ALMANZOR PUNCHES JOCKEY CLUB TICKET IN THE GUICHE
Third in last month's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau going one mile at Chantilly, Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) returned to the scene of that effort for Tuesday's G3 Prix de Guiche and easily prevailed in the nine-furlong test, punching his ticket to next month's G1 Prix du Jockey Club. Leading from the outset, the even-money favourite was in full command with all three rivals on the stretch entering the final quarter mile and he was pushed out in the closing stages to claim a career high by two lengths from Floodlight (Medaglia d'Oro), with Gardol City (Fr) (Elusive City) a head back in third. “The longer trip helped and [jockey] Christophe Soumillon reported he still had plenty left at the end,” commented trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. “We will now come back here for the [June 5] G1 Prix du Jockey Club and I think he will have a good chance.”
Tuesday, Chantilly, France
PRIX DE GUICHE-G3, €80,000, CHY, 5-10, 3yo, c, 9fT, 1:53.98, gd.
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-Christophe Soumillon. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 6-4-0-1, €102,000. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Floodlight, 128, c, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–Flashing, by A.P. Indy. O-Godolphin SNC; B-Darley (KY); T-Andre Fabre. €16,000.
3–Gardol City (Fr), 128, c, 3, Elusive City–Plume Rose (GB), by Marchand de Sable. (€75,000 Ylg '14 ARAUG). O-Scuderia Magenta, Laurent Dassault & Mme Elisa Berte; B-Ecurie des Monceaux (FR); T-Alessandro & Giuseppe Botti. €12,000.
Margins: 2, HD, NO. Odds: 1.00, 1.70, 4.40.
Also Ran: Ankle (Fr).
Almanzor, who opened up with comfortable scores at La Teste de Buch July 28 and Clairefontaine Aug. 21, easily registered a first black-type win in the Oct. 8 Listed Grand Criterium de Bordeaux before losing his perfect tally when seventh in the Nov. 1 G1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud. He was undone by the heavy going dropped to seven furlongs in that test and marked his sophomore return by hitting the board back at a mile here in the Apr. 20 G3 Prix de Fontainebleau. In command from the outset, he was never seriously threatened and required minimal encouragement in the closing stages to prevail in comfortable fashion. “Considering these races with few runners are tactical affairs, when you have the best horse in the race, the best place is in front,” insisted Jean-Claude Rouget. “[Christophe] Soumillon did a great job, but, more importantly, he really liked what he felt. My first intention was to run in Sunday's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and another of my horses, Zelzal (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), in this. I figured he may not be at the same level as Zelzal so I re-routed each of them and, thus far, it is the correct decision.” Almanzor, who is a full-brother to the 2-year-old filly Troarn (Fr) and half to a yearling colt by Falco, hails from the family of G1 Poule d'Essai de Pouliches victress and MG1SW European champion Darjina (Fr) (Zamindar). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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