Stormy Antarctic (GB) (Stormy Atlantic), second in G1 Prix Jean Prat July 10, could be set for a return trip to France for the Aug. 14 G1 Prix Jacques le Marois. The 3-year-old was making the third start of his campaign in the Prix Jean Prat, having won the G3 Craven S. by 3 1/2 lengths over heavy going before flopping when 11th in the G1 2000 Guineas over similar conditions Apr. 30.
“Bar the Guineas, he has not put a foot wrong,” said trainer Ed Walker. “He has finished second in a Group 1 and bolted up in a Craven.”
Walker was highly complimentary of Stormy Antarctic's Prat conqueror Zelzal (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), whose lone loss in five outings came when he was 11th in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains in May.
“It's probably a brave statement to make, but I would not be surprised if Zelzal, who beat him last time, turns out to be the best 3-year-old miler in Europe,” Walker said. “I was very impressed by Zelzal; he got it all wrong, pulled hard and still won.”
“I think our horse will come on for that run and the ground was quicker than ideal,” the conditioner added. “If the ground is on the easy side in the Marois, he will be enormously exciting. He is in great order and he is a bit fresher than some of them. We are very much looking forward to hopefully mixing it with the best of them.”
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