Stage adds to Appleby Magic with Chenes success at Chantilly

Stage Magic ran out a determined winner of the Group 3 Prix des Chenes under James Doyle at Chantilly, holding off the late-charging Olmedo and the Robyn Brisland-trained Zyzzyva in a finish of heads.

"We thought he'd win last time at Deauville but the ground just firmed up, an ease in conditions definitely helped here," said winning trainer Charlie Appleby, who has plenty of cards to shuffle among his two-year-old colts this autumn.

"This is a good horse but perhaps we have better at home. The winner of the Prix Francois Boutin [Mythical Magic] is probably better over seven furlongs for now and we might run him in the Champagne, while [Solario Stakes winner] Masar could be one for the Lagardere."

Zyzzyva was progressing from a Deauville maiden success and ran a race full of promise for the future in the colours of Paul Hancock, who owned Racing Post Trophy winner Marcel.

"We're very happy and he's a horse for the future," said Hancock. "His breeding suggests he'll get a mile and a quarter next year and I'm delighted with the run."

Career first

Arc-winning trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias was happy to report a career first as Soustraction reversed the form of her debut defeat to Efaadah in landing the Group 3 Prix d'Aumale.

"It's the first time I've ever won a Group race with a maiden," said Laffon-Parias.

"I was very disappointed to be beaten in the Marettes but the extra distance and greater emphasis on stamina at Chantilly helped. We'll look to come back for the Marcel Boussac next month."

Form reversal in Prix du Pin

Karar comprehensively reversed form with last year's winner Jallota in comfortably landing the Group 3 Prix du Pin.

Trainer Francis Graffard will now aim for the Prix de la Foret on Arc weekend, a race in which Karar was second 12 months ago.

"This [seven furlongs] is his trip and he loves to dominate from the front," said Graffard.

Rimini refinds fine to deny Godolphin charge

In the first of the three Group races for two-year-olds, Rimini got back to winning ways in the Group 3 Prix d'Arenberg.

Christophe Ferland's charge finished last of 12 in the Listed Prix Vallee d'Auge last month but showed that to be all wrong when proving too strong for Charlie Appleby-trained Sound And Silence.

"Last time he nearly fell coming out of the stalls, lost a shoe and then got bumped by another horse, so there was every reason to expect better," said Ferland.

"I continued with his programme as if he'd won, or at least run well at Deauville, and it has borne fruit today."

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