By Tom Frary
Finding his true trip at Deauville on Sunday, the Joseph O'Brien-trained Cowardofthecounty (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}–Hawaajib {Fr}, by Elusive City) turned around recent fortunes to gain a first black-type success in the opening seven-furlong G3 Prix Francois Boutin. Running below expectations when seventh in the G2 Coventry Stakes and G3 Anglesey Stakes having made such a big impression on debut when beating Whistlejacket (Ire) (No Nay Never) at The Curragh in April, the colt who represents Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Stables, Tracy Farmer and John Oxley was again sluggish away from the stalls but quickly into racing rhythm under Ryan Moore.
Looming on the front end passing two out, the 7-1 shot stayed on strongly to score by 1 1/2 lengths from the 9-10 favourite Houquetot (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). “He was impressive the first time and ran well at Royal Ascot and at The Curragh last time in a race that has worked out well,” Moore said. “The step up to seven suited and he feels like a good horse with a nice future.”
🥇 Cowardofthecounty (R.Moore) bat le favori Houquetot et s'adjuge le Prix François Boutin (Gr.3) !
Le pensionnaire de Joseph Patrick O'Brien succède à Grey Man au palmarès de cette épreuve.
🥈 Houquetot
🥉 Scandalo pic.twitter.com/0I2cotfDhQ— Equidia (@equidia) August 11, 2024
Sunday, Deauville, France
PRIX FRANCOIS BOUTIN-G3, €80,000, Deauville, 8-11, 2yo, 7fT, 1:21.53 (NSR), gd.
1–COWARDOFTHECOUNTY (IRE), 126, c, 2, Kodi Bear (Ire)
1st Dam: Hawaajib (Fr), by Elusive City
2nd Dam: Marie Laurencin (GB), by Peintre Celebre
3rd Dam: Glatisant (GB), by Rainbow Quest
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€98,000 Wlg '22 GOFNOV; 100,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT). O-Stonestreet, Oxley, Farmer; B-Lismacue Stud (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-0, €51,800. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Houquetot (Ire), 126, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Happen, by War Front. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€280,000 Ylg '23 ARQAUG). O-Jean-Claude Seroul, Al Shaqab Racing & Gerard Augustin-Normand; B-Coolmore Stud (IRE); T-Christopher Head. €16,000.
3–Scandalo (GB), 126, c, 2, Siyouni (Fr)–Passing Parade (GB), by Cape Cross (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (110,000gns RNA Ylg '23 TATOCT; €120,000 2yo '24 GOFAPR). O-Javier Maldonado Trinchant, Novum Stables SL & Mauricio Delcher Sanchez; B-Merry Fox Stud Ltd (GB); T-Mauricio Delcher Sanchez. €12,000.
Margins: 1HF, 3, 5. Odds: 6.90, 0.90, 4.30.
Also Ran: Hot Cash (GB), Madero (Fr).
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