French Derby: Reliable Man rallies to victory in stakes debut

Reliable Man’s stakes debut produced the same result as his first two races – victory. The unbeaten Alain de Royer-Dupre colt captured the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) on Sunday at Chantilly with a strong rally under Gerald Mosse.

Reliable Man, a Dalakhani colt owned by Pride Racing Club, outfinished Bubble Chic by three-quarters of a length to win the Group 1, 1 5/16-mile race. It was another two lengths back to Baraan, who had a highly eventful journey, with Colombian finishing fourth. Guineas winners Tin Horse (French 2000) and Roderic O’Connor (Irish 2000) were no factor at the finish, checking in fifth and eighth, respectively.

Reliable Man didn’t start his career until this spring, though Royer-Dupre – winning this race for the sixth time – said the French Derby came into consideration after Reliable Man’s good debut win in April. Reliable Man could make his next start in the Grand Prix de Paris. That also could mark the next race for Baraan, who did well to finish third after breaking very slowly and spotting the field some 15 lengths.

Also on Sunday’s Chantilly program, Behkabad, the third-place finisher in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Turf, finished second to Silver Pond while making his 2011 debut in the Group 3 Grand Prix de Chantilly.

* At Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday, Real Impact, the only 3-year-old in an 18-horse field, won the Group 1 Yasuda Kinen over 1,600 meters by a neck over Strong Return. Smile Jack finished third, while fourth-place Clever Tosho might have won the race had he found any racing room over the final furlong. Champion filly Agapane came sixth, beaten less than two lengths.