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Shaman makes all to land feature on stellar Longchamp card

Updated / Monday, 11 May 2020 14:53
Shaman had no problem stepping up in trip at Longchamp, but there were no paying fans in the stands to witness the meeting
Shaman had no problem stepping up in trip at Longchamp, but there were no paying fans in the stands to witness the meeting

Shaman, Tropbeau, The Summit and Batwan recorded Group successes at Longchamp as French racing got back up and running after the Covid-19 outbreak. 

The sport had been hold since March and despite a last-minute threat to the action on Friday, the authorities gave the go-ahead for France Galop to restart racing behind closed doors.

Strict social distancing and hygiene measures were in place on track, with all jockeys wearing masks to race and limited personnel present, as starved racing fans said bon matin to the live action, which kicked off just before 10am Irish time. 

Sottsass (2-5 favourite) could finish only fourth as Shaman (32-5) made every yard of the running to lift the Group Two Prix d'Harcourt.

All eyes were on the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Sottsass after a 2019 campaign that saw him win the Prix du Jockey Club and finish third to Waldgeist and Enable in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

However, he never looked like troubling winner Shaman, who benefited from a fine front-running ride by Maxime Guyon.

The Carlos Laffon-Parias-trained winner was no slouch himself last term, beating Sottsass in the Prix La Force before finishing second in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains  and also the Prix Jacques le Marois.

Trying 10 furlongs for the first time, he bounced back to his best, kicking on in the straight to repel the late challenge of Way To Paris (27-1), with Simona (77-10) third.

The two Guineas trials were run in contrasting fashion and produced contrasting results. 

Hot favourite Victor Ludorum (2-5F) suffered a shock defeat as outsider The Summit (241-10) secured a front-running victory in the Group Three Prix de Fontainebleau.

Victor Ludorum was last seen when winning the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere last October and was expected to cement his Classic claims in this trial for the Poule d'Essai des Poulains over a mile.

However, Andre Fabre's runner raced keenly in the early stages as Mickael Barzalona struggled to find any cover, with The Summit setting a very sedate pace from the off.

The leader was still travelling well within himself as the field turned for home, with Arc-winning jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot seemingly having a bit still up his sleeve as he pushed his mount on with about two furlongs to run.

Victor Ludorum could not go with him and only Ecrivain (15-2) - who did not enjoy the clearest of passages in the straight - looked a danger, eventually having to settle for a fast-finishing second in a race that turned into a sprint. 

The favourite was only third and was immediately pushed out in the betting for the French Guineas.

If they want too slowly in the colts' race, they went too quickly in the fillies' trial for the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. 

Tropbeau (2-1F) advertised her Classic credentials with victory in the Prix de la Grotte. 

Having been third to Millisle and Raffle Prize in the Cheveley Park Stakes last season, the Andre Fabre-trained filly brought the strongest form credentials to the Group Three contest, but had been expected to face a test from Khayzaraan (21-10).

The Freddy Head-trained runner jumped out in front, but set far too strong of a pace. She emptied alarmingly two furlongs from home and ultimately finished at the rear of the field.

Tropbeau answered every question for Mickael Barzalona when hitting the front, narrowly accounting for Dream And Do (61-10) and Tickle Me Green (19-5), with the later worthy of an upgrade for sticking so closely to the tempo set by Khayzaraan. 

Batwan (11-1) swooped late to land the opening Group Three Prix de Saint-Georges.  

Sestilio Jet (9-2) was bidding to defend his title, but he was under pressure some way out as Batwan, who finished second last year, was settled in third through the early stages.

Maxime Guyon's mount hit the front inside the final furlong, edging in front at the line to win on his first outing in an exactly a year. with Gold Vibe (44-5) second and Sestilo Jet third. 

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