9 July 2023
Photo scoopdyga.com
Sunday, July 9, 2023, Deauville Racecourse (Calvados). - It was a 100% French podium that was celebrated at the finish of the €400,000 Haras d'Étreham Prix Jean Prat (Gr1), and the margings indicate a clear domination by the top two, the colt Good Guess (Kodiac) and the filly Sauterne (Kingman). Indeed, the winner pulled away irresistibly from the field in the final two furlongs, while Sauterne, who led the field from the centre of the straight course, had also already pulled away on her own. Three lengths ultimately separated the top two, who crossed the finish line far apart from each other, and the third-place finisher Breizh Sky (Pedro the Great) arrived another three lengths behind after running on the stands side.
The top English favourite Chaldean (Frankel), winner of the Two Thousand Guineas and second in the St James's Palace Stakes (Gr1) at Royal Ascot, tried in vain to keep up with Sauterne before fading early to finish 7th along with Charyn (Dark Angel), who also had finished next to him 19 days earlier.
Good Guess won his first two races in June and July 2022 over 5.5 and 6 furlongs at Chantilly. Afterwards, he was soundly beaten in the Darley Prix de Cabourg (Gr3) and his Prix Morny entry was then set aside. Two months later, he redeemed himself with a third place in the Prix Zeddaan (L) on soft ground after missing his Jean-Luc Lagardère entry. For his return this season, he prevailed over Breizh Sky on the same straight 7-furlong course in Deauville in the Prix Djebel (Gr3).
Finishing sixth in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Gr1), he couldn't catch Breizh Sky in the Prix Paul de Moussac (Gr3) at Chantilly. This time, he was at his peak and left no room for doubt. Sauterne, on the other hand, once again showed her outstanding class by taking the lead without sparing her efforts and winning convincingly "her" race.
Good Guess, who races for Japanese owner Hisaaki Saito, was purchased for £420,000 at the Tattersalls yearling sales by Chauvigny Equine. The dam, Zynika (Pivotal), never ran, but she is out of the classic Russian Rhythm (Kingmambo), a winner of four Gr1 races in England for her breeder, Cheveley Park Stud.
What connections said:
Fabrice Chappet (trainer, Good Guess, 1st) – Chantilly (Oise)
"Good Guess has always been a very good horse. He was very unlucky in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Gr1) as he dwelt in the gates. I think he deserved better. He ran well on his last outing. Today, he was back at a course he likes, where he has already tasted group success. The advantage of races running on a straight course is that the best horses win because they're selective. Going forward, we could be tempted to run him in the Arc Prix Maurice de Gheest (Gr1), or the Prix Jacques Le Marois (Gr1). These are pertinent questions which need some thought."
Stéphane Pasquier (jockey, Good Guess, 1st) - Chantilly (Oise)
"In the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Group 1), he fell asleep in the starting gates. So we ended up a long way back in the race. There is always some fine-tuning to be done with these types of horses. Today, he showed his true colours and the class he's always possessed. Since last year, we've known that he's a Group 1 horse. I love this horse. He's a big and powerful horse who shows his true mettle as he matures and gets tougher."
Patrice Cottier (trainer, Sauterne, 2nd) - Calas (Bouches-du-Rhône)
"Sauterne ran very well, but it's a shame she got a bit isolated on the far side. Otherwise, there’s nothing to say. We were confident of a place before the race. As for Showay (10th), her performance was a shade below what we had hoped for."
Alessandro Botti (trainer, Breizh Sky, 3rd) - Chantilly (Oise)
"Breizh Sky was perhaps taken off his feet by the strong tempo at the beginning of the race. Following that, when the first and second got away from the peloton, it proved too difficult to reel them in. However, he didn't lose any caste in defeat today! Breizh Sky and Good Guess have already squared up to each other several times. It often gives rise to a good duel between the pair. As, for the future, I think we'll be aiming him at the Prix de la Forêt (Group 1), and the Breeders’ Cup Mile (Group 1), at the backend..."