SOTTSASS DEFEATS PERSIAN KING IN PRIX DU JOCKEY CLUB

Victory seemed likely for Persian King (Kingman) as he drew up to the quarters of the hitherto unbeaten Motamarris (Le Havre) in the closing stages of yesterday’s Gr.1 Prix du Jockey Club, but he had no answer to the finishing burst from Sottsass. The chesnut son of Siyouni flew past the Andre Fabre-trained colt to win the Chantilly Classic by two lengths, while Motamarris kept on for third in a race where few runners got into contention.

Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget

Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget won the Jockey Club twice recently with Almanzor and Brametot, and was also responsible for the 2009 winner Le Havre, and looks to have another smart colt on his hands. The Ecurie des Monceaux-bred winner scored at the second time of asking at two and, after a fifth in the Gr.3 Prix La Force on his 2019 return to action, landed the Listed Prix de Suresnes at Chantilly just over a month ago. The winning margin that day was an impressive six and a half lengths, butthis victory was a big step up in class.

Jockey Cristian Demuro

Cristian Demuro, the winning jockey, said: “He’s a super colt and, before the loading process got underway, I was able to get him to relax. I forced the issue somewhat as the gates opened in order to take up a position behind the leaders. It was perfect. He showed some turn of foot!”

Bought by Oceanic Bloodstock for €340,000 at the Arqana August Yearling Sale, Sottsass runs in the colours of Peter Brandt’s White Birch Farm, whose colours were also carried to Gr.3 victory at Belmont Park on Saturday by Demarchelier (Dubawi). The stud’s new French Classic winner is by Haras de Bonneval’sSiyouni, who has also sired the French Classic-winning fillies Ervedya and Laurens. This colt is a half-brother to Sistercharlie (Myboycharlie), who only won at Gr.3 level when trained in France, but was a quadruple Gr.1 winner in the US last year beforebeing voted US Champion Turf Female.