7 July 2024
Photo scoopdyga.com
Sunday, July 7, 2024, Deauville Racecourse (Calvados). – In a spectacular race, outsider Puchkine (Starspangledbanner) won the 64th edition of the €400,000 Haras d'Étreham Prix Jean Prat (Gr1), a 3-year-old race over 7 furlongs on Deauville's straight track.
Trained by Alain Jathière, Puchkine had won his first four races at 2 and 3 years old before his first defeat, a 2nd place in the Prix Aymeri de Mauléon (L), followed by a 9th place in the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French Guineas, Gr1) under unfavourable circumstances. Fourth in the Prix Paul de Moussac (Gr3) at ParisLongchamp, behind second-placed Havana Cigar (Havana Grey) and third-placed Sajir (Make Believe), whom he met again here, he managed to slot in behind the favourite’s pacemaker, Zandy (Frankel), right from the start. Racing quickly from the 12 stall, Zandy was supposed to lead his stablemate, the favourite Kikkuli (Kingman), who took a poor start from stall 10. With stall 9, the eager Puchkine capitalized on his ideal position. The two colts took the lead, and with 3 furlongs to go, Puchkine overtook Zandy and held on to win by 2.5 lengths ahead of his stablemate Havana Cigar, securing a one-two finish for Jean-Claude Rouget's stable.
Beauvatier (Lope de Vega) lost the 2nd place at the finish, while fourth-place Sajir (Make Believe) faded earlier but still held off the British challengers Kathmandu (Showcasing) and Kikkuli.
Puchkine is the fourth foal out of Vadyska (So You Think), purchased as a yearling by Jean-Claude Rouget at Deauville for €100,000 but never raced. She later produced Slevka (Shalaa), who won her maiden at ParisLongchamp before placing third in the Prix Amadine (L). She was removed from a sale last winter at Keeneland in the USA. After Puchkine, Vadyska produced Zvokokiev (Fas), also trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, a colt by Almanzor, born in 2023, and a colt by Muhaarar, born this year.
The second dam, Rockatella (Rock of Gibraltar), is a dual-listed winner in Italy and a Group 3-placed in Italy and France. The dam line boasts several top horses in New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, and England, including Zeyaadah (Tamayuz), a Group 3 winner at Newcastle and runner-up in the Nassau Stakes (Gr1) at Goodwood.
Reactions from Connections
Alain Jathière (Owner and Breeder of Puchkine, 1st) - Deauville Training Center (14)
"This colt proves that you have to run races to win them! Of course, I wasn’t sure about supplementing him, but in the Poule d’Essai, the rain just before the race really worked against him. His jockey, Ioritz Mendizabal, rode him perfectly, letting him run freely: you mustn't fight with him. Halfway through the race, I knew he had won! We'll run him in the Prix Maurice de Gheest (at Deauville in August). It's a great pleasure, especially since I bred him at Haras du Cadran."
Jean-Bernard Roth (Assistant to Jean-Claude Rouget, Trainer of Puchkine, 1st)
"Puchkine always had enormous potential. It took some time to regulate him. He has improved significantly from 2 to 3 years old. We had to teach him to race and were lucky to start his career in the Southwest of France, where he could progress without 'hurting himself.' Then, he arrived in Deauville with logical ambitions for the rest of his career. Physically and mentally, he has matured into a real Group 1 colt. He looked absolutely splendid today, even more so than a month ago! Straight tracks are certainly his forte. Today, we had a well-paced race thanks to the leader and the British horses. The Poule d’Essai is a tough race, and the 1,600m Longchamp course often causes jostling, and there was a storm... The ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest is an option."
Michel Zerolo (Representative of White Birch Farm, Owner of Havana Cigar, 2nd) - Deauville Training Center (14)
"He had only raced once at Group 1 level, over a distance too long for him and on heavy ground. The colt has taken a real step forward physically and on the track. He looked magnificent. Christophe Soumillon, his jockey, told us he found himself a bit far back, but his finish was very good. We feared Havana Cigar might be a bit keen, so we chose to hold him back. He should now be aimed at the ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest (Gr1)."
Yann Barberot (Trainer of Beauvatier, 3rd) - Deauville Training Center (14)
"He reassures us. In the Poule d’Essai, he was spooked by the storm, which forced us to unsaddle and resaddle him... He drifts a bit to the right when making an effort, which cost him second place. Today, the 1,400m distance and the race scenario were perfect for him. Perhaps 1,600m is his limit. For the future, we'll decide: we wanted to see him on the track today."