chester on 9 May.

His six opponents include Longchamp Listed winner Neufbosc, plus My Lord And Master, runner-up in the Dee Stakes at Chester’s May meeting.

Charlie Appleby said: “We were pleased with Ispolini’s last run – Chester is a course that educates horses and he learned a lot – and he came out of the race well.

“A repeat performance of either of his two runs so far this season will see him go close.”