6 August 2023
Photo scoopdyga.com
Sunday, August 6, 2023, Deauville Racecourse (Calvados). – There was a big scare about 280 yards out when the favourite, Mr Molière (Kingman), was squeezed by the rail with lots in hand as the door closed on him. He stumbled, and Mickael Barzalona all but pulled him up afterwards, finishing a distant last. On the contrary, the English raider Brave Emperor (Sioux Nation) took the edge after an ideal trip behind the leaders and repelled the late challenge of Sosino (New Approach), who had been following him closely for most of the Prix Daphnis Fonds Européen de l’Élevage (Gr3) mile trip.
One of the three geldings in the field, Brave Emperor eventually prevailed by three-quarters of a length ahead of Sosino, with Colombier (Kingman) finishing a good third, just a neck behind, after following the leaders along the rail.
In fourth place, the returning Kovrov (Toronado), out for over a hundred days, made a rather promising comeback.
The winner races for Middleham Park Racing LX syndicate and remains undefeated in France after two outings, having also won the Prix de la Californie (L) on the all-weather track at Cagnes-sur-Mer this winter. He has also since gone to Krefeld, Germany, where he won a Group 3 race (carrying an extra 3lbs), this time on turf, and then returned to the all-weather track at Bro Park in Sweden, where he finished third at the same level.
Having finished fifteenth out of sixteen at Ascot in his previous race, he redeems himself brilliantly here. A winner of seven races out of twelve starts to date, Brave Emperor was purchased for only £19,000 by Rodrigo Goncalves/Aguiar Bloodstock at the 2021 Goffs UK Premier yearling sale.
He is the first foal out of the maiden mare, Roman Gal (Holy Roman Emperor), a half-sister to the resilient Salouen (Canford Cliffs), placed in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (Gr1) at 2, then in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Gr1), Coronation Cup (Gr1), and Grand Prix de Deauville (Gr2), but only a Listed winner. It is a family of sturdy horses as it has also produced the siblings Keltos, Krataios, Loxias, and Kavafi, all Group winners for the Marinopoulos family.
The winner's Inns of Court sister was sold as a yearling last year at Newmarket for €28,000.