Unbeatable Soumillon hits rivals for six on Best Fouad

Grand Prix de Vichy (Group 3) 3yo+ | 1m2f Turf

Thunder and lightening could not stop Best Fouad running through the rain to earn his first Group-race success and maintain Christophe Soumillon's perfect record in the race with a sixth win.

His trainer Francois Rouhaut had expressed concern about the potential for storms to ruin the chances of his two fast-ground runners and it arrived almost as the horses were being saddled.

"He has done it well despite them watering the course this morning and the storm now," said Rohaut. "Christophe knows him well and what is required on him.

"We decided to stay wide because the ground on the inside was getting really chopped up. At six he is better than ever but he has always been a good horse."

Soumillon and Francois-Xavier Bertras - who just missed out on second place aboard Rohaut's other representative, Qurbaan - steered a wide course down the back straight in search of better ground and, having come back to join the others on the home turn, headed for the stands' rail once straightening up.

Best Fouad had a length to spare over favourite Garlingari and Ronan Thomas.

Best Fouad began his year with a defeat of the highly regarded Heshem on the Chantilly Polytrack and has also posted Listed wins at Toulouse and Compiegne during the campaign.

Soumillon, who first won the Group 3, aged 19, on Kerrygold for Pascal Bary said: "He was at his best today and very brave so I must congratulate his team because it is not easy to keep a horse going in such good form all year.

"I have won this race every time I have been in the line up and long may that invincibility continue."

Grand Prix de Vichy full result