Foire De Trone digs deep in Randwick victory

Foire De Trone (NZ) (Almanzor) showed plenty of fortitude to win the Jersey Day Andrew Wisemantel Handicap (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday, rallying late to defeat favourite Le Troisir (NZ) (Proisir) and lead home a New Zealand-bred trifecta.

Golden Century (NZ) (Pierro) filled third place in the muddlingly run staying contest.

Trained by Ciaron Maher, Foire De Trone carried the colours of Yabby Dams principal Pat Driscoll and recorded the fifth victory of her career.

The daughter of Almanzor was having her sixth start of the campaign, but she could now be given the opportunity to work towards the Gr.1 The Metropolitan (2400m), to be held at Randwick on October 3.

“We have been spacing her runs, but it is a long way to the Metrop,” Maher’s assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said.

“We will see how she comes through today’s race. Her coat is still wintry, so there is improvement to come.”

Foire De Trone entered Saturday’s race following a victory on a heavy track at Sandown and once again demonstrated her stamina as she wore down Le Troisir.

Gerard-Dubord said jockey Ethan Brown’s decision to make an early move proved crucial.

“She does hit a flat spot, and Ethan was very mindful of that,” he said.

“That is why he got her moving a bit sooner rather than later, and I think that was the difference between winning and losing.”

Maher purchased Foire De Trone for A$120,000 from Cambridge Stud’s draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

The five-year-old mare is out of the English-bred Zamindar mare City Fair. She takes her name from the Foire du Trône, one of France’s oldest and largest travelling fairs.