1 June 2018
Photo scoopdyga.com
Fabrice Chappet will be the French trainer with the greatest numerical representation in the QIPCO Prix du Jockey as he saddles three runners. The Chantilly trainer has never had a runner in the race before and he opened his ‘classic’ account last season via Précieuse in the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches
Of your three runners, Dice Roll is the most accomplished following his third place in the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains. What can you tell us about him?
He’s done very little wrong in his career! He won three times as a juvenile and has continued to progress. He won the Prix Djebel in very good style and, in common with other horses in the race, he didn’t have the happiest trip of times in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains. The question mark ranged against him is whether he will have the required stamina for the trip and his pedigree certainly raises doubts in this area. However, he is a relaxed sort and, what he has shown me both in the mornings and in the afternoons, doesn’t lend me to conclude that he won’t stay further than 1.600 metres. Furthermore, I like exposing my horses to longer trips on the day of the race itself. It’s what I did with Précieuse and that didn’t go badly. As for his draw, it is everything except an advantage and I’m relying on Christophe Soumillon to negate this handicap.
Regarding Intellogent he is coming off a win in a Qipco Prix du Jockey Club prep, the Prix de Guiche, and can you elaborate further on his career?
He’s a colt who came to me quite late, and that is to say in late August, which explains why he didn’t make his debut until October. After that I left him alone, but with the Jockey Club very much at the back of my mind. I always planned to race him a few times so he could gain more experience which is a must when it comes to this sort of race. That is why he saw the racecourse earlier {this year} than planned, and notably in the Prix Omnium II, even if I knew that he wasn’t ready at the time. He went close {second} before coming up against two smart types when third in a class one conditions race. In the Prix de Guiche he started to show his true colours. He isn’t well drawn either and Pierre-Charles Boudot will need to draw on all experience to ensure his mount gets the rub of the race.
I believe that Stable Genius is the least experienced member of your trio?
He’s cast in the role of outsider and is more backward than my other two runners but I’ve always liked him. He’s on an upward curve and has been working very well. He will race in blinkers as he needs to concentrate at the business end of the race. He finished close to Study Man [one the favourites for the QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club] in the Prix La Force which entitles him to take his chance. His formlines may flatter him somewhat and he will be ridden by Tony Piccone who knows him inside out.