Just a Game International Scouting Report: Mandanaba

A daughter of champions Ghaiyyath and Mandesha, Mandanaba hinted at the beginning of her career that she might develop along similar lines. But her non-staying fourth as the favorite in last summer’s Prix de Diane (French Oaks) (G1) indicated that her future lay in shorter trips. 

Saturday’s Just a Game (G1) going a mile at Saratoga could be just the scenario for the Princess Zahra Aga Khan homebred to reach a new high. Her stablemate, Cankoura, flies the flag in Friday’s New York (G1), but that has the potential to be a warm-up act if Mandanaba adapts to the left-handed inner circuit as envisioned.

In any event, it’s a major weekend for the Aga Khan Studs team and red-hot trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. Earlier on Saturday, he sends out Calandagan, the world’s top-rated horse of 2025, in the Coronation Cup (G1) at Epsom. (The photo above is the trophy presentation following his March 28 Dubai Sheema Classic [G1] victory.)

Mandanaba’s pedigree

Sire Ghaiyyath ranked as the world’s best in 2020, thanks to a Group 1 hat trick including the Coronation Cup (at Newmarket as a result of the pandemic shuffling), the Eclipse (G1) over Enable, and the Juddmonte International (G1) over Magical. 

The blueblood son of Dubawi has gotten off to an excellent start at stud, siring top-caliber operators at different distances. Mandanaba is from his first crop highlighted by the streaking miler Opera Ballo and up-and-coming Gethin, while Victoria Derby (G1) and Australian Guineas (G1) star Observer tops his Southern Hemisphere progeny. 

Mandanaba is the last foal from Mandesha, the European champion three-year-old filly of 2006, who had the versatility to win Group 1s from a metric mile up to about 1 1/2 miles. The daughter of Desert Style earned her first major laurel in the Prix d’Astarte (now the Prix Rothschild) (G1) down the Deauville straightaway, took a half-mile hike up in trip to land the Prix Vermeille (G1), and reverted to about 1 1/4 miles to extend her skein in the Prix de l’Opera (G1).

Mandesha’s first foal, Mandour, earned his highest ratings at or near the vicinity of 1 1/4 miles. Although he didn’t win beyond the listed stakes level, he placed in the 2013 Prix Dollar (G2) (to the venerable Cirrus des Aigles) and Prix d’Ispahan (G1).

This is the family of Manndar, who was sold stateside and turned the Turf Classic (G1)/Manhattan (G1) double in 2000. 

Mandanaba debuts as a “TDN rising star”

With her pedigree profile, Mandanaba figured to need at least a mile and excel at 1 1/4 miles or even beyond. So it made sense that she debuted as a late-season juvenile going about 1 3/16 miles on the Chantilly Polytrack. Mandanaba went off as the slight favorite in her newcomers’ event and turned it into a one-sided affair. She mirrored the front-running style of her sire and powered away to a six-length romp. 

Immediately branded as a “Rising Star” by Thoroughbred Daily News, Mandanaba was freshened for the French classic trail. She reappeared in the about 1 1/8-mile Prix Vanteaux (G3) on the ParisLongchamp turf and again dictated terms. 

Mandanaba ratcheted up the tempo after the initial half-mile, throwing in her final sectional (about three furlongs) in :34.80 to hold sway by three-quarters of a length. Another 3 1/2 lengths back in third came Gezora, who was bound to step up in trip thereafter.

French classic attempts

Although Mandanaba brought a 2-for-2 record into the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) (G1), she was in the shadow of her precocious stablemate, Zarigana, who looked tailor-made for the fillies’ classic. 

Mandanaba, shortening up to a metric mile for the first time, chased the pace set by British invader Shes Perfect and made a bold bid on the inside. But after quickening in splits of :10.81 and :10.95, Mandanaba could not quite maintain her burst in the final furlong. The wayward Shes Perfect battled back, and Zarigana joined her as they overhauled Mandanaba.

Mandanaba’s last sectional in :11.57 was barely enough to salvage third from the troubled Exactly. Zarigana didn’t outduel a stubborn Shes Perfect on the racecourse, but she did get the verdict in the stewards’ room via a controversial disqualification. 

Although the moody Zarigana did not win again, she performed up to a high level when a close second in the Coronation (G1) at Royal Ascot and in the Prix de la Foret (G1) versus older males on Arc Day. Exactly was also capable in the right conditions, as exemplified in her runner-up effort to older warrior Fallen Angel in the Matron (G1) during the Irish Champions Festival. 

Mandanaba was favored to prosper stretching back out in the about 1 5/16-mile French Oaks. Settled just off the pace from post 10, she was parked wider than ideal while giving cover to stablemate Cankoura in her slipstream. Mandanaba swept to the front in the stretch, but her stamina failed her in the final furlong. He fastest sectional was her penultimate furlong in :11.24, and her last one took :11.79.

Gezora and Bedtime Story motored past her, and Cankoura outstayed her for third. Mandanaba was a creditable fourth while signaling that this was a bridge too far. 

Back down in trip for the Rothschild, the Deauville feature won by mom Mandesha, Mandanaba threw in a total clunker. She was apparently over the top, and Graffard put her away for the season.

Mandanaba finds her niche in 2026

Mandanaba cut back to about seven furlongs for her reappearance in the April 12 Prix Maurice Zilber, and she responded like a filly who’d found herself again. The class of the field and 9-10 favorite at ParisLongchamp, she traveled exuberantly while persuaded to race off the pace. She rattled off her last three furlongs in :33.42 to assert, but her margin dwindled to a short neck. 

The charging runner-up, Godspeed, has improved since her eighth behind Zarigana and Shes Perfect in the Pouliches. She won the Prix de Sandringham (G2) and placed fourth in the Rothschild last summer. 

Mandanaba’s chances in the Just a Game

Although she’s yet to race left-handed, Mandanaba has the tactical speed and agility to handle the inner turf. She’s arguably looking for a shorter stretch instead of having to sustain a move.

Nemone Routh, the racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs in France, described to NYRA publicity Mandanaba’s profile for this race:

“She’s a filly who likes good, fast ground. She normally breaks well and likes to be forward, enjoying a fast pace. We have always thought she was a good fit for American racing. 

“In France, you tend to have to have a big acceleration, but she is one with more of a high cruising speed and can just keep going at that pace. She’s a really game and genuine filly.

“Francis has purposely stepped her back in trip. In the Diane, she had a bad draw and hit the front early and didn’t quite stay the distance. It went to her head a bit when she ran in the Rothschild, so we gave her a rest.

“I think she’s a good fit and just needs to travel well and get settled in. She’s strengthened a lot from three to four. Her first run back was good and (jockey Mickael Barzalona) that day was under strict instructions to hold her up and get her to settle and not do too much. We wanted her to have a bit of an educational run back, but she’s so genuine that she just wants to run. We’re very happy with her and excited for this race.”

Barzalona is at Epsom Saturday for Calandagan, so the Aga Khan Studs’ second rider, Clement Lecoeuvre, takes over the Saratoga duty for both Mandanaba and Cankoura.