Qatar Jean-Luc Lagardère (Gr1): Camille Pissarro's finest work

ParisLongchamp, France – October 6, 2024 – The 2024 edition of the €400,000 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (Gr1), the championship race for 2-year-olds, contested over 7 furlongs, went to an outsider, Camille Pissarro (Wootton Bassett), who held off a very courageous challenge from Rashabar (Holy Roman Emperor), one of the most gutsy colts of his generation.

Coming into the open stretch at the last moment, Camille Pissarro, sent off at 12/1, seemed to have the race at his mercy. Still, Rashabar, who had appeared beaten halfway down the straight, never stopped progressing after tracking the leaders, and he went on to threaten the winner all the way to the finish, losing by a neck. Third place, almost two lengths further back, went to Misunderstood (Hello Youmzain), the pacesetter.

This was Camille Pissarro's seventh start. A winner on his debut in April, the Coolmore syndicate representative failed to fire as the 4/1 favourite in the Coventry Stakes (Gr2) at Royal Ascot on his next outing. He then partially redeemed himself at the Curragh and Doncaster but did not return to the winner's circle.

Camille Pissarro was purchased for €1.25 million in October last year at Tattersalls by Michael Vincent Magnier and White Birch. His sister by Dark Angel is going through the same sales this month. He is a brother to Golden Horde (Lethal Force), a Group 1 sprinter, and descends from the exceptional Serena's Song and her daughter, Sophisticat.

Comments from connections :  

Aidan O’Brien – trainer of Camille Pissarro (1st) – Ireland

« Camille Pissarro has lots of class and will be running a mile  (1600 metres) without a problem next year. The change of tactics probably helped more than the ground. He is a horse who learns more every race and improves. He is a large colt who has not fully reached his potential yet. Maybe his trainer (that’s me !) had not fully understood previously (laughs). I am not sure that he will run again this year. He has given a lot in 2024. We put blinkers on him today because he was a little shy. You must not lose faith in these horses. »

Christophe Soumillon – jockey to Camille Pissarro (1st)

« It is a great honour to be able to ride for the biggest trainer in the world. The horses are brought on in an incredible way. I rode Camille Pissarro at the back, to be able to overtake the others. The ground quickened. I was quite confident when we rode from the back. I lost my stirrup after the first post, but I continued to press on. That was what allowed me to win my first Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère, the race which pays homage to the man for whom I won the first ever Group 1 of my life !  »

Brian Meehan – trainer of Rashabar (2nd) - Britain

« It is of course disappointing to be beaten in a Group 1, even more so during the Arc meeting, but Rashabar is truly special. I am not sure if he appreciated the ground. I think that we will come back to Longchamp for the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Group 1). He is qualified for the best French races, so it had made sense to have a vision for this race. He could always run the 1 000 Guineas in Ireland (Group 1) next. For this year, I think that he has done enough. It is a serious and very professional horse with whom it is agreeable to work. »

Mario Baratti – trainer of Misunderstood (3rd) – Chantilly (Oise)

« Misunderstood progresses on each outing. In last place in the Prix des Chênes (Groupe 3), he had to be held up from going too fast a lot at the beginning. This time, he presented himself more calmly. He still lacks maturity , but he is learning his job well. Before the race, I was a little afraid of the distance of 1400 metres. He showed speed and settled well. I am happy with him. If everything goes well, he will be a very good three year old. He will not run again this year. »