Kendargent's Jimmy Two Times Impressive In Edmond Blanc

Tried only once at this trip when an inconclusive 10th in Deauville's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains last May, Jimmy Two Times moved back up from sprinting and made light of any stamina concerns with an authoritative success to open up an array of options. Before his Classic flop, the grey had finished a head second to the eventual G1 Commonwealth Cup and G1 Haydock Sprint Cup heroine Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) in the six-furlong G3 Prix Sigy at Chantilly in April and he bounced back afterwards with a smooth win in the Listed Prix Marchand d'Or over 6 1/2 furlongs at that venue. Next up was another score in the seven-furlong G3 Prix de la Porte Maillot also at Deauville in July and he was doing his best work late on when third in the 6 1/2-furlong G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest during the August festival at the Normandy track. No match for Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) when fourth in the G1 Prix de la Foret also at seven at Chantilly in October, he returned in rude health to suggest he has made another leap forward during his winter respite.

Keen early trapped wide under restraint from Vincent Cheminaud racing worse than mid-division, Jimmy Two Times who has a 2-year-old half-sister by Authorized (Ire) was able to deliver a telling surge down the outer from the 300-metre to the furlong pole as he grabbed the lead with a decisive winning move. Instead of tiring in the run to the line, he instead stayed the extra distance strongly en route to an emphatic dismissal of the solid yardsticks Dicton and Attendu in race record time. “The distance was a question mark, but he had been finishing nicely in all his races so I thought he would stay,” trainer Andre Fabre commented. “He got into a good rhythm in the race, so that allowed him to settle and produce his turn of foot. He goes on any ground and although the [G2] Prix du Muguet [at Saint-Cloud May 1] is a possibility, I will also consider the [G1] Lockinge S. [at Newbury May 20].”

Sunday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX EDMOND BLANC-G3, €80,000, SCD, 4-2, 4yo/up, 8fT, 1:37.78 (NSR), gd.
1–JIMMY TWO TIMES (FR), 128, c, 4, by Kendargent (Fr)
1st Dam: Steel Woman (Ire), by Anabaa
2nd Dam: Saperlipoupette (Fr), by Highest Honor (Fr)
3rd Dam: Emmanuelle (Fr), by Margouillat (Fr)
(€85,000 Ylg '14 AROCT). O-Haras de Saint-Pair; B-Francis Teboul & Jean Boniche (FR); T-Andre Fabre; J-Vincent Cheminaud. €40,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr, 11-5-2-1, €234,364. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Dicton (GB), 126, c, 4, Lawman (Fr)–Saying, by Giant's Causeway. O-Robert Ng; B-Wertheimer & Frere (GB); T-Gianluca Bietolini. €16,000.
3–Attendu (Fr), 128, c, 4, Acclamation (GB)–Gwenseb (Fr, by Green Tune. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (FR); T-Carlos Laffon-Parias. €12,000.
Margins: 3HF, NK, NK. Odds: 3.60, 7.00, 6.50.
Also Ran: Kourkan (Fr), Dhevanafushi (GB), Djiguite (Fr), Maimara (Fr), Aim to Please (Fr), Narnia Dawn (Ire), Rakhsh (Fr), via Cassia (GB). Scratched: Taareef. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.