Stormy River upsets Prix de Fontainebleau

Andre Fabre's powerful stable of 3-year-olds suffered a slight setback on Sunday as the Nicolas Clement-trained Stormy River sprung a 10-1 upset in the $98,000 Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau, Longchamp's major course and distance prep for the French 2000 Guineas.

Three lengths second last October to Fabre's French juvenile champion Carlotamix in the Group 1 Criterim International, Stormy River's April 4 seasonal debut was a winning one in the listed Prix Djebel. On Sunday, the Verglas colt led at the quarter pole under Thierry Thulliez before sprinting clear for an impressive 4-length victory over Light of Joy. Carlotamix, in his first start since the Criterium International, faded to finish seventh of ten, 5-1/2 lengths behind Stromy River. The time for the mile on good ground was 1:38.20 as Aidan O'Brien's juvenile group race winners Aussie Rules and Ivan Denisovich both disappointed. Aussie Rules finished fourth but was disqualified to fifth, while Ivan Denisovich was a dull eighth.

In the French 1000 Guineas prep, the $98,000 Group 3 Prix de la Grotte, the Aga Khan's Daltaya posted a mild three-quarter length 3.40-1 upset over the Wertheimer Brothers Quiet Royal. An allowance race winner in three previous starts, the winning Alain de Royer-Dupre trained daughter of Anabaa covered the mile under Christophe Soumillon in 1:38.30. The O'Brien-trained Queen Cleopatra came home fourth while the Fabre-trained On A Cloud was a non-threatening sixth in the 9-runner field.

The French Guineas, the Poule d'Essai des Poulains for colts and the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches for fillies, will be run at Longchamp on May 14.