Monday’s return to action in France featured two Guineas trials and the Gr2 Prix Harcourt for older horses.
The Harcourt featured the return to action of last season’s Prix du Jockey-Club winner and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe third Sottsass and started odds-on but was unable to reel in the longtime leader Shaman.
The Carlos Laffon-Parias-trained Shaman had beaten Sottsass in last year’s Prix la Force and was trying 2000m for the first time and was well rated in the lead by Maxime Guyon, staying on strongly in the home straight to repel the late challenge of Way To Paris, with Simona close up in third with Sottsass only fourth.
Connections are now hoping to land a Group One race with the son of Shamardal.
“We were very pleased. Carlos had been telling me he wanted to try him at 10 furlongs,” Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager to the Wertheimer brothers, said.
“He won a nine-furlong Group Three at Longchamp last season and had done very well at a mile, being Group One placed.
“It was a serious test today with Sottsass and some good horses, but when Shaman is like that, galloping like that – he likes to be like that. He needs to be relaxed in a race.
“He’s a very good horse, he’s well bred and now he needs to win the Group One.”
Victor Ludorum started odds-on for the Gr Prix Fontainebleau, the traditional stepping stone leading to the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, but tasted defeat for the first time in a farcically run race.
A lack of early pace saw Victor Ludorum forced to race wide, fighting Mickael Barzalona for his head compared to The Summit being allowed an uncontested lead.
Pierre-Charles Boudot allowed The Summit to increase the tempo into the home straight and Victor Ludorum was unable to match him, only Ecrivain, who was crowded early in the home straight – looked a danger, eventually having to settle for a fast-finishing second with Voctor Ludorum third.
Bought as a yearling in Deauville for €16,000 by bloodstock agent Paul Nataf for owner Mrs Jacques Cygler, The Summit holds entries for the Gr1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches and the Gr1 Prix du Jockey Club.
In the Gr3 Prix de la Grotte the Andre Fabre-trained Tropbeau finished best of all to defeat Dream Do by half a length with Tickle Me Green in third.
“I was very happy with Tropbeau,” Fabre told Equidia. “She’s a reliable filly and it looked a good test of her stamina. She kept going all the way to the end and still had something in hand, so it looks like she got the mile properly.
“Tickle Me Green ran a very nice race. She showed she has the speed for a mile. I had been hesitating whether to go further with her but now she’ll probably go to the Poule d’Essai as well.”