Class rise no problem for Turtle Bowl

Turtle Bowl stepped up in class to make off with the one-mile Group 1 $475,000 Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly on Sunday and will be pointed in future to races outside of France where he can take advantage of his preference for firm ground.

Sent off at a generous 8.30-1 despite his handy three-length score in the Group 3 Prix de la Jonchere over the Jean Prat course and distance on June 12, Turtle Bowl came from well behind under Olivier Peslier to claim a one-length victory over Starpix, getting the mile in 1:36.10 on good ground. Ad Valorem, second to Shamardal last time in his seasonal debut in the St. James's Palace Stakes, was outfinished in coming home fifth as the 7-10 favorite, beaten 3 lengths by the winner.

Trainer Francois Rohaut will give Turtle Bowl a summer vacation in Deauville before looking for races outside of France where his victorious 3-year-old son of Dyhim Diamond is more likely to find fast ground than he would during the wet French autumn.

* Nicaron sprung an 11-1 surprise Sunday in taking the 1 1/2-mile $475,000 German Derby at Hamburg. The Hugo Steinmetz-trained son of Acatenango defeated Night Tango by 1 1/2 lengths with the 6-5 favorite Arcadio 6 lengths further behind in third. Konigstiger was fourth while recent Irish Derby runner-up Scorpion was scratched.