QIPCO PRIX DU JOCKEY

CLUB (GROUP 1)

RACING’S wheel of fortune can turn at the speed of a quarter horse and it has for Jean-Claude Rouget. Back in April, some important elements of his Pau string were isolated in a barn after an outbreak of a nasty equine virus.

Now, the 63-year-old Norman has won two classics and three group races in a period of just three weeks following the spectacular victory of Brametot in last Sunday’s Qipco Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly.

Rouget is now challenging André Fabre to become champion trainer for a third time and there is just a difference of €40,000 between the two great rivals currently.

From an unfavourable inside number one draw, Brametot looked to have an impossible task at the beginning of the three-furlong straight but Italian-born Cristian Demuro has “sangue freddo” in his veins. Brought with a run up the centre of the track, Brametot collared Waldgeist in the final few strides after cutting down seven of the field of 12 during the final 200 metres.

The runner-up completely reversed the Prix Greffulhe form with third-placed Recoletos and a past performance also strongly suggests that Waldgeist would have landed the Investec Derby if plans had not been changed.

ballydoyle

The Ballydoyle team of Taj Mahal, War Decree and Orderofthegarter were, respectively, fourth, fifth and sixth, with the outsider of the three coming out on top, with Donnacha O’Brien, after making much of the running.

The best of the English runners was seventh-placed Bay Of Poets and then came the well fancied Rivet, but even Frankie Dettori was unable to control the enthusiasm of the colt.

For Rouget, it was his third Jockey Club having won the classic last year with the currently sidelined Almanzor and with Le Havre in 2009. Demuro won the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches and Prix de Diane Longines for Rouget in 2016.

Brametot raced at a slow pace after the start and was soon in the rear but the unflappable Demuro bided his time to perfection before their devastating late run. A furlong out it was Recoletos in the lead and then Waldgeist with 50 meters of the 10 and a half furlongs left to run. Considering the good to soft ground, the time of 2m 6.51s was pretty fast.

The stewards stood Ryan Moore (War Decree) down for two days for slightly interfering with 11th-placed Soleil Marin.

Now 65% owned by Al Shaqab Racing and 35% by investment fund wizard Gerard Augustin-Normand, Brametot, named after a small village 13 miles from Dieppe, is the third horse to land the Poulains/Jockey Club double since the latter had its distance shortened in 2005. Shamardal achieved the feat that year and his son Lope De Vega in 2010.

Naturally, Rouget was somewhat emotional after all his trials and tribulations. He said: “Brametot must be one of the great champions that have passed through my hands but he scares me. What a heart and a will to win.

“I thought he’d be exhausted after his win but he was relaxed and calm. It was unbelievable what he did in the straight and it reminded me of La Cressonniere when she won the Diane.”

winner’s FUTURE

On the horse’s future, Rouget would not be drawn. “Brametot will be rested through the summer and be brought back in the autumn.”

The colt has been entered in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes but there is also stablemate Almanzor to think about.

Due to the outbreak of the equine virus at the Rouget stable, he missed the early part of the season but must be slotted into plans in the second part of the year.

Harry Herbert manages Al Shaqab Racing and he commented: “That was incredible. There was a moment when we thought he’d no chance. Brametot has just one desire and that’s to win. He’s so brave and has his head in the right place at the right time.”

It was a great weekend for Arqana and Sylvain Vidal. The winner of both the Investec Derby and Qipco Jockey Club went through the sales ring at Deauville where Vidal picked up Brametot as a foal for just €26,000 at the December sales in 2014. He also manages the Haras de la Cauviniere which stands Rajsaman, the sire of the Jockey Club hero.

The runner-up Waldgeist was given every chance by Pierre-Charles Boudot and once again an André Fabre-trained horse was beaten inches by Brametot in a French classic, as happened in the Abu Dhabi Poule d’Essai des Poulains at Deauville where Le Brivido was just pipped.

But should Waldgeist have gone to Epsom as he was too strong for the Derby winner Wings Of Eagles in last October’s Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud? The son of Galileo won comfortably with Wings Of Eagles back in ninth position and seven lengths adrift of the winner.

Dietrich von Boetticher owns 25% of Waldgeist and a further 50% is Coolmore’s. He said after the Jockey Club: “He showed us today that he’d be better over a longer distance. Today he was only beaten at the end. The Irish Derby is now a possibility as is the Arc de Triomphe.”

Waldgeist is also entered in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris and the Irish St Leger.

Slowly into his stride, Recoletos put up another decent effort. Carlos Laffon-Parias will now give him and bring him back for the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville in August.

Aidan O’Brien seemed happy with his Ballydoyle team: “They all ran well and you’ll see them next at Royal Ascot.”

Because of the Roland Garros tennis tournament and the Pentecost public holiday weekend, there was only a crowd of around 6,500 for the Jockey Club meeting but this should swell to around 30,000 for the Prix de Diane day on June 18th.