11 May 2020
Photo scoopdyga.com
The Prix de Fontainebleau (Gr3) is the traditional stepping stone leading to The Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas, Gr1). The classic program has been affected by the Covid19 lockdown. Both these races take place one month late, but as usual, the Fontainebleau is run three weeks before the first classic of the season, also over one mile.
Unbeaten in three starts, winner of the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (Gr1), Godolphin's Victor Ludorum (Shamardal) was the heavy favourite of the race. Still, he couldn't accelerate in the end, failing to keep up with the front-runner, The Summit (Wootton Bassett), and eventually losing the second place to Ecrivain (Lope de Vega). Kenway (Galiway) finished well by the rail and only missed the podium by a short neck. The Summit won by almost two lengths without being threatened at all.
Bought as a yearling in Deauville for € 16,000 by bloodstock agent Paul Nataf for owner Mrs Jacques Cygler, The Summit won for the first time on his second outing, at Lyon-Parilly over the mile. Third in the Prix de Condé (Gr3) afterwards, he finished fifth in the Critérium de Saint-Cloud (Gr1) to end his season. He was meeting again Pisanello (Raven's Pass), who beat him by a head at Saint-Cloud in the Prix Omnium II (L), in March. He's entered in The Emirates Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (Gr1) and the Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1).
The winner's dam Acola (Acatenango) went to stud without a win, but she's now foaled six winners. Her family also gave the champion sprinter Chineur. Trained in Anjou by Henri-Alex Pantall, The Summit is her first Group-winning foal. He was bred by Jedburg Stud, like his Bow Creek 2-year-old brother and his The Grey Gatsby yearling brother.