Soldier Of Fortune Mare Confirms Class

There was a case of deja vu on Thursday as Coquelicot (4f Soldier Of Fortune - Moscow Nights, by Peintre Celebre) followed up on her impressive success last month in the mares’ bumper at Huntingdon.

Sent off favourite under Rex Dingle, she raced prominently as she had in January and took the lead from the four furlong marker. Ridden approaching the final furlong, she kept on strongly to win by four lengths under a penalty, as promising newcomer Ucanaver (Maxios) ran on to finish second.

The Anthony Honeyball-trained winner is now qualified for the Listed final at Sandown next month, while the previous five winners of Thursday’s contest went on to run in a Grade 2 at Aintree.

Bred by Madame I Corbani, A Waugh and T Waugh, Coquelicot is a half-sister to the ill-fated Heartbreak City, winner of the Ebor Handicap and runner-up in the Melbourne Cup. She comes from the final French crop of Soldier Of Fortune, who transferred to the Beeches Stud and commands €8,000 this season.