Sottsass pulls clear of Persian King to win French Derby

Sottsass blew past the heavily favored Persian King and won the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club by two lengths Sunday at Chantilly Racecourse.

It was the third win in the French Derby in the last four years for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, who was unable to attend the race because of an acute medical condition that arose over the weekend, the nature of which had not been reported as of Sunday morning in America.

Sottsass provided a major European win to American owner Peter Brant, who campaigns Sottsass under the nom de course White Birch Farm. Sottsass is by Siyouni and out of Starlet Sister, by Galileo, making him a half-brother to American champion turf mare Sistercharlie. Sistercharlie is training toward her 5-year-old campaign for Chad Brown, who also now conditions her 4-year-old sibling, My Sister Nat, a French import breezing steadily at Saratoga for her North American debut.

Sottsass, a 13-1 chance, got a great ride from Cristian Demuro, who was aboard the colt for the first time as a late replacement for regular rider Christophe Soumillon. Soumillon had ridden Sottsass in his first four starts but is under contract to the Aga Khan and was beholden to ride Zarkallani, who was eased home 13th Sunday after being thrown into the Jockey Club just one week after a maiden win.

Sottsass raced twice at 2, turning in a tepid debut before winning second time out, and after a fifth-place finish in his 3-year-old unveiling, the Group 3 Prix la Force over nine furlongs on April 7 at Longchamp, he won a Chantilly prep for the Jockey Club in convincing fashion before stepping up with easily the best race of his career Sunday.

Demuro positioned Sottsass in front of five horses and behind eight as the field ran down the back-straight into the Jockey Club’s one right-handed bend, around which Sottsass traveled strongly, Demuro gradually easing him outside as the field approached the homestretch. Demuro got Sottsass right onto Persian King’s back and drafted behind him as the favorite made his move between the three- and two-furlong markers.

Sottsass drew abreast Persian King a furlong out and with 150 meters to go took the lead, drawing clear to win comfortably. His time of 2:02.90 over quick ground was easily the fastest French Derby in the 15 years the race has been run over 1 5/16 miles.

Motamarris, who was very reluctant to load, made the pace and held well for third, two lengths behind Persian King. The latter, a winner of five straight for trainer Andre Fabre and much the best last out in the French 2000 Guineas, might not have truly stayed in his first trip beyond one mile. Slalom, the third choice, broke terribly and never moved up from the rear of the field, finishing 12th.

Sottsass is expected to remain in France and be aimed at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on the first Sunday in October and was priced at about 15-1 for that race by British bookmakers after his breakthrough win.