Victor Ludorum much the best in French 2000 Guineas

Victor Ludorum’s first defeat paved the way for his most important victory as Godolphin’s Andre Fabre-trained colt outclassed the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains on Monday at Deauville.

Victor Ludorum won all three of his starts at 2, including the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, but finished a tame third as the odds-on favorite May 11 in the Prix de Fontainebleau, his prep for the Poulains, the French 2000 Guineas. Either Fabre, who won his eighth Poulains, was merely prepping Victor Ludorum or the colt merely had an off day, for he proved far superior Monday under Mickael Barzalona.

Going a straight-course mile at Deauville, where Monday’s races had to be moved from Longchamp because of the novel coronavirus, Victor Ludorum was held up near the back of a nine-horse field that traveled in two lines for the first three quarters. Asked for more run, Victor Ludorum gave plenty, and he swept comfortably past everyone in front of him through the final quarter-mile to post a comfortable 1 1/2-length win.

The Summit, who controlled an easy pace and won the Fontainebleau, stalked the pace Monday and ran well in defeat, finishing second, a neck better than the Fabre-trained Alson. Ecrivain, a troubled second in the Fontainebleau, was the big disappointment, coming under heavy pressure a long way from the finish and crossing the line last.

Victor Ludorum, now a four-time winner from five starts, is by the late Shamardal and out of Antiquities, by Kaldounevees. Fabre and Godolphin will point him for the Prix du Jockey Club over 1 3/16 miles, and Victor Ludorum should be formidable in that race. Godolphin also has England’s leading 2-year-old of 2019, Pinatubo, who makes his 2020 debut this weekend in the English 2000 Guineas.

Dream and Do just barely does in Pouliches

Dream and Do won a tight photo with Speak of the Devil to capture the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, the French 1000 Guineas, giving Frederic Rossi, a 30-year veteran trainer, his first Group 1 victory.

Dream and Do stalked the pace under Maxim Guyon, made the lead with about a furlong left, but was all out to hold clear a late bid from longshot Speak of the Devil, who came up just short.

Mageva finished third, with Tropbeau, the Fabre-trained favorite, fourth after going flat in the late stages.

The Pouliche was contested over a straight mile, the winner timed in 1:35.68, much slower than Victor Ludorum’s 1:34.14 a race earlier in the 2000 Guineas.

Dream and Do, by Siyouni out of Venetias Dream, by Librettist, won for the fourth time in six starts and reversed the form with Tropbeau, to whom she’d been second last month in the Prix de la Grotte at Longchamp.

Rossi, based outside Marseille, said after the race that one mile was as far as Dream and Do wanted to run, and she was likely to be pointed to the Prix Jean Prat over seven furlongs rather than going on to the Prix de Diane, the French Oaks.

* In Germany, Fearless King handed Rubaiyat his first defeat, beating him by a head in the German 2000 Guineas at Cologne. Rubaiyat went 3 for 3 at age 2 and won his 3-year-old debut before taking a tough loss Monday. Fearless King is by Kingman out of Astrelle, by Makfi.