JOINING THE CLUB
Having already enjoyed Classic glory this season in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches with La Cressonniere (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), Antonio Caro and Gerard Augustin-Normand were basking again on Sunday after Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) swooped in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club. Successful in the nine-furlong G3 Prix de Guiche here last time May 10, Jean-Claude Rouget's second-string in the betting at 19-1 ultimately showed the sharpest turn of acceleration off a solid pace to deny Zarak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) by 1 1/2 lengths and therefore a weekend Derby double for His Highness the Aga Khan. “This is more or less the same story as when we won with Le Havre, as I bought him as a yearling and loved him so much I overpaid for him like I did with him,” trainer Jean-Claude Rouget explained, referencing his other winner of this prize in 2009. “He is a very nice, lovely-looking horse and in these races with a lot of runners you need a lot of experience. He quickened very well and was much the best on the day. Being by Wootton Bassett, I doubt he will stay much further and to tell you the truth I hadn't thought what to do with him after today, so we'll just enjoy the moment.”
Sunday, Chantilly, France
PRIX DU JOCKEY CLUB-G1, €1,500,000, CHY, 6-5, 3yo, c/f, 10 1/2fT, 2:11.62, sf.
1–&ALMANZOR (FR), 128, c, 3, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Darkova, by Maria's Mon
2nd Dam: Darkara (Ire), by Halling
3rd Dam: Daralbayda (Ire), by Doyoun (Ire)
(€100,000 Ylg '14 ARAUG). O-Ecurie Antonio Caro & Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Haras d'Etreham (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Jean-Bernard Eyquem. €857,100. Lifetime Record: 7-5-0-1, €959,100. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Zarak (Fr), 128, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Zarkava (Ire), by Zamindar. 'TDN Rising Star' O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR); T-Alain de Royer-Dupre. €342,900.
3–Dicton (GB), 128, c, 3, Lawman (Fr)–Saying, by Giant's Causeway. O-Robert Ng; B-Wertheimer & Frere (GB); T-Gianluca Bietolini. €171,450.
Margins: 1HF, 1 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 19.60, 6.60, 10.10.
Also Ran: Talismanic (GB), Apilobar (Fr), Golden Bridge (Fr), Royal Julius (Ire), Mekhtaal (GB), Raseed (GB), Bravery (Ire), Robin of Navan (Fr), Ventura Storm (Ire), Floodlight, Black Sea (Ire), Imperial Aviator (GB), Foundation (Ire). Scratched: Parthenius (Ger). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Like many of Rouget's Pau-based team, Almanzor started off South of Paris and received a tender education with wins at La Teste de Buch in July and Clairefontaine in August before maintaining his unbeaten sequence in the Listed Grand Criterium de Bordeaux at a mile in October. Only seventh when unable to get cover in the seven-furlong G1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud the following month, he was third to Dicton (GB) (Lawman {Fr}) back at a mile on his 3-year-old bow in the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau here before making all for an impressive win in the Prix de Guiche which was also used by the 2007 winner of this Lawman (Fr). Found the rail after the initial scrimmages by Jean-Bernard Eyquem, Almanzor was buried in mid-division as Robin of Navan (Fr) (American Post {GB}) set too strong a pace for his own good and was angled out for his challenge as the closers began to come into their own. Seizing the lead with a furlong remaining, he was only briefly threatened by Zarkava's son Zarak and soon asserted for a clear-cut verdict in the slowest renewal since the distance was changed from a mile and a quarter in 2005. From the first crop of the speedy Wootton Bassett and much the best by that G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere hero, Almanzor actually hails from an Aga Khan family with his black-type-winning second dam Darkara immediately related to the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, G1 Prix du Moulin and G1 Prix d'Astarte-winning champion Darjina (Fr) (Zamindar). Interestingly, his more distant relatives feature another Prix du Jockey Club hero in Darsi (Fr), while the G3 Prix Minerve winner Daralinsha (Empery) is a half to the Australian group 3 scorer Gentle Genius (Aus) (Danehill). Darkova, who was unraced, has a full-sister to the winner named Troarn (Fr) and a yearling half-brother by Falco. Zarak's trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre said of the runner-up, “We had no other choice with that [outside] draw than to race like that, but he ran a very good race. He is still a little bit babyish and needs time to find his rhythm in a race, but was finishing well and I think he'll stay further. I do not want to commit to a race at this stage, as he has great value as a potential stallion and we have to target his races carefully.” Representing Dicton's owners, Rupert Pritchard-Gordon said, “What a story this has been since we claimed him–we are delighted. We didn't know if he would stay and with that bad draw there was not much option other than to wait and he finished very nicely. This is a great result for us and he will have a good break now and see what happens at Deauville.”
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