G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club

Lining up for Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club as the least-experienced, Haras de la Morsangliere's Look De Vega (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}--Lucelle {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire}) took the required leap forward on a remarkable stakes debut to become the third member of his sire line to capture this Chantilly Classic. Following a seven-length Fontainebleau success in November with another authoritative win in ParisLongchamp's Prix de Croissy conditions event last month, the Carlos and Yann Lerner-trained , the relative of another winner of the race in its...

While it is true that there is only one Derby, and what a Derby that was on Saturday, 24 hours after the Epsom jamboree there is a Classic of a different kind to help ease the comedown. Chantilly hosts the 184th renewal of the G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, which is a special if idiosyncratic monument in its own right staged over the rare trip of 10 1/2 furlongs. Therefore offering a contrasting test to the Blue Riband, the old "French Derby" is losing no ground on its counterpart...

by Emma Berry & Heather Anderson Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club is an enticing affair, with Group 1 winner Sunway appearing poised to return to his best form. There are several intriguing new shooters, including listed winner Fast Tracker, who will be making his debut in the Wathnan Racing colours. British raider and group winner Ghostwriter, who ran fourth in the 2000 Guineas, will be plying his trade in France for the first time. All in all, most of the field is in with a chance, with the...

Ecuries Serge Stempniak's hitherto undefeated Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}--Absolutly Me {F}, by Anabaa Blue {GB}) posted a third straight win when annexing last month's Listed Prix de Suresnes at Chantilly and returned to that Paris venue for Classic glory in Sunday's €1,500,000 G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club. Preceding his black-type breakthrough with impressive early-season wins at Cagnes-sur-Mer and Bordeaux-Le Bouscat, the 19-2 chance extended trainer Jean-Claude Rouget's record to six wins in the contest after defeating 17-10 favourite Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) by an impressive...

Following a draw conducted live in Epsom's hallowed circle, a final field of 14 has been confirmed for Saturday's G1 Betfred Derby. Ballydoyle number one Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) has pulled "lucky" stall 10, still the most beneficial draw in Derby history having housed Shahrastani, Reference Point (GB), Nashwan, Quest For Fame (GB), Generous (Ire), Galileo (Ire), Sir Percy (GB), Ruler of the World (Ire) and Masar (Ire). Chief market rival Military Order (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) will exit from next door in nine, while leading contenders Passenger (Ulysses...

The Qatar Prix du Jockey Club Equestrian Parade, featuring riders and horses from the AFASEC (jockey apprentice school), will pass through the streets of Chantilly from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 3. They will bear the colours of the €1.5-million G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club field, which will take place on Sunday, June 4. The 10-race card will also feature family racecourse events. For more information on the Prix du Jockey Club festivities, please visit the France Galop website.

One hundred years on from the late Aga Khan III's initial foray into European racing, the internationally-renowned and respected operation were celebrating a momentous Classic victory as the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}--Vaderana {Fr}, by Monsun {Ger}) dominated Chantilly's G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club. Always travelling easily in the slipstream of the leaders from his favourable inside draw, the May 10 G3 Prix de Guiche winner pounced on the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) with 300 metres remaining and a furlong later...

The 2100-metre G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club has a horse for everyone, from multi-generational blue-blooded homebreds, to a $535,000 OBS breezer and everything in between. Godolphin's Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is aiming for his third Group/Grade 1 victory in a row after wins in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar last autumn and in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains in May.   VADENI (FR), Churchill (Ire)--Vaderana (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}) Owner: His Highness The Aga Khan. Breeder: Haras De S A Aga Khan SCEA. Trainer:...

While only Sea the Stars (Ire) has been able to win a 2000 Guineas and Derby in the same year since Nashwan did it in 1989, there have been four colts able to carry their superior miling speed over the 10 1/2-furlong trip of the new "French Derby" at Chantilly and complete the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains-G1 Prix du Jockey Club double. While the purists rave on without end about the fact that the initiative to shave the distance from a mile and a half means that the Qatar-sponsored...

There was drama at the draw for Chantilly's G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club on Sunday, with a second draw required after an error in the initial process. Due to the withdrawn Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) being left in the bowl as the balls were selected on Thursday morning, France Galop opted to re-do the draw at 5pm which is sure to spark controversy for those who suffered a twist of fate. With no winner drawn in double figures since New Bay (GB) in 2015, the advantage of a...