Weetamoo clinches feature event at Nantes

Taking her tally to three wins from only six starts, Weetamoo (IRE) (Le Harve x Wild Silva) won the Derby de l’Ouest at Nantes in the colours of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani on Thursday. Trained by Philippe Sogorb and ridden by Olivier Peslier, the bay filly showed plenty of resilience the Class 1 race for three-year-olds and scored for a second consecutive time at Nantes.
Having broken on terms with the field, Weetamoo was taken back by Peslier through the early stages. At the halfway point, she was well settled against the rail as the leaders set a very steady pace for the 2,400m contest. Although Briefly shuffled to the rear of the field as the sprint for home started at the 600m point, Weetamoo quickly plunged for a gap on the inside as they turned for home, making up three places. She stayed on stoutly and managed to catch the long-time leader Abraaj (FR) (Shalaa x Wonderous Light) in the dying stages, winning by a length at the line. The runner-up ABRAAJ is trained by F. Rohaut and was ridden by Valentin Seguy. The E.
Libaud-trained and Mickael Berto-ridden Equinoxe (Prince Gibraltar x Top Wave) battled on to take third, but could not trouble the first two as he was further three quarters of a length behind.
Bred by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Al Shahania Stud, Weetamoo is a daughter of Monfort and Preaux’s stallion LE HARVE (Noverre) and out of Wild Silva (Silvano) who was placed fourth in a Group Three at Hambourg. The second dam Wild Side was a multiple group winner in Germany and bred Wild Coco (Sirocco), winner of three group races and Weltmacht (Mount Nelson) dual Listed winner.