2 April 2022
Photo scoopdyga.com
Saturday, April 2, 2022, Saint-Cloud Racecourse (Hauts-de-Seine). - The 93rd Prix Edmond Blanc (Gr3) gathered the three first home in the 2021 renewal, namely Wally (Siyouni), Duhail (Lope de Vega) and The Revenant (Dubawi), who’d won in 2019 (the race was cancelled in 2020) and soon went on to become one of Europe’s most successful milers. However, before this third tilt at the race honouring the founder of Saint-Cloud as a training centre and a racecourse, The Revenant had had the opportunity to make his seasonal comeback when winning the Prix Altipan (L) over the same course and distance in impressive fashion, only three weeks prior to this new assignment. On very soft ground, the Francis Graffard-trained, Al Asayl homebred found ideal conditions that were missing a year ago. At the end of a race led fast by Sibila Spain (Frankel), who turned wide in the final bend in search of a faster ground, followed by Océan (Exosphere), The Revenant bid his time but finally stormed home to win quite easily by one length, beating a quite convincing Duhail and Pao Alto (Intello), who was unable to sustain his effort to the post. Sibila Spain bravely held on in 4th, beating Fast Raaj (Iffraaj), fifth, possibly held back on a deep ground unfavourable to sprinters.
The Revenant started his career in Britain and went to Chantilly at Francis Graffard’s yard in September 2018. Since then, he won 12 times out of 17, including the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Gr1) at Ascot in September 2020, a year after finishing 2nd in the same Autumn jewel…
He was homebred by Al Asayl, owner of the dam Hazel Lavery (Excellent Art), winner of the St Simon Stakes (Gr3) in England who gave a Kingman filly who’s now run 5 times without success, and an Oasis Dream filly, now 4 and still unraced. Finally, a Saxon Warrior filly was born two years ago.