MONDAY, 3 JUNE 2019 ASPETAR TAKES THE GRAND PRIX SOTTSASS DOWNS THE Roger Charlton was taking a gamble on Sunday as he pitched KING AT CHANTILLY Aspetar (Fr) into action on fast ground for the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly, but the son of his beloved Al Kazeem (GB) proved his wily judgment to be correct as he registered a career-best success. While this renewal was not up to the usual solid standard, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s gelding was one of the least-exposed in the line-up especially on this type of surface. Reserved in a share of fourth early, the 11-1 shot was shaken up to challenge at the top of the straight and gained the lead passing the furlong marker en route to a 3/4-of-a-length verdict over Ziyad (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}). “He had shown a decent level of ability, but there was a question mark about the ground as he hadn’t fared so well on it before,” jockey James Doyle said. Cont. p4 Sottsass and Cristian Demuro cross the line clear in the Prix du Jockey Club | Scoop Dyga IN TDN AMERICA TODAY By Tom Frary WHAT WILL APPEASE ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS? France waited with bated breath, but a famous Classic double Bill Finley ponders what it will take for racing to be adequately was not to be on Sunday as the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains safe for animal rights activists in his Week in Review. hero Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) succumbed to White Click or tap here to go straight to TDN America. Birch Farm’s impressive Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G1 QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly. So authoritative when scoring by 6 1/2 lengths in testing ground in the 10-furlong Listed Prix de Suresnes here on May 2, Sottsass was settled in mid-division by Cristian Demuro and had dead aim on Persian King as that 9-5 favourite took over with two furlongs remaining. Swamping him almost a furlong later, the 13-1 chance powered away to score by two lengths in course-record time, with Motamarris (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}) the same margin away in third. The winning time was an astounding 2:02.90, the fastest Jockey Club by almost three seconds since it was chopped to this trip from a mile and a half in 2005 and the fastest ever race run at this track over this distance by more than a second. Jean-Bernard Roth, the long-time assistant to Rouget, revealed that the absent trainer had suffered a minor stroke on Saturday night and watched the race from his hospital bed. “This is a long-term job and we always believed in the horse who was well-chosen at the sales and has been improving regularly,” he said. Cont. p2 TDN EUROPE • PAGE 2 OF 13 • THETDN.COM MONDAY • 3 JUNE 2019 Prix du Jockey Club cont. As Pierre-Charles Boudot moved forward on Godolphin and “This is really a great moment and a great team effort and Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd’s ‘TDN Rising Star‘ entering the everyone has to be congratulated. The jockey did a superb job straight, Sottsass was following with intent and that formidable and also the track management who have provided us with a rival could only enjoy the lead for less than a furlong. Sweeping superb course for the day. It was a great performance and I past and into the clear with a rare enthusiasm, Peter Brant’s know he beat the track record, but sometimes this is something colour-bearer practically silenced the Chantilly crowd who were that we don’t like to hear too much because then there is talk stunned to see the country’s supposed best 3-year-old about long recovery or problems, so we will have to wait and overturned so comprehensively. see how he comes out of the race. M. Rouget will decide his Cristian Demuro, who also rode the G1 Prix de Diane heroine future.” Named after the esteemed Italian architect and La Cressonniere (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) for this stable in 2016, was designer, Oceanic understandably delighted. Bloodstock’s €340,000 Arqana “This is my fifth group 1 for August purchase began his M. Rouget and the stable has career for Peter Brant with a supported me throughout the fourth placing behind TDN years,” he said. “Everybody in Rising Star Lone Peak (Fr) the yard is doing a great job (Lope de Vega {Ire}) over a and these races are not easy mile at Deauville in August to win, so it’s a great moment and had to wait two months of emotion. He can be a little to run again. When he did, the bit keen sometimes, so I chestnut