Irish Field wins Prix Robert Papin

Ace Spanish trainer Mauricio Delcher-Sanchez scored a memorable victory for his homeland at Maisons-Laffitte on Sunday as Irish Field landed the Group 2, $168,000, Prix Robert Papin for 2-year-olds. An Irish-bred son of Dubawi, Irish Field rallied to lead under Christophe Soumillon at the three-sixteenths pole and stayed on to defeat Broox by 1 1/2 lengths.

Approve, winner of the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes, just missed second, a short head behind Broox, while Wizz Kid, winner of the listed Prix Yacowlef, was fourth, beaten 1 3/4 lengths for all the money in just her second start. The time for the straight 5 1/2 furlongs was 1:05.90 on good to soft ground.

The 6.40-1 Irish Field had won twice in Madrid before finishing a nose second to Keratiya in the five-furlong, Group 3 Prix du Bois. Delcher-Sanchez, who trained Equiano to win the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot two years ago, said that Irish Field would travel next to York for the six-furlong, Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes on Aug. 18.

The Aga Khan's lightly raced Shimraan, a son of Rainbow Quest trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre, came from last to first to take the Group 2, $517,000 Prix Eugene Adam on Maison-Laffitte's straight 10-furlong course. A maiden winner and listed place going 12 furlongs in his first two starts, the 3.70-1 Shimraan led at the furlong marker and held gamely to win by a neck over Shamalgan, who is trained in the Czech Republic by Arslangirey Shavujev. Ridden by Gerald Mosse, Shimraan was timed in 2:06.20.