Lord Shanakill Deserved Group Trophy !!

Considered as a revenge of the French 2 000 Guineas, the Group I Prix Jean Prat has seen the likes of Bailamont, Priolo, Bago, and more recently Tamayuz who retired to stud, Lord Shanakill, the Karl Burke-trained three year-old landed the Chantilly contest.


For various reasons, there are Group I horses who have not bagged any competition of this sort; having been either unlucky or outgunned by Group machines like Galileo, Sea the Stars, or Mastercraftsman. That story very much rang the bell with Lord Shanakill who produced his best effort in that kind of company, and Sunday's win was fully deserved. It's even easier to say : 'it was overdue'.


Especially since his victory probably meant a lot to his mentor, Karl Burke, who registered his first Group I winner. It was all the more a relief since Jim Crowley's mount appeared slighlty unsettled until the three-furlong marker, but the son of Speightstown - an American stallion - proved too tough in the straight. The three year old gallopped relentlessly until the post, and managed to repel Oiseau de Feu's fierce challenge. In the meantime, the Yorkshire-based handler ended Jean-Claude Rouget's supremacy over parisian Group I tournaments. The undefeated German challenger, Irian, finished well to take third. As to Westphalia, the Aidan O'Brien-trained favourite disappointed, and never looked at home. Jimmy Fortune could not do wonders and the horse might have exerted himself a little bit. He has been campaigned rather heavily over the last few months.

A few days before the race, connections expected a bold performance from their leading colt, and He might be heading towards the Jacques le Marois at Deauville; probably the richest and best French event over the mile. The prize on offer reaches 600,000 € and will be staged in August . However, the immediate target are the Sussex Stakes, on July 29th at Goodwood.