Al Shaqab Racing’s January wins Prix Carling at Saint-Cloud

Augustin Madamet (right) rides January to victory in Prix Carling at Saint-Cloud near Paris, France, on Wednesday. (Scoopdyga)

The four-year-old filly January, trained by André Fabre in the Al Shaqab Racing silks, put her first win on the board in the Prix Carling at Saint-Cloud on Wednesday evening. Ridden by Augustin Madamet in this 2,000m Class 2 handicap for four-year-olds and older, January was slow away from the starting stalls, but was quickly encouraged forward by her jockey from her wide draw to take up the running after just 300m. Once in front, ears pricked, she set a steady pace with Raja Luna on her flanks. At the beginning of the back straight, Raja Luna moved to the lead, with January holding her place on the running rail. In the straight, the daughter of Siyouni was initially shut in on the rail, but her jockey sent her wide and once clear, she lengthened well to take the lead, crossing the line by one-and-a-half lengths in front of the field for her trainer Andre Fabre. Four Generations was the runner-up. She is trained by Elias Mikhalides and was ridden by Stephane Pasquier. The Yvonne Vollmer-trained and Aurelien Lemaitre-ridden Solkia finished further three quarters of a length behind in third. January is the first foal out of the top-class racemare Al Naamah, who also carried the Al Shaqab silks. She is by the French Champion sire Siyouni and was bred at Al Shaqab Racing’s Normandy stud, the Haras de Bouquetot.