THERE is a lucrative turf programme in the USA into which Dolce Zel (dam by Dr Fong) has already dipped her hooves and enhanced her value.

The Chad Brown-trained bay won over six and a half furlongs at ParisLongchamp in mid-October on her only European start, and she found the two-furlong increase in distance no problem at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday evening when landing the Grade 3 Florida Oaks. She is a daughter of Haras de Bouquetot’s Zelzal (Sea The Stars), and she is not his only first-crop daughter of note.

One month before, Ouraika (Dansili) landed the Grade 3 Sweet Life Stakes over six and a half furlongs on turf at Santa Anita, now trained by Graham Motion and previously a seven-furlong winner and placed from three starts in France.

Zelda (Orpen) is still in France, has won three from four and holds an entry in the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches-French 1000 Guineas. The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained bay, a late-April foal, won easily over six and seven furlongs last summer before rounding off her year with victory in the Listed Prix Saraca on very soft ground at Chantilly.

Blushing (Sadler’s Wells) won two sprints from two runs in France before being sent to the USA in October, unbeaten dual Bordeaux winner Caracal (Zamindar) is engaged in the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains- French 2000 Guineas and Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club-French Derby, whereas Derby entrant Migdam (dam by New Approach) won two from three for Sir Michael Stoute in 2021.

Zelzal’s quick start is more impressive when you consider he did not run at two.

He ran away with races on the Polytrack at Deauville and Chantilly in the spring of his three-year-old season and easily won the Group 3 Prix Paul de Moussac at the latter venue, on grass of course, before his two-length defeat of Stormy Antarctic in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat, then over a mile. He was third to Vadamos in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.

Zelzal is a half-brother to the nine-furlong Group 3-scorer Ibiza (Redoute’s Choice), his third dam is the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks-placed Group 3 Lancashire Oaks winner State Crystal (High Estate), and so he comes from the prolific blacktype family of Crystal Music (Nureyev), Space Traveller (Bated Breath) and Grande Melody (Grand Lodge), to name a few.

Much further back, and so solely of academic interest, it’s the family of Royal Palace (Ballymoss), Fairy Footsteps (Mill Reef), Desert Prince (Green Desert), Picture Play (Donatello), and many others of note.

Zelzal is proof that the miler sons of Sea The Stars (Cape Cross) can produce quick horses, and it is fair to say that he’s among the most exciting young stallions in France.

ZELZAL (FR), Bay or Brown 2013. Won four races, £340,217, from 7½ furlongs to 1 mile, at 3 years including, Prix Jean Prat, Chantilly, Gr.1, Prix Paul de Moussac, Chantilly, Gr.3, also placed second in Prix Bertrand du Breuil Longines, Chantilly, Gr.3, and third in Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, Chantilly, Gr.1.

Retired to Stud in 2018, and sire of the winners of 20 races, and £403,657, including DOLCE ZEL (FR), OURAIKA (FR) and ZELDA (FR)

Stands at: Haras de Bouquetot, Domaine de Bouquetot, 14130 Clarbec, France.

Contact: Jeffroy Benoit, Sebastien Desmontils, Antoine Gronfier

Telephone: +33 (0)2 31 32 28 91

Email: nominations@bouquetot.com

Web: www.alshaqabracing.com

Fee: €15,000