€80,000 François Boutin (Gr3): Cowardofthecounty the bravest around

Sunday, August 11, 2024, Deauville-La Touques Racecourse (Calvados). – Five runners lined up for the €80,000 Prix François Boutin (Gr3), a race for 2-year-olds over 7 furlongs. The Irish visitor Cowardofthecounty (Kodi Bear) confidently took control in the final stages on his first attempt at the distance. The straight-course race was initially led by Madero (Lope de Vega), tracked by the favorite Houquetot (Wootton Bassett), who had been unbeaten in two starts. Hot Cash (Too Darn Hot) was travelling near the stands' rail while and Cowardofthecounty was running on hold to the centre of the course, with Scandalo (Siyouni) following the group. With 2 furlongs to go, the representative of Stonestreet, Oxley, and Farmer took the lead over the other frontrunners, soon challenged on his left by Houquetot, who briefly seemed poised to win at furlong mark before yielding to the superiority of the eventual winner, who looked even more dominant as the finish line approached. Cowardofthecounty secured victory by 1.5 lengths in his fourth outing, with Scandalo finishing third, three lengths behind.

Cowardofthecounty won on debut over 6 furlongs in April before finishing seventh in both the Coventry Stakes (Gr2) at Royal Ascot and the Anglesey Stakes (Gr3) a month later over the same course and distance as his successful debut. He demonstrated that the increased distance was likely key to his success here.

He was sold as a foal for €98,000 at Goffs, then for £100,000 as a yearling at Tattersalls in October, purchased by KR Bloodstock. His unraced dam, Hawaajib (Elusive City), is out of Marie Laurencin (Peintre Célèbre), a maiden and sister to stallions Pedro the Great (Henrythenavigator) and Footstepsinthesand (Giant’s Causeway).