7 August 2022
Photo scoopdyga.com
Sunday, August 7, 2022, Deauville-La Touques Racecourse (Calvados). – The fastest out of the starting stalls, Botanik (Golden Horn) led at his own pace and started his final effort by repelling the first assault from Mr de Pourceaugnac (Camelot), who had travelled at his side and then holding off all his rivals. He thus won by almost a length, beating the previous winner Glycon (Le Havre) in this Prix de Reux – Copa Jockey Club Argentino 140th anniversary (Gr3), contested exclusively by aged geldings, even though this Grand Prix de Deauville prep is open to 3-year-olds.
In third finished the favourite Iresine (Manduro), who couldn’t keep up with the winner by the rail after a quiet trip at the rear. He only kept his place on the podium by a short head as the stayer Skazino (Kendargent) finished fast (10''69 in the 2nd last furlong, only 5/10ths more than Glycon, who clocked the best time on this section), despite his 2kgs penalty and a race probably too slow to favour him.
Botanik scored his sixth victory in eleven races, and he brings his earnings to about €165,000, not having been born or bred in France. Second at 2, in his third outing, in the Critérium de Saint-Cloud (Gr1) of Gear Up, the Godolphin homebred did not show up again before the following year in September, winning twice over 2,500 and 2,400 metres at Saint-Cloud before failing in a Listed at Lyon-Parilly. He won this season for the third time in four outings, having finished second after his victorious return on the Prix d'Argenteuil’s 2,100 metres trip, a head behind Investor.
Botanik was withdrawn twice since his last victory, in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and the Prix Maurice de Nieuil.
Bred by Godolphin, the 4-year-old gelding - castrated even before his debut at 2 years old - is the second foal out of Autumn Lily (Street Cry), a sister to Prix de Cabourg (Gr3) winner Alexandros (Kingmambo), herself out of a sister to the champion In The Wings (Sadler's Wells). Botanik's full brother, now a yearling, is for sale at Goffs next September. The dam was sold by Godolphin last July for £125,000 at Tattersalls to Avenue Bloodstock.