14 July 2020
Photo scoopdyga.com
Tuesday, July 14, 2020, ParisLongchamp. - The Prix du Lys (Gr3) was won by the favourite Volkan Star (Sea the Stars), who made all in this 1m4f test for 3-year-olds leading to the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1), run this year on September 13, via the Prix Hocquart Longines (Gr2).
The Charlie Appleby-trained gelding led the small field and took off as early as the "Fausse Ligne Droite", over 3 furlongs out, to prevent any comeback of Ketil (Karakontie) and Measure of Time (Gleneagles), who had trailed him from the start. He made it to the post but only won by ¾ of a length as the two challengers were grabbing all the time in the last two furlongs, fighting each other and supporting each other all the same so that Ketil beat Measure of Time by a neck for the second place.
Being a gelding, Volkan Star will not run the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris. He was sold £1m at the Newmarket sales, gelded at the end of last year after he had just failed in the Zetland Stakes (Gr3), over 1m2f. He had before won his first race over the mile. For his return this season, he finished second at four lengths behind Mishriff, since crowned an outstanding Jockey Club (Gr1) winner. Volkan Star then went on to beat Thunderous, eventual Dante Stakes (Gr2) winner.
Volkan Star is the first foal out of Chicago Dancer (Azamour), winner of one race and a sister to Skins Game (Diktat), who won the Prix Edmond Blanc (Gr3) over the mile for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget.