Talented French filly, Survie, will be given her chance to add to an honour roll of proven performers purchased by China Horse Club who have gone on to excel at the elite level, after joining the racing stables of China Horse Club in recent days.
The filly will race in partnership with owner-breeder Gerard Augustin-Normand and is expected to race over the weekend of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the premier weekend of racing in France, and into 2025.
To date, no less than ten of China Horse Club’s private purchases have gone on to win at least once at the elite level, in the process secure titles or successes in defining races including an Eclipse Award, Australian Horse of the Year Award and Australian Sprinter of the Year Award, Golden Slipper, Prince of Wales Stakes and more.
Trainer Nicolas Clement has already steered Survie to success in the G2 Prix de Malleret (2400m) as well as to a second placing in the G1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) this year. He remains positive about the prospects of his charge elevating herself to becoming a G1 winner over the next 12 months.
“She is among the best two or three fillies in France,” Clement said.
“Sunday’s race [G1 Prix Vermeille] was the first time she has ever been unplaced and I am writing that race off. She didn’t click on the soft track and was three wide without cover. We beat the second horse, Aventure, in the G1 Prix de Diane so we know Survie is better than that.
“Survie came out of the race great. She only lost 8 kilograms, which is not a lot, and was in the paddock yesterday.”
China Horse Club has enjoyed success with purchases formerly owned by Augustin-Normand including the multiple group winner Auvray and stakes placed Crisolles, who is herself from the family of Survie. Partnering directly with the high-profile breeder and owner in a quality racehorses was not an unusual extension.
Abel Tasman stands as the benchmark of proven performer purchases by the Club to date, having won a further five G1 races and an Eclipse Award as the premier filly in the USA. These achievements edging her above the likes of subsequent Australian Horse of the Year Dissident (four additional G1s), the global trotting State of Rest (1st G1 Prince of Wales’ Stakes etc), Golden Slipper winner and now sire Stay Inside and a raft of international G1 winners.
Survie holds multiple entries for France’s feature weekend and Clement is assessing where his filly is best placed. Unless the track is heavily rain affected, the daughter of Churchill is expected to make her presence felt wherever she is placed.
“[Survie] is entered in the €500,000 G1 Prix de L’Opera (2000m) and €300,000 G1 Prix de Royallieu (2800m) over Arc weekend as well as the Arc,” Clement said.
“At the moment, I am leaning towards the Royallieu. There is some stamina in the family but there are still some unknowns. I think she is a mile and a half (2400m) filly but the G2 Prix de Malleret (2400m) was a sit and sprint when she won. Her best performance was probably her second in the G1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) this year.”
A patient approach to 2024 augurs well for the prospects of Survie continuing to improve into next season. Clement has only raced her five times to date this season, spacing her runs to effect.
“There really isn’t too much for her in the first half of next year but the G1 Prix Jean Romanet in August is certainly a target and hopefully we have some exciting options later in the year,” the trainer said.
“I would love to think she is a Breeders’ Cup filly and that may be a target for next year. She has been lightly raced this year and I think there is juice in the tank to race on next year. She is from a slow maturing family and time will help her furnish further. She should be a stronger four-year-old.”