Prix d'Ispahan : Mekhtaal finds a new path
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Mekhtaal showed new ambitions by winning the Prix d'Ispahan, the highlight of Sunday's racing at Chantilly, a meeting dedicated to the Franco-Japanese friendship, symbolized in the previous edition of this Group 1 by the victory of Japanese thoroughbred A Shin Hikari.
Second in the Prix d'Harcourt (Gr2) for his return this season, the 4-year-old Mekhtaal (Sea the Stars) dominated English raider Robin of Navan (American Post) on the Prix d'Ispahan (Gr1) 9 furlongs trip, the shortest distance he ever ran on. Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, the Al Shaqab Racing representative had to fight right to the post as Robin of Navan, who had showed the way, never let go and was only beaten a neck while Usherette (Shamardal) remained a constant threat all the way.
They were only three runnes in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (Gr2) over 3,000m but the favorite Vazirabad (Manduro) also had had to fight hard to overcome German raider Sirius (Dashing Blade), who alsmost took over after following the eventual winner.
The Prix Finlande (L) went to Monroe Bay (Makfi), representing Jean-Louis Bouchard and her co-breeder Chryss O'Reilly (Petra Bloodstock). Trained by Pascal Bary, she had the blinkers on this time after her failure in the Prix Saint-Alary (Gr1). The winner is entered in the next Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1), to which the Prix Finlande can lead.