THERE were no Irish challengers for the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly last Sunday. However, among four Brits, Stormy Antarctic restored a reputation tarnished by a heavy defeat in Newmarket’s 2000 Guineas last time out.

Stormy Antarctic had to give best to Zelzal by two lengths, but there was no disgrace in that, with the Jean-Claude Rouget inmate having been beaten only once in five starts now.

Zelzal’s time of 94.48s for a distance 10 yards short of a mile in imperial terms was a record for the race since it was reduced in distance in 2005 and compares very well with other times on the card. He came from some way back in a race which was run at a strong pace.

A timefigure of 122 is by no means excessive and shows that the son of Sea The Stars has what it takes to mix it with the likes of The Gurkha, Galileo Gold and Awtaad when the time comes.