Fabre says Victor Ludorum still set for Poulains despite flop behind The Summit

Andre Fabre has saddled more winners of the Prix de Fontainebleau than many of his senior colleagues have had runners in the race and, despite Victor Ludorum finishing a well-held third to The Summit, the Poule d'Essai des Poulains back here in three weeks remains very much the plan.

Initial reaction from bookmakers was to double Victor Ludorum's price for the June 1 Classic, with Coral among the firms to replace him as favourite with sidelined stablemate Earthlight.

But Fabre described himself as "not 100 per cent disappointed" with Victor Ludorum, while Earthlight is not currently in the picture for the Poulains after suffering a mild fetlock sprain a week ago.

"They broke nicely and then suddenly the race slowed and he was forced to go wide," said Fabre of Victor Ludorum, who was unbeaten in three starts at two and was sent off a red-hot 4-9 favourite on the PMU. "He fought for his head a bit and with the ground like that I am not 100 per cent disappointed."

In the medium term, Fabre has the Prix du Jockey Club over an extended mile and a quarter in mind for the son of Shamardal and added: "I always felt he might be better over a bit further. With Earthlight being rested I am almost sure I will run Victor Ludorum in the Poule d'Essai. Even though he was beaten today he'll run well."

The Summit was introduced at 8-1 by Betfair for the Poule d'Essai – the French version of the 2,000 Guineas – while the same firm pushed Victor Ludorum out to 7-2 (from 7-4).

Although a time of 1min 42.51sec hardly shattered the clock, there was a lot to like about The Summit's all-the-way success under Pierre-Charles Boudot.

Alex Pantall's representative comprehensively reversed his narrow defeat to Pisanello at Saint-Cloud in March and looks a serious player for the Poulains.

Pantall said: "He has strengthened up over the winter and he ran very well on his comeback at Saint-Cloud when Pierre-Charles wasn't too hard on him and he was only beaten a whisker. I knew he would come on for that.

"He is a very straightforward ride and I told Pierre-Charles to do what he felt was right. He relaxed out in the lead and did it very well."

Full result

Ecrivain denied Victor Ludorum second close home and, having been forced to sit and suffer early in the straight, did plenty to enhance his reputation.

Trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias said: "He was a bit short of room but there's no harm, as the main objective is in three weeks time. Today was just a comeback run and the jockey hasn't picked up his whip."

History says don't count Victor Ludorum out

Andre Fabre was denied an 11th win in the Prix de Fontainebleau with the defeat of Victor Ludorum although failure in this trial is not always the end of Classic aspirations.

Almanzor was beaten in this race in 2016 before proving himself the best of his generation over a mile and a quarter, while further back in history the Aidan O'Brien-trained Astronomer Royal was only sixth in the 2007 Fontainebleau before going on to Classic glory the following month.

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