This season has been all Rouget, Rouget, Rouget and the story remained unchanged on Sunday as Zelzal provided the latest highlight for the Pau stable when gaining the top-level success his trainer had seen coming some time ago. Creating a lasting impression on his first two successful Polytrack starts over 7 1/2 furlongs at Deauville Mar. 4 and over this trip at this track Apr. 6, the bay flopped under positive tactics when 11th in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains back at Deauville May 15. Returning to be the convincing winner of the G3 Prix Paul de Moussac when a hold-up ploy was used over this course and distance last time June 11, he was keen initially before being settled in sixth by Gregory Benoist. Delivered in mid-straight, Zelzal rushed to the lead with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and kept on to secure a comfortable success from Stormy Antarctic, breaking the track record in the process.
“What a year we're having. We knew we had nice horses at the start of the season, but these results are beyond all our expectations,” his trainer commented. “He really deserved this, as he had not run his race in the Poulains, as we have said before. They went very fast and with such hot weather, it can be very tough and demanding on horses so we really have to take our time and take care of him and see how he is over the next few weeks before we make plans.” Al Shaqab's racing manager Harry Herbert added, “He's a serious horse. We're not sure what happened in the French Guineas, maybe it was too much too soon, he just didn't run a race. He came back to win his Group Three, though, and today was his big test which he passed with flying colours. Jean-Claude is having such a wonderful year. He's already won the Coronation Stakes for us with Qemah and the Prix Saint-Alary with Jemayel, so that's three Group Ones just for us. I suspect it will be with the [G1] Prix du Moulin [at Longchamp Sept. 11] or the [G1 Prix] Jacques le Marois [at Deauville Aug. 14] next, but I'd imagine he'll be having a bit of a break as he's had a few quick races. Given he's got such an electric turn of foot, he would maybe not want very deep ground.”
Zelzal's second dam is a full-sister to three stakes producers who all hail from Michael Poland's G3 Lancashire Oaks winner and dual group 1-placed State Crystal. Her half-sisters include the G1 Fillies' Mile heroine Crystal Music (Nureyev), while the fourth dam Crystal Fountain (GB) (Great Nephew {GB}) is a half to Royal Palace (GB). Olga Prekrasa also has an as-yet unnamed 2-year-old filly by Redoute's Choice (Aus).
Sunday, Chantilly, France
PRIX JEAN PRAT-G1, €400,000, CHY, 7-10, 3yo, c/f, 8fT, 1:34.48 (NTR), gd.
1–&ZELZAL (FR), 128, c, 3, by Sea the Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Olga Prekrasa, by Kingmambo
2nd Dam: Opera Aida (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: State Crystal (Ire), by High Estate (Ire)
(€180,000 Ylg '14 ARQOCT). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Viktor Timoshenko (FR); T-Jean-Claude Rouget; J-Gregory Benoist. €228,560. Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-0, €298,060. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Stormy Antarctic (GB), 128, c, 3, Stormy Atlantic–Bea Remembered (GB), by Doyen (Ire). (68,000gns Wlg '13 TATFOA; 200,000gns 2yo '15 TATBRE). O-Pak Kwan Siu; B-East Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Ed Walker. €91,440.
3–Spectre (Fr), 125, f, 3, Siyouni (Fr)–Inez(GB), by Dai Jin (GB). (€40,000 2yo '15 ARMAY). O-MM Racing; B/T-Markus Munch (FR). €45,720.
Margins: 2, SNK, 1 3/4. Odds: 1.60, 16.50, 16.60.
Also Ran: Nemoralia, Degas (Ger), Alignement (GB), First Selection (Spa), Zonderland (GB), Positive Vibration (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
