€350,000 Royal-Oak (Gr1): Double Major takes back his crown

Sunday, October 27, 2024, Saint-Cloud Racecourse (Hauts-de-Seine). - Contested over 3,100 meters with two 3-year-old Anglo-Irish runners at the start against six older horses, including the titleholder, a two-time winner of the "Cadran," and the 5th-place finisher in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the €350,000 Prix Royal-Oak (Gr1) had a good look to it and did not disappoint. It was a lively race led by Trueshan (Planteur), 2nd in the last Prix du Cadran after having won two editions, with Double Major (Daiwa Major) at his side, winner of the 2023 "Royal-Oak" but disappointing in the "Cadran" recently, the 3-year-old Grosvenor Square (Galileo) on the outside and in their wake Sevennah's Knight (Camelot), favorite after his fine 5th place in the Arc. Posted on the outside in second, Al Qareem (Awtaad) gradually drifted towards the inside while Grosvenor Square leveled off, like the other 3-year-old Align the Stars in the middle of the pack. In the final straight, Trueshan continued his action but Double Major dominated him while, in the middle of the track, Sevennah's Knight tried to progress. Until one hundred meters from the post, the latter pretended to be able to compete with Double Major but it was in vain: he remained 2nd a good length behind Double Major, only a head in front of an always courageous Trueshan. Al Qareem finished 5 lengths behind.

Bred by Wertheimer & Frère, Double Major is the fourth foal out of Dancequest (Dansili), a winner at Deauville and Listed-placed, and the dam of the talented Flop Shot (New Approach). Notably, Dancequest is out of Featherquest (Rainbow Quest), the dam of successful racemares and broodmares Plumania and Balladeuse.

Double Major was entered in the 2023 Arqana Arc Sale but was ultimately withdrawn.

His sire, Daiwa Major, a champion sprinter/miler in his native Japan, is a son of the influential American stallion Sunday Silence and a daughter of Northern Taste, a stallion imported from France, where he enjoyed considerable success for the Yoshida family. This chestnut with extensive white markings, reminiscent of Sunday Silence, also played a pivotal role in the development of Shadai Farm's breeding program, where both stallions were based and are now laid to rest.