Senga gave Blame his first Grade/Group 1 winner in a major way when she won the G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly. By taking the Prix de Diane, which is internationally known as the French Oaks, Senga also became Blame’s first Classic winner.
“She is a fantastic filly, from a fantastic breeding operation,” said trainer Pascal Bary. “We definitely ran her over too short before! Her connections trusted me to let her run in this race, despite having run only two weeks ago. She has a good run, in a race with consistent pace, and showed a superb turn of foot.”
In the Prix de Diane, which is 2100 meters, Senga moved early in the straight before pulling away to cross the wire a length in front. The Niarchos family’s Flaxman Stables races the homebred 3-year-old Blame filly, and jockey Stéphane Pasquier is her regular rider.
Senga came into the Prix de Diane off of a third place finish in the G2 Prix de Sandringham, which is over a mile. In April, Senga won the G3 Prix de la Grotte – Etalon Kendargent.
“Stéphane Pasquier and Pascal Bary both said that the filly had shown them in the Prix de Sandringham and in the morning that she needed further than a mile,” said Alan Cooper, manager for the Niarchos family. “It was a bit of a risk to run at a two week interval, but they were right! It’s great for all the team.”
Regally bred Senga is out of the A.P. Indy mare Beta Leo, who in turn is out of the Storm Cat mare Denebola, winner of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac. Furthermore, Denebola is of the Mr. Prospector mare Coup de Genie, who won the G1 Prix Morny and G1 Prix de la Salamandre.
An Eclipse Champion and three-time G1 winner during his race career, Blame has garnered international acclaim as a sire this year thanks to the success of both Senga and Japanese star Resonator. His eight stakes horses in 2017 also include Wayward Lass Stakes winner No Fault of Mine. Blame stands for $25,000 at Claiborne.
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