Robert Papin Goes To Dark Angel Colt

Second on debut over six furlongs at Goodwood June 5, Gutaifan narrowly justified odds-on favoritism over that trip at Salisbury nine days later before registering another short-head success in a Chester conditions event staying at that distance July 10. Showing the same tenacity which even at this initial stage of his career is becoming his trademark in this much sterner test, the grey proved the strongest of a British-trained trifecta. Always in the front line alongside the William Haggas-trained Ajaya, Gutaifan gained a marginal lead after halfway and held it all the way to the line. “This ground, which is just on the soft side, suits him and next time perhaps we will try our luck at Group 1 level,” jockey Frankie Dettori said.

Sunday, Maisons-Laffitte, France
PRIX ROBERT PAPIN-G2, €130,000, MLF, 7-26, 2yo, c/f, 5 1/2fT, 1:03.60, sf.
1–#@GUTAIFAN (IRE), 128, c, 2, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Alikhlas (GB), by Lahib
2nd Dam: Mathaayl, by Shadeed
3rd Dam: Manal (Fr), by Luthier (Fr)
(€75,000 Wlg '13 GOFNOV). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Eimear Mulhern & Abbeville Stud (IRE). T-Richard Hannon; J-Frankie Dettori. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 4 starts, 3 wins, 1 place, €104,406. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ajaya (GB), 128, c, 2, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Nessina, by Hennessy. (150,000gns RNA Yrl '14 TAOCT). O/B-Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar (GB); T-William Haggas. €28,600.
3–Areen (Ire), 128, c, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Falcolnry (Ire), by Hawk Wing. (£18,000 Ylg '14 DNPRM; 85,000gns 2yo '15 TATBRE). O-Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah; B-Rocal Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Kevin Ryan. €13,650.
Margins: HD, 2, 3/4. Odds: 6.00, 6.30, 8.70.
Also Ran: Venecia Style (Fr), Fly on the Night (GB), Yakaba (Fr), Bolting, North End (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.