By Sean Cronin
Al Shaqab Racing's homebred three-year-old colt Alam (Zelzal) entered Tuesday's G3 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud as a three-race maiden and justified a G1 Prix du Jockey Club entry with a snug 1 1/4-length triumph in the 10 1/2-furlong contest.
The honour roll features Darshaan, Peintre Celebre, Montjeu, et al, and Alam becomes the second winner of the race for Mikel Delzangles, who had previously struck with subsequent Jockey Club fourth Kesampour in 2012.
“He ran very well at the same track [and trip] last time, he has improved since and we thought he deserved his chance in this race,” Delzangles commented. “[Rider] Antoine [Hamelin] was very happy and said the horse had really improved and is much stronger than he was at the beginning of the season.”
Looking to the future, the trainer continued, “He's a very good-looking horse, he's a Zelzal with a bit of stamina, and I think he should be able to stay 12 furlongs in time. We'll have to discuss plans with the team, but the [May 31 G1 Prix du] Jockey Club is a good possibility.”
The 14-5 third-favourite of four, who is also on the July 14 G1 Grand Prix de Paris docket, raced in second early before settling into a smooth rhythm racing third for the most part. Regaining second on the bridle at the top of the straight, he was stoked up to launch his challenge with 300 metres remaining and ridden out to prevail in ultimately snug fashion.
Last term's Listed Prix Isonomy victor Regal Resolve (Kingman) responded to prolonged urging to claim second, 3/4-of-a-length ahead of G3 Prix de Conde victor and G3 Prix Noailles fourth Waybreaker (Galiway). Hello Jo (Hello Youmzain), who made most of the running, was a neck further adrift in fourth.
Favourite beaten in the French Derby trial!
Alam has too much for Regal Resolve in the G3 Prix Greffulhe, shedding his maiden tag in the process… pic.twitter.com/ENMleWhpIi
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 5, 2026
Pedigree Notes
Alam, a half-brother to the hitherto unraced two-year-old colt Katon (Night Of Thunder), becomes his sire's 14th stakes winner and is the first of two foals out of Listed Pontefract Castle Stakes and Listed Chalice Stakes victrix Katara (Deep Impact).
His dam is the leading performer thrown by G2 Park Hill Stakes third Asyad (New Approach), herself a daughter of G2 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) and G2 German 1000 Guineas-winning ubermare Elle Danzig (Roi Danzig).
Elle Danzig's highlights also include the G1 Premio Roma, twice, and G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis, and she is the dam of eight black-type performers headed by the multiple Group 3-winning G1 Preis der Diana second and G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis third Elle Shadow (Shamardal).
Tuesday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX GREFFULHE-G3, €73,200, Saint-Cloud, 5-5, 3yo, 10 1/2fT, 2:13.82, sf.
1–ALAM (FR), 128, c, 3, by Zelzal (Fr)
1st Dam: Katara (Fr) (MSW-Eng), by Deep Impact (Jpn)
2nd Dam: Asyad (Ire), by New Approach (Ire)
3rd Dam: Elle Danzig (Ger), by Roi Danzig
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Al Shaqab Racing; T-Mikel Delzangles; J-Antoine Hamelin. €36,600. Lifetime Record: 4-1-2-0, €48,454. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Regal Resolve (GB), 128, c, 3, Kingman (GB)–Wisdom Mind (Ire), by Dark Angel (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (260,000gns Wlg '23 TATFOA; 500,000gns Ylg '24 TATOCT). O-Juddmonte Farms Inc; B-Sun Bloodstock SARL; T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €14,640.
3–Waybreaker (Fr), 128, c, 3, Galiway (GB)–Ickymasho (GB), by Multiplex (GB). (€210,000 Ylg '24 ARQAUG). O-Hisaaki Saito; B-OTI Management Pty Ltd; T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €10,980.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3/4, NK. Odds: 2.80, 5.40, 2.00.
Also Ran: Hello Jo (Fr).
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