English invader Havana Gold rallied to capture the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly on Sunday for jockey Mickael Barzalona and trainer Richard Hannon, as the favored Style Vendome failed to follow through on his victory in the French 2000 Guineas, finishing fourth.
Trading Leather further muddled the overseas 3-year-old hierarchy with a mild upset in the Group 1, $896,511 Irish Derby on Saturday at The Curragh.
Style Vendome, who beat 17 3-year-olds winning the Group 1 Prix d’Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) in his most recent start, will have 11 opponents Sunday at Chantilly when he seeks a second straight Group 1 victory in the Prix Jean Prat.
Although revenue for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association dropped 23 percent in fiscal year 2013, the association managed to generate excess cash of $66,851, compared with a loss of $598,927 in the previous fiscal year, according to financial statements included as part of the association’s annual report released on Thursday.
Ruler of The World and Libertarian, the first two finishers of the Group 1 English Derby at Epsom Downs on June 1, will have a rematch in Saturday’s $1,625,000 Irish Derby at The Curragh. For the Group 1 Irish Derby, Libertarian has a new owner.
Novellist was a top 3-year-old in Germany last year, winning two group stakes in that country and finishing second in the German Derby. He later won a Group 1 race in Italy.
Improving 4-year-old Lethal Force won the first Group 1 race of his career on the last day of the 2013 Royal Ascot meeting, dashing to a convincing victory in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes on Saturday in England. The meeting’s final card was marred by the death of 4-year-old Thomas Chippendale, who collapsed and died just after winning the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes. A heart attack was suspected in the colt’s sudden demise.
Sunday’s $524,000 Grand Prix de Saint Cloud in France has a strong field of 11 older horses led by the 13-time stakes winner Cirrus des Aigles.
Nearly seven weeks after winning the Group 1 English 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, Sky Lantern won Friday’s Group 1 Coronation Stakes, the top race for 3-year-olds fillies over the five days of racing at Royal Ascot.
Saturday's closing-day card at Royal Ascot is headed as usual by the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes, a six-furlong dash that an 18-horse field.
