Rouget force in the Prix du Jockey Club

Chantilly, Sunday, 5 June: After the English Derby, which was won yesterday at Epsom as expected by the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Desert Crown under Richard Kingscote, comes the Prix du Jockey Club (5th race/16.00/1.5 million Euro/2100 m), in which 15 horses are under order today.

Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget saddled four participants, of whom Al Hakeem (Cristian Demuro) and Vadeni (Christophe Soumillon), who won here, are rated highest. Lassaut (Mickael Barzalona) and Welwal (Jean-Bertrand Eyquem) ran decently in the French 2000 Guineas when fifth and sixth, but did not come close to Modern Games (William Buick), who was easily up for grabs. Fourth-placed Ancient Rome (Tom Marquand) also cut a good figure, having been classically placed last year. Onesto (Stephane Pasquier) comes into question as the surprise winner of the Prix Greffulhe (Group 2) for the very front. El Bodegon (Ioritz Mendizabal) defeated Stone Age, who ran disappointingly in the English Derby, in the Critérium de Saint-Cloud (Group 1). Vagalame (Maxime Guyon) was introduced to the Derby in smaller tasks. Aidan O`Brien should be noted with The Acropolis (Frankie Dettori) and Ivy League (Ryan Moore), who started in the 2000 Guineas. Trainer Andrew Balding caused a big surprise at Epsom with the giant outsider Hoo Ya Mal in second place, and now the Englishman will try Imperial Fighter (James Doyle).

The Derby is framed by three Group 2 tests, with the Grand Prix de Chantilly (4th race/15.20/130,000 Euro/2400 m) featuring the German hopefuls Mare Australis (Olivier Peslier), Mendocino (Rene Piechulek) and Soho (Patrick Gibson). Among their main rivals is Fenelon (Stephane Pasquier), unbeaten three times in a row.

The Prix de Sandringham (7th race/17.20/130,000 Euro/1600m) appeals to three-year-old fillies. Purplepay (Tom Marquand), who finished sixth in the Irish 1000 Guineas (Group 1), finds herself with a solvable task, but faces no walkover against Sicilian Defense (Ioritz Mendizabal), who also came up empty in the French equivalent.

The sprinters are in demand in the Prix du Gros-Chêne (9th race/18.30 h/130,000 Euro/1000 m). Saint Lawrence (James Doyle) brings a good placing from the Palace House Stakes (Group 3) and offers himself for victory as well as Brostaigh (Dylan McMonagle) who showed up in Naas and Berneuil (Christophe Soumillon) for whom the rank of honour in the Prix de Saint-Georges (Group 3) speaks for.