DARLEY PRIX JEAN ROM

NET (GROUP 1)

THE day did not get any better for Ballydoyle when Rhododendron, equipped with blinkers for the first time in an attempt to rekindle her enthusiasm, lost her hind legs when bang there with two furlongs of the Group 1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet to run and was virtually pulled up by Ryan Moore. Almost the same thing happened during the Prix de Diane at Chantilly last June and Rhododendron came back from that setback to land the Prix de l’Opera. But it may be that this is the last time we get to see the Lockinge winner on a racecourse.

I’m So Fancy, the other Irish raider, took the bull by the horns and made the running for virtually the first time in her 18-race career. Headed two furlongs out, Jessica Harrington’s mare kept battling away and was beaten no more than two and a half lengths at the line, missing out on that all-important blacktype-inducing third place by just a head and a neck.

FOUGHT OUT

In front of her, the number one spot was fought out between the William Haggas-trained Pretty Polly Stakes winner, Urban Fox, and another late developing four-year-old, Nonza, representing the mother and son owner/breeder/trainer partnership of Antonia and Henri-François Devin.

Urban Fox kicked clear early in the home straight but was mowed down in the last few yards to give all three of his trainer, jockey Alexis Badel and sire, Zanzibari, their first top-level successes.

Out of a half-sister to the Devins’ wonderful €2 million earner of some 15 years ago, Terre A Terre, Nonza was making her pattern race debut and the race panned out perfectly for her, as she was able to come with one sustained run down the outside.

“It’s extra special to get my first Group 1 with one of my family’s horses,” Henri-François said. “Nonza has needed plenty of time, like so many of her relatives.

“Alexis gave her a wonderful ride, he’s a fantastic jockey.

“We went close to winning a Group 1 together three years ago when Physiocrate was second in the Prix de Diane and it’s felt like a long wait.”