3 June 2018
Con and Theresa Marnane speedsters once again took the first two places of a top 2-year-old race on Sunday at Chantilly at the opening of the #QIPCO #JockeyClub (Gr1) meeting. Trois Mats (Wootton Bassett) and Rolling King (More Than Ready) beat their seven opponents in the Prix Equidia (Prix de Bertinval) on the 1,200 meters straight. The two juveniles were bought respectively €18,000 in Deauville and $70,000 at Keeneland.
According to the Irish owners of Bansha House Stud, who entrust their horses in France to Matthieu Palussière and are specialized in pinhooking young horses, the two colts should go next to Royal Ascot, from June 19th to 23rd, in a team of 5/6 youngsters.
Last year, the same connections won the Albany Stakes (Gr3) at this meeting with Different League (Dabirsim), who had won twice in France before, just like Trois Mats, and beat on this occasion Alpha Centauri (Mastercraftsman), recent winner of the Irish One Thousand Guineas (Gr1).
"We are going to finalize our plans in the week, said Con Marnane. Trois Mats is an amazing individual. He's tough as nails and has a heart bigger than himself."