Chantilly: Zoffany looks strong in Prix Jean Prat

Zoffany, who finished a fast-closing second to Frankel in the Group 1 St. James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 14, will be favored to win the second Group 1 race of his career in Sunday’s Prix Jean Prat for 3-year-olds over a mile on turf at Chantilly, France.

Zoffany is part of a field of seven in the Prix Jean Prat, which has a purse of approximately $580,000.

Trained in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien for the partnership of Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith, Zoffany has won 5 of 9 starts, including the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at The Curragh in Ireland last summer.

In the St. James’s Palace Stakes, Zoffany closed from last in a field of nine to finish three-quarters of a length behind Frankel, who is unbeaten in seven starts.

The Prix Jean Prat will be the Group 1 debut of the unbeaten Mutual Trust, who won the Group 3 Prix Paul de Moussac over the same course and distance at Chantilly on June 12.

Thursday, English trainer Richard Hannon supplemented Strong Suit to the Prix Jean Prat for approximately $34,500. Strong Suit won the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The field features one filly, Glorious Sight, who has had a busy campaign of late. She was second in the Group 1 French 1000 Guineas on May 15, fourth a week later in the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary, and third in the Group 1 French Oaks (Prix de Diane) on June 12.

◗ The Royal Ascot winner Brown Panther is the top contender in Sunday’s Group 1 German Derby at Hamburg.

The race drew 18 entrants and is run over 1 1/2 miles. Brown Panther, owned by Manchester United soccer star Michael Owen, won the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot. In the German Derby, which has a purse of approximately $725,000, Brown Panther must beat the German stakes winner Arrigo and Mawingo.