Al Shaqab Racing's Zelzal (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) was disappointing when beating only two of his 13 rivals in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains, but the previously unbeaten colt still has potentially a lucrative future ahead of him as he is placed back on the tracks by Jean-Claude Rouget in Saturday's G3 Prix Paul de Moussac at Chantilly. Impressive when taking his first two Polytrack outings by a cumulative margin of 10 lengths over 7 1/2 furlongs at Deauville Mar. 4 and at this track Apr. 6, the bay was only 5-1 for the mile Classic back at Deauville and ran too badly to be true.
In an intriguing affair, Rouget also saddles Daniel-Yves Treves's Hurricane (Fr) (Hurricane Cat) who also lost a perfect record when second in the Listed Prix Montenica over 6 1/2 furlongs on the Polytrack here Mar. 17, while German representation comes in the form of Degas (Ger) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). Beaten a nose by Knife Edge (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) when second in the G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen (German 2000 Guineas) at Cologne May 16, he was finishing off strongly there and probably boasts the best form as a result.
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