€ 200,000 Qatar Chaudenay (Gr2): Illinois rocks French stayers

Saturday, October 5th, 2024, ParisLongchamp Racecourse (Paris). - A thrilling battle opposed the strong Irish favourite Illinois (Galileo) and a formidable opponent, Trafalgar Square (Kendargent), over the €200,000 Prix Chaudenay (Gr2) 3,000 metres trip. Three weeks after his second place in the St Leger (Gr1) at Doncaster, Illinois set the pace with Trafalgar Square (Kendargent) on his flanks and Shamarkand (Harzand), third in the Prix Gérald de Geoffre (Gr3), on his outside. In the final straight, Illinois was asked to quicken early. Trafalgar Square came by and got the better of him while, in the centre of the track, Columbus (Oasis Dream), the winner of the Prix Gérald de Geoffre, could not sustain his effort. Illinois, on the other hand, regained the upper hand over his rival and finally won quite comfortably by two lengths from Trafalgar Square, with more than three lengths back to Strassia (Kendargent), who finished well.

Last year, Illinois finished third in the Critérium de Saint-Cloud (Gr1) behind Los Angeles. Then, it won the Queen's Vase (Gr3) at Royal Ascot and finished second to Sosie in the Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1).

The unraced dam Danedrop (Danehill) has also produced the Arc winner Danedream (Lomitas), Venice Beach (Galileo), winner of the Chester Vase (Gr3) and the Great Voltigeur Stakes (Gr2), and the dam of Dare to Dream (Camelot), winner in the spring of the Al Shira'Aa Prix Vanteaux (Gr3).

Illinois's full sister was sold for £250,000 to Gestüt Fahrhof in July at Tattersalls, in foal to No Nay Never with a No Nay Never filly foal at foot.