28 August 2022
Photo scoopdyga.com
August 28, 2022, Deauville-La Touques Racecourse (Calvados). – Following the title holder Glycon (Le Havre)’s road to victory in the 2021 edition of the race, the 4-year-old gelding Botanik (Golden Horn) confirmed his Prix de Reux (Gr3) success over the extended mile and a half of the Lucien Barrière Grand Prix of Deauville (Gr2). This time, the Godolphin homebred followed the Japanese raider Stay Foolish (Stay Gold) up to the second last furlong and then took over handily to win by a good length. Aged 7, the leader had won this winter at Riyadh and then Dubai, and he probably contributed here to better the record of the race in 2'36''2, less than 2'' more than the general course and distance record. Fénelon (Fastnet Rock) finished third at more than four lengths...
Botanik scored his seventh victory in twelve races, and he brings his winnings to nearly €300,000, not having been born or bred in France and therefore not eligible for the owners’ and breeders’ premiums. Second at 2, for his third run, in the Critérium de Saint-Cloud (Gr1) won by Gear Up, he did not reappear until the following September, winning twice around 1m4f at Saint-Cloud before failing in a Listed race at Lyon-Parilly. He won today his fourth race this season in five outings, having finished second after his victorious return.
Gelded even before his 2-year-old’s debut, Botanik is the second foal out of Autumn Lily (Street Cry), a sister to Alexandros (Kingmambo), winner of the Prix de Cabourg (Gr3), herself from a sister to the champion In The Wings (Sadler's Wells). Botanik's full yearling brother is for sale at Goffs in September. The dam was sold by Godolphin last July for £125,000 at Tattersalls to Bloodstock Avenue.