By Tom Frary
Mekhtaal issued warning that he was a colt with gravitas when the six-length winner of the G2 Prix Hocquart over 10 furlongs at Deauville last May, but instead of imposing himself on his rivals in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club here the following month was in bad humour and trailed in eighth. He may have been slightly unlucky to be only fourth when next appearing on Bastille Day in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris over a mile and a half at Saint-Cloud before failing to make all when beaten a short neck by Sky Kingdom (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) as the runner-up in Maisons-Laffitte's G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange back at 10 furlongs in September. Returning to be in that spot again when beaten a neck by the subsequent G1 Prix Ganay winner Cloth of Stars (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the G2 Prix d'Harcourt over a mile and a quarter here Apr. 9, he followed Robin of Navan in second throughout the early stages. Finally getting the better of the long-time leader in the shade of the post as Usherette finished in between them, the chestnut was rewarding the painstaking patience of the Jean-Claude Rouget stable. “He is much more mature than he was as a three-year-old and behaves much better,” his trainer commented. “He has learnt his game and between nine and ten furlongs is his best distance. He ran well in the d'Harcourt, but had a real race there and so we did well to pass on the Ganay and wait for this. We will keep going in this category and Royal Ascot could be next. The [June 21 G1] Prince of Wales's S. could be his target and maybe later he can run in the Irish and English Champion S.”
The dam is the G3 Prix Fille de l'Air winner Aiglonne, who is also responsible for four other black-type performers including the fellow Hocquart scorer Democrate and the GIII Long Island H. and GIII Robert G. Dick Memorial S. scorer Aigue Marine. Aiglonne is a half-sister to the dam of Germance (Silver Hawk), who landed the G1 Prix Saint-Alary, while the next dam Autocratic also had the G2 Tattersalls Gold Cup S. winner Fair of the Furze (Ire) (Ela-Mana-Mou {Ire}). She produced the G1 Derby Italiano hero and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up White Muzzle (GB) and the G2 Deutsches St Leger scorer Fair Question (Ire) (Rainbow Quest), as well as the Listed Diamond S. winner Elfaslah (Ire) (Green Desert). The latter went on to throw the G1 Dubai World Cup and G1 Prix Jean Prat-winning sire Almutawakel (GB). Next up from Aiglonne's 3-year-old colt Aiguillon(Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) won on debut here for Nicolas Clement six days earlier, while she also has an as-yet unraced 2-year-old filly Miss Aiglonne (GB) (Dawn Approach {Ire}).
Sunday, Chantilly, France
PRIX D'ISPAHAN-G1, €250,000, CHY, 5-28, 4yo/up, 9fT, 1:49.92, gd.
1–&MEKHTAAL (GB), 128, c, 4, by Sea the Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Aiglonne (GSW-Fr & GSP-US, $139,160), by Silver Hawk
2nd Dam: Majestic Role (Fr), by Theatrical (Ire)
3rd Dam: Autocratic (Ire), by Tyrant
(€300,000 Ylg '14 ARAUG). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Haras du Mezeray & Skymarc Farm (GB); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Gregory Benoist. €74,100. Lifetime Record: 8-3-3-0, €315,110. *1/2 to Aigue Marine (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), MGSW-US & SW-Fr, $423,555; Democrate (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), GSW-Fr, $139,381; and Apophis (Ire) (Rainbow Quest), SP-Fr, $176,569. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”mandore-purchased-as-yearling-for-al-shaqab-racing”]2–Robin of Navan (Fr), 128, c, 4, American Post (GB)–Cloghran (Fr), by Muhtathir (GB). (€10,000 Ylg '14 AR14; €47,000 2yo '15 ARMAY). O-Cross, Deal, Foden, Sieff; B-Mme Monique Lepeudry (FR); T-Harry Dunlop. €57,150.
3–Usherette (Ire), 125, m, 5, Shamardal–Monday Show (SP-Ger), by Maria's Mon. O-Godolphin SNC; B-Darley (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. €28,575.
Margins: NK, HF, 5. Odds: 2.30, 17.00, 3.70.
Also Ran: Dicton (GB), Zarak (Fr). Scratched: Kourkan (Fr). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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