1 June 2018
Photo Olmedo scoopdyga.com
Olmedo: out to complete a classic double
Olmedo won the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains, the first of the French classics for colts, on May 13. This has now opened the door to a potential classic double if he can add the Qipco Prix du Jockey Club to his CV. Since the French Derby was reduced in distance to 2.100 metres in 2005, three colts have managed this and namely: Brametot in 2017, whose trainer Jean-Claude Rouget is responsible for Olmedo, plus Lope de Vega in 2010 and Shamardal in 2005.
The meteoric rise of Fabrice Chappet
Fabrice Chappet will be the French trainer with the greatest numerical representation as he saddles three runners: Intellogent, Dice Roll and Stable Genius. These will be the first runners of the Chantilly trainer in the Qipco Prix du Jockey Club. He has enjoyed great success in the last few seasons and, in 2017, he won his first classic following the triumph of Précieuse in the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches.
Pascal Bary attempts to emulate Alain de Royer Dupré
Alain de Royer Dupré is the most successful trainer in the Qipco Prix du Jockey Club among the current licence holders with six wins. However, he has no runners this year, and this gives Pascal Bary, who has trained five winners of the classic, an opportunity to match this achievement. Especially as he is responsible for two potential trump cards and namely: Study of Man, the impressive winner of the Prix Greffulhe (Group 2), and the rapidly improving Naturally High who carries the colours of Jean-Louis Bouchard.
Aidan O’Brien attempts to end on unenviable record
Aidan O’Brien established the world record last year for the number of group one winners (28) trained in a single season. However, one Group 1 race continues to elude him: the Qipco Prix du Jockey Club! It seems incredible to that the Irish maestro, despite the backing of the multinational concern Coolmore, has yet to win the « French Derby ». This year he may have up to four runners and namely: Rostropovich, Hunting Horn, Flag of Honour and Kenya.