Muguet Report: Persian King rules again

Sunday, June 28, 2020, Saint-Cloud. - Beaten for his comeback in a Listed race, Persian King (Kingman) was the odds-on favourite in the Prix du Muguet (Gr2) against consistent milers that wouldn't let him do his thing. He led the race and even though he looked under pressure two furlongs out, as Pretreville (Acclamation) was looming by his side along with We Ride the World (Orpen) and Skalleti (Kendargent), he ran on strongly and won by a good length.

Owned by Godolphin and Ballymore Thoroughbred, Persian King beat Pretrevile and Skalleti, while We Ride the World, who was racing for the first time at such a high level, finished 4th a good length behind the leading trio.

Regarded as one of the most promising 2-year-olds in Europe after winning a Group 2 in Newmarket in 2018, Persian King won at 3 the Prix de Fontainebleau (Gr3) and the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, Gr1). Second to Sottsass over 10.5 furlongs in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, Gr1), he did not race again for a year and had just made a disappointing comeback when 2nd in the Prix de Montretout (L) over the mile.

He's entered in the Qatar prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr1), like last year.

His dam Pretty Please (Dylan Thomas) won once for the Wildensteins, for her debut in Aprtil at 3, and ran again a year later, to no avail. She is, however, a sister to the sire Planteur, from the family of Policy Maker (Sadler’s Wells) and, further down, of the great Peintre Célèbre (Nureyev).

Petite Folie (Australia), Persian King's 3-year-old sister, is also in training with André Fabre. She ran in March and finished 9th but she's entered in the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1).