Bred in the purple and held in high regard by the now-retired Jonathan Pease last term, Bolting was quick to score on debut over 5 1/2 furlongs here in June before finishing third behind the subsequent group-placed Viserano (Fr) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) in a six-furlong conditions event at Deauville in early July. Never a factor when seventh in the G2 Prix Robert Papin back at 5 1/2 at Maisons-Laffitte later that month, the bay signed off with a confidence-restoring success over 6 1/2 furlongs on the Polytrack here in November. Switched off in last early by Thierry Jarnet, he was delivered widest of all in the straight and after passing all rivals to lead at the furlong pole belied his greenness to secure the narrow win from King Malpic. “We are very happy, as Jonathan Pease kept him in high esteem last year and we had been very disappointed with his run in the Robert Papin, although we did find something wrong and gave him time after that,” the Niarchos Family's racing manager Alan Cooper explained. “It was the plan to ride him like that and see what happened, so it is a very satisfactory result. His win today automatically ensures a place in the G1 Prix Jean Prat [at Chantilly July 10], which is a nice initiative by France Galop, but first we will look at the [G3] Jersey S. [at Royal Ascot June 15].” Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
PRIX DU PONT-NEUF-Listed, €55,000, CHY, 5-9, 3yo, 7fT, 1:24.44, gd.
1–#BOLTING, 125, c, 3, by War Front">War Front
1st Dam: Beta Leo, by A.P. Indy
2nd Dam: Denebola, by Storm Cat
3rd Dam: Coup de Genie, by Mr. Prospector
O-Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd; B-Flaxman Holdings Ltd (KY); T-Francis-Henri Graffard; J-Thierry Jarnet. €27,500. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-1, €59,600.
2–King Malpic (Fr), 125, g, 3, King's Best–Sablonniere {Fr}, by Verglas {Ire}). (€6,000 Wlg '13 ARQDEC). O-Ecurie Lafeu. €11,000.
3–Dhevanafushi (GB), 125, c, 3, Kendargent (Fr)–Tejaara, by Kingmambo. O-Henri-Alex Pantall. €8,250.
Margins: SNK, 2, SNK. Odds: 14.00, 3.10, 24.60.
Also Ran: Toliman (GB), Nordic Dream (Ire), Ella Diva (Fr), Kenshaba (Fr), Saryshagann (Fr), Schang (Ger), North End (Fr), Titan Fighter (Fr), Nomadic (Fr).
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
