Winning Wave for Verglas

Friday, 9 June 2017 - Verglas (Ire) is making a name for himself as a sire of sires and his latest feature win in Europe coincided with the arrival of his son Vert De Grece (Ire) in Western Australia.

Silver Frost, a French-based son of Verglas, sired Silverwave to a narrow victory in the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly last Sunday putting him on track for a successful defence of the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on July 2.

Silverwave settled last before Pierre-Charles Boudot sent him after front-runner Talismanic (Medaglia d’Oro) and he mastered that rival in the final furlong for an ultimately comfortable win. “He ran a good race in the (G1) Prix Ganay on his return over a trip too short last month and had done very well since then,” trainer Pascal Bary commented.

“That was very satisfactory and confirmed he’s in great form. Obviously, his next race will be the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.”

Silver Frost sired him from Miss Brio, an unraced grand-daughter of Irish River related to G1 French 1000 Guineas winner Riverqueen.

Miss Brio has also clicked with Verglas foaling Stormy River (G1 Prix Jean Prat), Stormy Ocean (6 wins at Maisons’Laffitte, Deauville & Saint-Cloud) and Mary d'Or who won and was stakes-placed at Saint-Cloud.

Mary d'Or was purchased by Patinack Farm for €260,000 at an Arqana Sale in December 2007 and transferred to Australia where she finished fourth in the G3 Mannerism Stakes at Caulfield. Her 4yo mare Maryore won the $400,000 Provincial Championships Final (1400m) at Randwick in April.

Verglas sired 13 stakes horses from just two books shuttling from France to WA and his Irish-bred son Glass Harmonium won a G1 Mackinnon Stakes before retiring to Blue Gum Farm in Victoria.

The Australian connection augers well for Vert De Grece (Ire) who won the G1 Criterium 2YO International by 5 lengths at Saint-Cloud. His introductory fee at Geisel Park this year is $5,500 (inc gst).