Calyx Sires Smart Debut Winner

Classic Flower (2f Calyx - Crown Of Flowers, by Garswood) provided Calyx with first crop success on Wednesday when running out a convincing debut winner at Salon-de-Provence.

The Patrice Cottier-trained newcomer was sent off favourite over the minimum trip and was soon settled behind the leaders by Marvin Grandin. Travelling with ease into the straight, she was the last off the bridle and led when asked a furlong from home. Pushed out to the line, she denied Aquila Volante (Gleneagles) by half a length, with another two and a half lengths back to the third.

Bred by Petches Farm, Classic Flower is owned by Jean-Etienne Dubois and Ecurie Hunter Valley. Calyx himself provided Kingman with his first winner at stud, when storming five lengths clear at Newmarket. John Gosden’s charge went on to win the Group 2 Coventry Stakes ten days later, beating Advertise into second. He made an impressive return in the Group 2 Commonwealth Cup Trial over course and distance the following season.

A Juddmonte homebred, Calyx is out of dual Stakes winner Helleborine, herself a full-sister to Group 1 winning sprinter African Rose. Champion two-year-old Native Trail also features under the second dam, whilst Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes victor Distant Music features further down the page.

Calyx’s first yearlings sold for up to €205,000 last year and are now in training with the likes of Andrew Balding, George Boughey, Karl Burke, Joseph O’Brien and Paddy Twomey, to name just a few. His only other runner to date was a fast-finishing fourth at Saint-Cloud behind impressive winner Myconian (Magna Grecia).