Gros-Chêne: Tour to Paris, faster than ever

Sunday May 31, 2020, Deauville. - No wonder that on a much firmer ground, the outcome of the Prix du Gros-Chêne (Gr2) would be different than that of the Prix de Saint-Georges (Gr3), twenty days ago on a soft turf at ParisLongchamp. The winner Batwan (Kendargent), for instance, never seemed to be involved in this, while Tour to Paris (Fuissé), only sixth at Longchamp, outclassed the event this time. He went from the outside #9 draw and raced in font to soon draw clear and win by no less than 4 lengths, beating Gold Vibe (Dream Ahead), who also finished second three weeks ago.

Trained by Pia Brandt for Alain Jathière, Tour to Paris was running over 5 furlongs for the second time of his career.

Tour to Paris arrived undefeated from Hungary in April 2019. He started his career over there after being bought € 3,000 as a yearling from the Haras du Quesnay at the Deauville sales. He won his first race in France with ease but was significantly beaten immediately after. He redeemed himself on the Deauville all-weather track in the Summer, where he finished second before winning again, and prevailing once more at Maisons-Laffitte in a Listed event at the end of the season but failed regularly this winter in Dubai, and for his return at Chantilly in March. He finished 6th in the Saint-Georges (Gr3) but it was a test over 5 furlongs and his connections were happy with that. How right they were!

His 2yo brother by Dunkerque, also bred by the Head family at Haras du Quesnay, is also trained by Pia Brandt. An Anodin filly comes next while there's She’s My Type (Dunkerque), a 3yo filly that's still unraced.

For the record, Tour to Paris's 5th dam is no other then Natalma, the dam of one of the most influent sires of the modern era, the great Northern Dancer.