15 August 2019
Photo scoopdyga.com
Heavy favourite of the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano Haras of Logis Saint-Germain (Gr2), Thursday in Deauville over 10 furlongs, English raider Headman (Kingman) had to work to overcome one of race's early leaders, Roman Candle (Le Havre), beaten by a head at the end of a rather slowly run race.
More than six weeks after his triumph in the Prix Eugène Adam (Gr2) at Saint-Cloud, Khalid Abdullah's colt wins a new race of the same level without penalty thanks to the very open conditions of the "d'Ornano".
His best rival, Roman Candle, finished fifth in the QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, Gr1), then failed in fourth place in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1). He was back at his best at Deauville.
The French-trained Flop Shot (New Approach), third and beaten by six-and-a-half lengths by Headman in the Eugene Adam, made up no less than six lengths this time but had to settle for third. The difference seems to imply that either Flop Shot made leaps of progress, or Headman wasn't at his best on very soft ground ... or both!
Headman is a brother to Delivery (Rail Link), a maiden winner with André Fabre and a second-placed in the Gr3 Prix Chloe (Gr3). Their dam Deliberate (King's Best), also a winner in France, is a sister to international champion Flintshire (Dansili), a big good ground fan.
Headman began with a win in November last year, then was defeated by Zakouski, a Godolphin hopeful who spent the winter with a champion's reputation. Sixth for his return over 1m2f on soft ground, Headman won a month later on the same distance but on good ground, before being scratched at Ascot due to the soft ground in the Hampton Court Stakes (Gr3).