G3 Prix des Chenes

Mario Baratti trainee Misunderstood (Fr) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}-- Waldjagd {GB}, by Observatory) made all to shed maiden status on debut at Deauville in July and repeated the dose in Thursday's G3 Prix des Chenes at ParisLongchamp to become the first black-type winner for his freshman sire (by Kodiac {GB}). Breaking well from the outside stall to establish a clear buffer through the early fractions, the 13-10 favourite was shaken up with 350 metres remaining and maintained a high tempo in the closing stages to easily account for Nesthorn (GB) (Expert...

Thursday's G3 Prix Des Chenes was robbed of TDN Rising Star Alcantor (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), leaving just a trio for ParisLongchamp's mile contest and a slowly-run affair which saw The Aga Khan's Zabiari (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) prevail. Runner-up in the Listed Criterium du FEE at Deauville last month, the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained 6-5 second favourite followed the G3 Prix Francois Boutin winner Grey Man (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) around before being launched two out. In front soon after, he veered towards the rail inside the last half furlong to...

   Ahead of the weekend's thrillers, Thursday offers the warm-up with the G3 Prix des Chenes and G3 Prix d'Aumale acting as stepping stones for the major 2-year-old contests of the autumn. Fabre's 10 wins in the Chenes and six in the d'Aumale mean that his representation has to be taken seriously and the former, which is restricted to the males of the generation, sees him saddle Baron Edouard De Rothschild's TDN Rising Star Alcantor (Fr) (New Bay {GB}). Taking on Julien Dubois and Jean-Philippe Dubois' G3 Prix Francois Boutin...

White Birch Farm's 2-year-old colt Kubrick (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}--Rosa Bonheur, by Mr. Greeley) backed up a July 24 debut second going seven furlongs at Dieppe with a breakthrough triumph at Deauville last month and continued on the upgrade by turning back a strong Irish challenge in Thursday's G3 Prix des Chenes at ParisLongchamp. The eventual winner employed patient tactics from flagfall and was settled sixth, at the tail of the field, through halfway. Making continued headway under pressure in the home straight, the 31-10 second favourite quickened to gain a...

It's been five years since Andre Fabre sealed a record ninth win in ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix des Chenes and the maestro made it a double-digit tally with Coolmore and Westerberg's Ancient Rome (War Front) in Thursday's latest renewal of the one-mile test. The 4-5 favourite had bettered a June 11 debut second at Compiegne with a July 13 breakthrough score at Deauville and doubled up back at the Normandy venue in an Aug. 10 conditions heat last time. Settled off the clear leader Claim The Crown (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in...