Victor Ludorum lights up Longchamp to land Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere for Godolphin

Godolphin's juvenile crop continues to dominate as Victor Ludorum joined his Andre Fabre-trained stablemate Earthlight and Charlie Appleby's exciting Pinatubo as Group 1 winners.

The margin of Victor Ludorum's superiority over longtime leader Alson and Armory was three-quarters of a length and a neck, but that underplayed the superiority of a colt who only made his debut on September 1 and was having his third start in just five weeks.

A delighted Fabre said: "He has a big heart, is a beautiful mover and he goes on any ground, which was a big, big concern beforehand.

"He likes to come late and overtake horses. I don’t see him as a natural two-year-old, he is next year's horse. I don't know if he’ll stay a mile and a half but definitely a mile and a quarter, which I think Earthlight will as well. He could start off over a mile."

Victor Ludorum is now 5-1 to win next year's French 2,000 Guineas with Paddy Power, while the same firm have gone 20-1 for him to claim the Newmarket Classic.

"I will have to speak to Sheikh Mohammed regarding plans for next year but personally I would look at a French Classic campaign," Fabre added.

Mickael Barzalona celebrates Victor Ludorum's success in the Prix Jean-Luc LagardereCredit: Edward Whitaker

Mickael Barzalona tracked Ryan Moore on Armory from the start and rode Victor Ludorum with a confidence which belied a horse that had not previously run at even Listed level.

"He has a strong will and great potential," said Barzalona. "Before and after a race he can be difficult but after his debut Andre Fabre did well to give him a second run for experience and that really paid off today."

Asked how he compared Victor Ludorum and Earthlight, Barzalona pointed to their different paths to becoming Group 1 winners.

"They are two horses with very different profiles," the jockey said. "Earthlight has done everything we’ve asked of him over six furlongs and the question of how far he will stay is for later.

"Against that Victor Ludorum has started off over a mile and showed that he could stay further. If Earthlight proves he stays, then he is already a confirmed Group 1 winner who has dominated at that distance. It’s a complex question."

Alson made the running for much of the way under Frankie Dettori, and held on gamely for second.

"There's no shame in coming second and I'm delighted with his run," said German-based Frenchman, Jean-Pierre Carvalho. "We changed plan because there looked to be no pace and he can be keen. We took the initiative and perhaps we went a little slow early but on that ground, in a Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, I can’t be anything other than delighted.

Aidan O'Brien was pleased with his representative Armory, who was thrashed last time out by Pinatubo in the National Stakes at the Curragh.

"He's a lovely horse and ran a solid race," said O'Brien. "He's progressing all the time and seemed happy with the step up to a mile. He's a good mover so he would have preferred good ground rather than soft."

The victory further highlighted the strength as a sire of Shamardal, who has now produced Pinatubo, Earthlight and Victor Ludorum.

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