Racing
Grand Prix du Paris possible for Jockey Club second Cualificar
Camille Pissarro landed the spoils in the 1m2½f Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club for trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore on Sunday, but connections of the beaten horses were quick to react regarding their performances and potential targets.
The second-placed Cualificar, trained by Andre Fabre, was always prominent through the contest under jockey William Buick and stayed on well, despite never looking capable of overturning winner Camille Pissarro. The son of Lope De Vega is currently entered in the Group 2 Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud later this month, the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris at ParisLongchamp in July, and the Group 1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp in October.
Louise Benard, Godolphin's representative in France said of runner-up Cualificar:
"Willaim Buick is really happy with the colt and thinks he can compete at longer distances in the future. He said he has a good temperament and it was really easy going over the course. It's a very nice second place, behind a very good colt. It's really positive for the future. He is entered in the Grand Prix de Paris (July 13), but we will have to see how he comes back from that race and how he works in the morning. The decision is up to Andre Fabre".
Detain, trained by John and Thady Gosden and owned by Juddmonte Farms, could only manage sixth in the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and appeared to enjoy the additional stamina test to finisha solid third. Detain currently holds entries for top-level events over both a mile and ten furlongs for the remainder of the season - the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown in July, and the Group 1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in September.
Barry Mahon, racing manager said: "He ran a very good race and Christophe (Soumillon) said he though he had it, but Ryan Moore and the winner slipped up the rail, then the Godolphin runner (Cualificar) came and took second from him. Detain has a lot to look forward to this season. The 2000 meter trip suits him perfectly. We could even consider 2400 metres. We'll stick to this type of race after a short break, as he's had a busy start to the season".
Azimpour, second in the Group 3 Prix la Force behind the re-opposing Cualificar, finished best of the Aga Khan Stud-owned duo in fifth, whilst the exciting Ridari, successful in the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau, may not have benefitted from the additional step up in trip. Nemone Routh, racing manager for Aga Khan Studs, said:
"We are very happy with Azimpour. His draw didn't help, but he produced a very good final straight. He came home strongly, but probably just a bit too late. I think he was the horse on the outside who finished the best in the entire race. Looking ahead I think he will be better on softer ground, so he will probably perform better at the end of the year. He is entered in the Grand Prix de Paris, but we will have to reassess because the track is often a bit too firm for him at that time of year of year. As for Ridari, he doesn't really have any excuses. We wonder if he truly stays the 2100m. When you follow the line of the Poule d'Essai de Poulains, he should be just behind the leaders, but here he didn't have the speed to finish well. He was lacking something at the end, maybe the distance is just too long for him".
Azimpour currently holds entries for the Group 2 Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud later this month, the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris at ParisLongchamp in July, and the Group 1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp in October, while Ridari is entered in both the 2000m Prix Eugene Adam (Gr.2) at Saint-Cloud and the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr.1).
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