High-class Pencarrow three-year-old Tasman Bay (Le Havre) added yet another big-race placing to his record with a tenacious performance in the £355,000 Group Two Prix Guillaume d’Ornano (2000m) at Deauville over the weekend.

Trained by Sir Mark Todd, the colt had placed in the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes (2400m) at Royal Ascot and Group Three Thoroughbred Stakes (1600m) at Goodwood in his two previous appearances.

Ridden at Deauville by his regular pilot David Probert, Tasman Bay took up his customary front-running role and showed plenty of fight when challenged inside the last 400 metres. Although he was passed in the closing stages by Dubai Honour (Pride of Dubai) and Pretty Tiger (Sea the Moon) in the closing stages, he never gave it away and held on for a close third – two lengths from the winner, and only a neck away from second place.

Tasman Bay is raced by Sir Peter Vela and has now had seven starts for a win and five placings – four of them at black-type level. He has earned more than £96,000 in stakes, which is the equivalent of over NZ$190,000.

Bred by Sir Peter Vela in partnership with Nico de Chambure, Tasman Bay is by Le Havre out of Purely Priceless (Galileo) – making him a younger half-brother to the Pencarrow-bred stakes winner Alzire (Shamardal).

Purely Priceless is by the great Galileo out of high-class mare Peeping Fawn (Danehill), who won the Group One Epsom Oaks (2400m), Irish Oaks (2400m), Nassau Stakes (2000m) and Pretty Polly Stakes (2000m).

Peeping Fawn is the dam of September (Deep Impact), who won at Listed level and placed in the Group One Fillies’ Mile (1600m), Moyglare Stud Stakes (1400m) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (1800m). Another of her foals, Sir John Hawkins (Henrythenavigator), placed in the Group Two Coventry Stakes (1200m) and Group Three Tyros Stakes (1400m).

Others in this exceptional family include Group One stars Thewayyouare (Kingmambo), Blush With Pride (Blushing Groom), Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy), Jazil (Seeking the Gold) and Streaming (Smart Strike).

Purely Priceless herself won two races, and she is the dam of three winners from four foals to race. Alzire is a dual Listed winner, while Palmyre (Dansili) and Tasman Bay are both black-type placegetters.

Purely Priceless produced a filly by Wootton Bassett last season.