Prix Ganay (Group 1)

LAST Sunday’s Prix Ganay, the initial Group 1 of the European flat season, produced a great result for the underdog, as a provincially-based 19/1 outsider offered a small-time owner-breeder and an unheralded young trainer the biggest success of their respective careers.

Yet, with just three-quarters of a length covering the first five home, it is hard to imagine too many of the race’s protagonists being considered among this continent’s top middle-distance horses come the end of the season.

If there is one exception to the above statement, then surely it is the Joseph O’Brien-trained Al Riffa, who was the only member of the nine-strong field without a previous 2024 start and, having come from the rear in a mile, two furlongs and 110 yards contest run at a muddling pace, did well to finish as close as fourth.

The runner-up, the Frankel gelding Zarir, also deserves credit, given that he was denied a clear passage at a crucial moment on this, his first ever pattern race outing at the age of four.

Moment of glory

It would be churlish, however, not to allow the surprise winner, Haya Zark, his moment of glory.

A son of Zarak who hails from Senonnes, a 750-horse training centre 200 miles to the west of Paris and the barn of 37-year-old Adrien Fouassier, he stayed on most resolutely in the last half furlong to beat Zarir by a head with Al Riffa another neck and a head adrift.

A former jockey, who notched over 650 winners in the saddle at nothing higher than Group 3 level, Fouassier has some 60 horses in his care including four more for Haya Zark’s breeder, Odette Fau.

His handling of this five-year-old has prompted steady progress since he landed a listed race in June 2022, though Haya Zark had always seemed to reserve his best form for heavy ground and his seven previous attempts in races of Group 2 or Group 1 status has gleaned just a single third place. Both Fouassier and Fau were understandably emotional afterwards.

Haya Zark is out of an unplaced half-sister to her owner’s previous flagbearer, Haya Landa, who finished fourth in both the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Prix de Diane.

Endearingly, Fau said that she had felt compelled to sell Haya Landa to Japan following her Arc heroics since she could not afford to pay for the expensive coverings that her mare deserved.

O’Brien winner

Joseph O’Brien did not leave ParisLongchamp empty-handed as his other runner on the card, American Sonja, gave jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle his first ParisLongchamp winner when comprehensively defeating her eight rivals in the Group 3 Prix Allez France.

This Mark Dobbin-owned four-year-old Tasleet filly was finally breaking her pattern race duck after a series of near-misses last season, her three consecutive second places including a fine effort in the valuable Saratoga Oaks in America last August.

She has already proved her liking for this track, when landing the listed Prix Volterra at ParisLongchamp 11 months ago.

McMonagle kept things simple here on her first try at a mile and a quarter, tracking the pace-setting Quantanmera before slipping through on the inside passing the two-furlong marker and staying on strongly to beat Pensee Du Jour by a length and three-quarters.

“She’s matured since last season,” O’Brien said. “She could now have a crack at the Pretty Polly Stakes and she’ll probably go back to America at some point.”

“Al Riffa ran a very good race and maybe just got a bit tired late on.

“The Tattersalls Gold Cup or the Prix d’Ispahan could be on his agenda next and then we might try him over a mile and a half.”