KING George VI Stakes winner Goliath went some way to redeeming himself when making all to win Sunday’s Group 3 La Coupe at ParisLongchamp.
John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock bought a majority share in Francis-Henri Graffard’s five-year-old after his Ascot triumph, but must have been disappointed by his last two efforts in the Japan Cup and QEII Cup.
Christophe Soumillon reverted to more positive tactics on Sunday, making all over 10 furlongs and asked the Adlerflug gelding to quicken two furlongs from home. In command in the final 150 yards, he justified favouritism by a length and three-quarters from Grand Stars.
Speaking to Sky Sports Racing, Graffard said: “We decided with Christophe that his two best races were when he jumped and not to fight with him. We decided to let him roll along on his own and let him be very comfortable and when he’s like that he’s a very good horse.
“Off any pace he can quicken, he has this ability, he just needs to be relaxed. He’s a horse that can be very tense, that’s why he ran so poorly in Hong Kong. I’m very happy because I was unsure how he was going to behave mentally and this race will do him good, so we can restart the season with him.”
Group 1 targets
On whether he will return to Ascot, the trainer replied: “I have to discuss it with the entourage. We’ll see how he comes back and what Christophe says, but obviously he will target the big races again.”
Graffard kicked off the card with an impressive four-and-a-half-length win with Aga Khan home-bred Daryz (4/5f) in the Listed Prix Ridgway. Now three from three, the three-year-old is expected to line up in the Grand Prix de Paris over course and distance, and also holds an entry in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
The Sea The Stars colt was bred to be special, being a half-brother to Prix Ganay victor Dariyan, out of Hong Kong Vase heroine Darykana.
A return to Group 1 level is on the cards for Maranoa Charlie after the Christopher Head-trained three-year-old registered his third Group 3 success in the Prix Paul de Moussac.
Last year’s winner Lazzat went on to win the Prix Maurice de Gheest, but the fourth horse Puchkine landed the Prix Jean Prat, which Head nominated as Maranoa Charlie’s target.
The Wootton Bassett colt’s only prior attempt at Group 1 level saw him finish fourth on heavy ground in the Criterium International, for which he was sent off favourite following three wins from three starts. He made a winning return in the Prix Djebel over seven furlongs, before disappointing over six furlongs.
Worthwhile trip
Ed Walker gained an all-important blacktype win with Troia (23/10) in the Listed Prix Volterra over a mile. The Fittocks Stud and Andrew Bengough home-bred had outrun her odds when fourth in the Oh So Sharp Stakes last October, with the third home, Flight, boosting the form in the 1000 Guineas.
A novice winner on return and subsequently third in a listed race at York, the Kingman filly appeared to appreciate the soft conditions at Longchamp, where Kieran Shoemark partnered her to a three-quarter-length victory.