Aesop's Fables (gold silks) beats Gregorian (green silks) in Prix Jean Prat
PICTURE: © APRHAesop's Fables reads the winning script for Fabre
Report: France, Sunday
Chantilly: Prix Jean Prat (Group 1), 1m 3yo
AESOP'S FABLES gave Andre Fabre another victory in the Prix Jean Prat when running out the smooth winner from British challenger Gregorian at 12-1.
The race was run at a decent clip with the pace being set by the Mick Channon-trained Arnold Lane. The St James's Palace Stakes third Gregorian hit the front under Mickael Barzalona approaching the furlong marker, but Maxime Guyon on Aesop's Fables had the run covered and challenged inside the final furlong.
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Coup De Theatre stayed on to be third.
Guyon said of the winner: "He’s come on a lot from his last run. He was really at the top of his game today, very relaxed and quickened well at the finish."
Disappointments of the race were Xanadou and the favourite French Fifteen. Thierry Thulliez employed exaggerated waiting tactics on the latter but was unable to find a turn of foot when asked for his effort in the home straight.
Another to run below par was German Guineas winner Caspar Netscher, who was one-paced in the home straight and never posed a threat.
His trainer Alan McCabe said: "Shane [Kelly] said Caspar Netscher ran flat. He had him in the perfect position but he didn't pick up like he usually does."
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Chantilly: Prix Du Bois (Group 3) 5f, 2yo
British hopes of success in the first juvenile group race of the French calendar were dashed in emphatic fashion as Chantilly-based horses filled the first four places.
Queen Mary third Hairy Rocket was sent off the the 7-4 favourite on the pari-mutuel but could only finish seventh as Snowday (Carlos Laffon-Parias/Olivier Pelsier) put sub-par run behind him to claim victory by a length.
"I was very disappointed with his second race but after the setback at Croise Laroche he's been training well and I was quite confident today," confided Laffon-Parias.
Snowday races in the famous blue and white Wertheimer silks and is the first significant winner as a stallion for Falco, who Laffon-Parias sent out to land the Poule d'Essai des Poulains for the same owners.
"He's a horse with a lot of speed, from a speedy family and I'm very happy to have trained the first Group winner by Falco," he said.
To My Valentine confirmed the good form of Francis Graffard's juveniles in second while El Trastolillo ran on well in fourth having blown the start.
"We've been beaten three and a half lengths and we're disappointed," said Mick Channon after Bingle Inthejungle finished best of the raiders in fifth. "We could make an excuse and say Ascot took the edge off her but we got beaten by the French today, it's their day."
Pat Dobbs reported that the drying ground had gone against Hairy Rocket. "She travelled well but when I let her down she didn't stretch," he said.
Chantilly: Prix Chloe (Group 3) 1m1f, 3yo fillies
Ridasiyna (Mikel Delzangles/Christophe Lemaire) produced another dominant display to take her winning tally to three, after coasting to a two length success over Romantica.
Lemaire made light of his wide draw in following pacemaker Parisham, before setting sail for home at the two furlong marker.
Having somewhat taken connections by surprise when landing her maiden at Longchamp by five lengths, the daughter of Motivator was considered too inexperienced to contest the Prix de Diane Longines, a race won by another Aga Khan filly Valyra.
"She's confirmed the promise of her first two races," said Delzangles, who has consistently refused to get publicly carried away with Ridasiyna's progress. "She's a bit of a character but in a good way," he revealed.
The winner was keen enough once again in the early stages of the race, justifying the decision to step back in trip from her earlier efforts over 1m3f and 1m2f.
Ridasiyna has no entries in any of the early closing Group 1s, and it seems likely that the Qatar Prix de l'Opera could be her long term target.
Delzangles said: "Nothing's been decided. The team will look at all the good races between 1600m and 2000m for three-year-olds and older horses."
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