BC Internationals: Juvenile Fillies Turf contender Cavale Doree

As a private purchase by Martin Schwartz, whose previous imports include such stars as Gorella, Stacelita, Zagora, and current Filly & Mare Turf (G1) contender Sea Calisi, Cavale Doree fuels expectations ahead of her U.S. premiere.

The French-bred stamped herself as one to follow in her first three outings for trainer Christophe Ferland. Cavale Doree made her debut at Bordeaux’s La Teste de Buch, where she got galvanized a little too late and just missed by a diminishing neck. The 1-5 winner, Celanova, already had a run under her belt – a close third to Alrahma. Well regarded by Freddie Head, Alrahma went on to win the Prix de Cabourg (G3) and finished a closing second in the Prix Morny (G1) to Lady Aurelia.

A savvier Cavale Doree thrashed her foes in a Deauville maiden second time out, leaving a couple of subsequent winners in her wake. She was ready for a class hike in the Prix du Calvados (G3) over the same course, unleashing her typically strong rally from the back to forge clear late.

 

The Calvados form offers mixed signals. Although the placegetters haven’t done a great deal in the interim, also-rans Dame du Roi (fifth) and Calare (seventh) progressed to capture listed stakes in France and Ireland, respectively. And Dame du Roi was most recently second versus the boys in Prix Thomas Bryon (G3).

Schwartz acquired her after the Calvados, and Cavale Doree made her first start in his familiar silks in the Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) on Arc Day. Whether it was the occasion, or something else that affected her frame of mind, she sweated up noticeably pre-race, appeared a touch rank off the steady pace early, and didn’t put her best foot forward in fifth. The Boussac didn’t set up well for closers either, but Senga came from even farther back to grab fourth.