11 May 2024
Photo scoopdyga.com
May 11th, 2024, Chantilly Racecourse (Oise Departement). Only five runners lined up for the €80,000 Prix de Guiche (Gr3), a major stepping-stone to the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, Gr1). In the past nine years, this race has heralded two winners and two placers of the classic itself. It is also the closest prep race, just 22 days before the French Derby.
Darlinghurst (Dark Angel), undefeated in four starts this year and the 2024 victor, will undoubtedly have a strong following in three weeks over a trip 300 yards longer, although he is not entered in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club.
This was his second victory over 9 furlongs at Chantilly after two winter wins in Cagnes-sur-Mer. Representing owners Jean-Etienne Dubois, Jean-Pierre Dubois, Haras d'Étreham, and Gérard Augustin-Normand, he had previously triumphed on the synthetic track in the Prix Maurice Caillault (L) two months earlier.
This time, Darlinghurst tracked the early leader, Kingsale (Siyouni), who was entering off two victories in the south. He overtook Kingsale 2 out and maintained a lead to ward off a strong finish from First Look (Lope de Vega), who placed second at one length but never threatened the leader. From the back of the field, Grecian Storm (Churchill) ended third, two lengths ahead of Kingsale and the favourite Atlast, the latter clearly not at his best as he quickly faded after making a move at the start of the straight.
Bloodstock agent Hubert Guy purchased Darlinghurst for 230,000 GBP at the Tattersalls yearling sales in Newmarket. It has a full brother who recently debuted for trainer Hugo Palmer at Chester, finishing sixth after being bought for just 60,000 GBP last October.
Darlinghurst is the first foal out of Dr Simpson (Dandy Man), a mare bred in France by Debbiella Camacho and sold as a foal in England for 7,000 GBP. As a yearling, she fetched 24,000 GBP at Goffs UK before commanding 250,000 GBP at the end of her two-year-old year following a Group 3 win on Dundalk's synthetic track and a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (Gr2).
The 2nd dam is a sister to Soviet Song (Marju), a five-time Group 1 winner at two, four, and five over the mile in Great Britain and Ireland.