14 August 2017
Photo scoopdyga.com
Tight finish in a red hot renewal Le Marois with Al Wukair and Dettori scoring in the very end for an extatic Fabre, now 7 times winner of the French Summer Mile Championship.
Al Shaqab Racing's 3yo colt Al Wukair (Dream Ahead) won the 96th renewal of the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois (Gr1) by a (very) short head with Frankie Dettori up beating a mighty Godolphin duet formed by the favorite Thunder Snow (Helmet) and Inns of Court (Invincible Spirit). The winning trainer André Fabre registered is 7th Le marois in the process, making him the most successful trainer in the race along with legendary trainer François Boutin.
Associated with Lanfranco Dettori, Al Wukair only pipped Inns Of Court, still unbeaten over 7 furlongs and very close indeed to his first mile triumph here as he also took a sluggish start, while Christophe Soumillon tried to dictate his terms by leading the race with Thunder Snow, only to settle for 3rd , beaten a short head and a short neck. The only 4yo in the race, Taareef (Kitten's Joy) finished fifth without ever seeming to challenge the top contenders.
Al Wukair, the name of a pearl port in Qatar, was unbeaten at 2 in 2 strats, including his first season bow in the Prix Isonomy (L) in Deauville. He won the Prix Djebel (Gr3) on his return but finished 3rd in the Two Thousand Guineas (Gr1) at Newmarket behind Churchill and Barney Roy and was not seen again for more than two months before his return in The Prix Messidor (Gr3), where Taareef beat him, before Sunday's challenge.
Bought 200,000 Guineas yearling from Tattersalls sales in Newmarket, Al Wukair is a grandson of the French Oaks winner Caerlina.
Also on Sunday in Deauville, the Prix Minerve (Gr3), for 3-year-old fillies over 2,500 meters, went to English raider God Given (Nathaniel), recording her third straight win this season for trainer Luca Cumani. She's a sister to Postponed and was ridden by Jamie Spencer, who won Saturday his 2,000th victory at Ascot and had already improved his tally on Sunday in Deauville when winning the Prix François Boutin (L) for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby with the handsome Mythical Magic (Ifraaj).
The other Listed on the card, the Prix Michel Houyvet (L), for 3yos over 3,000m, was won by Darbuzan (Zamindar) for his breeder-owner Zahra Aga Khan and trainer Mikel Delzangles.