beat Flop Shot (Ire) wanted to get cover quickly (New Approach {Ire}) by three and he travelled very well and lengths on soft ground at relaxed. Turning for home, I Clairefontaine in October and found myself in the wake of that form was put in a highly the favourite very easily and it favourable light when the Peter Brant (right) with Sottsass | Scoop Dyga couldn’t have been better for runner-up took the May 6 G3 Prix de Guiche in impressive me. Once I moved him out, he really took off. He’s a proper fashion. After a return fifth in the G3 Prix la Force over nine Group 1 horse and I think a mile and a half will not be a furlongs at ParisLongchamp Apr. 7, Sottsass inflicted a heavy problem.” defeat on the subsequent winner Battle of Toro (Ire) (New That final assertion will be music to Brant’s ears and he paid Approach {Ire}) in the Suresnes but his ability to handle these his own tribute. “I can say that Jean-Claude Rouget really knows quick conditions remained in question. Guided into a his horses,” he said. “I was here when Sistercharlie (Ire) mid-division pitch by Demuro, who steered Brametot (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) was second in the Diane two years ago and (Rajsaman {Fr}) to glory in this two years ago, Sottsass had the this moment today is very special. Even though I have won a few smooth-travelling Persian King on his outer as Shadwell’s Grade I races in my own country, this is right up there and will unbeaten Motamarris and Ballydoyle’s pacemaker Blenheim stay with me for a long time.” Palace (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) made it a serious test in front. TDN EUROPE • PAGE 3 OF 13 • THETDN.COM MONDAY • 3 JUNE 2019 Prix du Jockey Club cont. AI won=t fill the role of M. Rouget and say where he runs, but what I can say is that I attended my first Arc 50 years ago and that is the race I want to win one day.@ Andre Fabre believed that the 10 1/2-furlong trip was the problem for Persian King. AIt was too far for the horse,@ he simply surmised. His rider Pierre-Charles Boudot said, AWe=re a Vice President, International Operations Gary King bit disappointed to be beaten, but have no excuses. The winner Twitter: @garykingTDN was a cut above today.@ [email protected] Godolphin=s Lisa-Jane Graffard added, AHe ran a very good + 1.732.320.0975 race and I thought he was going to win, but he was beaten by a better horse. He tried hard and that=s racing.@ International Editor Motamarris=s trainer Freddy Head said of the third, AI have no Kelsey Riley complaints in what was his first try at this level,@ he said. AHe=s Twitter: @kelseynrileyTDN run a very good race. He doesn=t need to lead, he just needs to [email protected] go at his pace. The colt is probably still a little immature and will European Editor improve. He should be better at the backend. It=s not that too Emma Berry long ago that I thought that he wasn=t good enough for a race Twitter: @collingsberry such as the Jockey-Club. This was a very good edition of the [email protected] Jockey-Club and Motamarris was beaten by two very good colts. I believe that he will stay 2,400 metres.@ Associate International Editor Heather Anderson Twitter: @HLAndersonTDN Pedigree Notes Sottsass is a half-sister to the aforementioned Sistercharlie, Marketing Manager who Brant bought into prior to her Diane defeat after which she Alayna Cullen captured the GI Beverly D. S., GI Diana S., GI Jenny Wiley S. and Twitter: @AlaynaCullen GI Breeders= Cup Filly and Mare Turf to be crowned champion [email protected] turf female in the States. The dam Starlet=s Sister (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) also produced My Sister Nat (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}) who Contributing Editor took the G3 Prix Bertrand de Tarragon and was second in the G3 Alan Carasso Twitter: @EquinealTDN Prix Chloe and third in the G3 Prix de la Nonette. The second dam Premiere Creation (Fr) (Green Tune) was runner-up in the Cafe Racing Chloe before producing the G3 Prix Cleopatre winner Leo=s Sean Cronin Starlet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the Listed Prix Isonomy winner Tom Frary and GI Clement L. Hirsch S. runner-up Anabaa=s Creation (Ire) [email protected] (Anabaa). The third dam Allwaki (Miswaki) is also the ancestress of the G3 Prix de Lieurey scorer Sandy=s Charm (Fr) Irish Correspondent (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), while her own dam Alloy (Fr) (Pharly Daithi Harvey {Fr}) is a half-sister to the G1 Sussex S.-winning champion miler Regular Columnists and sire Noalcoholic (Fr) (Nonoalco).