The Lion In Winter and Shadow Of Light just denied as Christophe Soumillon goes from last to first on Woodshauna

The Prix Jean Prat developed into a tale of two recent big-money buys after Woodshauna just got up from Maranoa Charlie for a home team one-two, with visitors The Lion In Winter and Shadow Of Light also involved in a pulsating four-way finish.

The fate of the Group 1 contest hung in the balance a matter of strides from the line, but Christophe Soumillon emerged victorious after bringing the Francis Graffard-trained Woodshauna from last to first through the tightest of gaps to keep the race in France for the third year in a row.

Such was the close margin of the finish, there was only half a length back to Shadow Of Light in fourth as both he and third-placed The Lion In Winter took a step back in the right direction after some recent disappointments.

Favourite Cosmic Year, the third British-trained runner in the race, travelled powerfully into contention past the three-furlong marker, but failed to go through with his challenge and trailed home in seventh.

Woodshauna, who landed the Prix Texanita in May for Al Shaqab Racing, provided an instant return on investment to his new owner John Stewart, having been bought by the American's Resolute Bloodstock for £625,000 at last month's Goffs London Sale on the eve of Royal Ascot.

"He's a lovely horse and his form was strong," said Graffard, who also saddled four winners at Deauville on Saturday. "I decided to skip Ascot for this race, so it worked out well. It was a big step. He's got a great attitude and is improving physically, and he was given a great ride.

"He has a lot of speed and seven furlongs is the maximum. The Prix Maurice de Gheest [six and a half furlongs] is definitely a race we can target and I think he will be better dropped back in distance." 

Stewart, a founder and managing partner of private equity firm MiddleGround Capital, started Resolute in 2023 and has also bought shares in the likes of Goliath and Believing.

"I'm so happy for John, he's a lovely, enthusiastic man for the industry," said Graffard. "He keeps the faith in me and my belief in the horses and lets me do what I think is best for the horses. He's been rewarded with a nice win."

Similarly, the Christopher Head-trained runner-up Maranoa Charlie was making his first start for new connections, in the familiar colours of Bond Thoroughbreds – the racing entity of the late Reg Bond – following a private acquisition by the Yorkshire-based owners.

The four-way finish to the Prix Jean PratCredit: APRH/Clementine Veret

Charlie Bond said: "It's a great run to be second in a Group 1. He was a big purchase and it looks like we've made the right choice. We saw this horse on his last run [when winning the Prix Paul de Moussac] and we made contact with his previous owners.

"He's our first horse trained in France and I think he'll come home to York next for the [Group 1] City of York Stakes. When we talked to Christopher after his purchase, this race was a good stepping stone to York, but we'll follow Christopher's guidance."  

Aidan O'Brien was pleased with The Lion In Winter on the marked drop in trip after his down-the-field finish in the Derby.

"I'm very happy, he ran a very good race," the trainer said. "He has plenty of speed and has the choice of the Sussex or coming back here for the mile race [Jacques le Marois], depending on how he is." 

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