Andre Fabre felt a slow start contributed to Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal)'s defeat in Sunday's G1 Prix du Jockey Club. The G1 French 2000 Guineas winner was aiming to double up in the French Derby, but having broken slowly from stall one, the Godolphin runner found the rest of the field in front of him after 100 yards. Having circled the other 15 runners, he just about hit the front before his run petered out and John Gosden's Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) sprinted clear to win going away, leaving Victor Ludorum in third.
“I think he broke a bit lazily which meant he had to go wide, so it was frustrating,” said Fabre. “We'll keep him at 10 furlongs for now. The [Aug. 15 G2] Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville might be next.”
Fabre's listed winner Ocean Atlantique (American Pharoah) was also quietly fancied, but he faded badly in the straight into 10th.
“Ocean Atlantique I was a bit disappointed with. I could probably blame the lack of experience for him,” said Fabre. “He'd had four races in his career but all of them had been easy, they didn't get him ready for competition like that. I think he's happy enough at 10 furlongs, but maybe he could go over further.”
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