IT looks to be written in the stars that Victor Ludorum will go on to land the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club-French Derby following his impressive annexation of the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains-French 2000 Guineas on Monday. This was a double achieved by his late sire Shamardal (Giant’s Causeway), and by that sire’s son Lope De Vega, now the stallion mainstay at Ballylinch Stud.

This classic victory for Godolphin was also very important as the family has been nurtured by Sheikh Mohammed since he acquired the Troy (Petingo) mare Helen Street from Ballymacoll Stud at the end of her racing career in 1985. That was the year in which she won the Group 1 Irish Oaks.