SINCE being sold to Rebecca Hillen at the beginning of the year and sent to the Chantilly stable of Henri-Francois Devin, Haggle has thrived. The daughter of Pivotal was bred at Luca Cumani’s Fittocks Stud and raced in its colours during 2016 before continuing her career at Amiens in March. Haggle won a listed event at Chantilly in May and last Saturday took the Group 3 Prix Fille de l’Air at Toulouse. Ridden by the current champion jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot, the filly was not flat out to beat Son Macia, Via Firenze and the Cumani-trained Rosental.

Devin is half Irish as his mother Antonia was a Feeney before marrying Henri, who runs the famous Haras du Mesnil stud. After setting up shop at Chantilly in 2014, Devin has been on an upward curve. He said after the 10 and a half-furlong Fille de l’Air: “Haggle was an unlucky third in La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte after being blocked behind beaten horses when the race quickened up. She didn’t have a hard race today and acts on all grounds. She has also won over a mile and looks sure to be sold at the December sales (Arqana).”

Devin now has 60 horses under his control and trains for top owners such as Khalid Abdullah, Lady Chryss O’Reilly, Edouard de Rothschild and Al Shaqab Racing.

After attending Trinity College Dublin, Devin spent time with Andre Fabre and Jean-Paul Gallorini before taking out his licence. This season, he has trained 34 winners and is now just short of €1 million in prize money. He is currently 24th in the trainer’s table.

Another performance at Toulouse worthy of a mention was put up by Latita, who is trained by Fabrice Vermeulen, also at Chantilly. The daughter of Silver Frost landed a hat-trick when she comfortably ran out the winner of the Listed Criterium du Languedoc. The filly is 25% owned by Jean-Claude Rouget and she will now be targeted at the Prix Imprudence and will also be entered in classic races. Latita cost just €6,000 when purchased at the Arqana November Sale a year ago.

Soumillon under pressure for 300

CHRISTOPHE Soumillon is going to have to motor if he is to beat Pierre-Charles Boudot’s record of 300 victories in a season.

The Belgian is already champion jockey for a ninth time and has currently ridden 262 winners (62 wins ahead of Boudot).

Soumillon will be doing a lot of travelling until the end of the year and will have to go very well if he is to achieve the elusive landmark.