11 August 2024
Photo scoopdyga.com
Sunday, August 11, 2024, Deauville-La Touques Racecourse (Calvados). – The favourite for the €1m Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Prix, Jacques Le Marois (Gr1, 3-year-olds and up, 1m straight), the English visitor Charyn (Dark Angel), dominated the race. Owned by Nurlan Bizakov and trained at Newmarket by Roger Varian, Charyn was coming off a victory in the Queen Anne Stakes (Gr1, 1m) at Ascot, following a second-place finish in the Lockinge Stakes (Gr1) at Newbury. Last year, he consistently placed in major UK classic events.
The race was led by Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains (Gr1) winner Metropolitan (Zarak), the only 3-year-old in the field after Haatem's late withdrawal. He was quickly overtaken by Big Rock (Rock of Gibraltar), with Charyn to the centre of the straight and Quddwah (Kingman) just behind, making his debut at this level. The double titleholder Inspiral (Frankel), who started poorly, travelled at the back of the field. Charyn soon made his move, taking control in the final furlong to win by 3 lengths over the tenacious Metropolitan, with Inspiral finishing strongly for third, a head ahead of Quddwah.
This marks the seventh consecutive British or Irish victory in the race and a first for breeder-owner Nurlan Bizakov, who also owns Haras du Mézeray under the Sumbe banner, a site with classic prestige comparable to the race sponsor, Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard of the Niarchos family.
Charyn was bred in Ireland by Grangemore Stud. He was purchased for £250,000 as a yearling at the Tattersalls sale by Sumbe. His full sister was also bought by Sumbe at last October’s sale for £850,000, and another full sister is listed in the upcoming sale. Their elder full brother, Wings of War, is now racing in Hong Kong, where he took some time to secure his first victory in the spring after winning at Group 2 level in England.
Their dam, Futoon, who has only been paired with Dark Angel since entering the stud, was sold for €100,000 after winning a maiden and a handicap.