Tag Archive for: Prix Ganay

Iresine downs big guns in Prix Ganay

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Champion Stakes hero Bay Bridge could finish only third as Iresine came from last to first to cause a minor upset in the Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp.

Making his first appearance since edging out Derby and King George hero Adayar on Champions Day at Ascot in October, Sir Michael Stoute’s Bay Bridge was sent off favourite to double his top-level tally in what appeared a strong renewal of the first Group One of the year in Europe.

The five-year-old raced with plenty of exuberance for much of the 10-furlong contest before being delivered with his challenge in the straight by Ryan Moore – and while he ultimately came up a little short, connections were justifiably encouraged by his performance.

Bay Bridge (second left) winning the Champion Stakes at Ascot
Bay Bridge (second left) winning the Champion Stakes at Ascot (John Walton/PA)

“I thought he ran a very good race, a very courageous race and got a little bit tired. For his first run of the season I think it was a very good performance,” part-owner James Wigan told Sky Sports Racing.

“Ryan said he wished they’d gone a little bit faster early on, he was quite keen. He said he came there thinking he was going to win and conditions told a little bit.

“He’s a big, strong horse and I think the race will do him good.”

When asked where Bay Bridge could make his next appearance, he added: “I would think the Tattersalls Gold Cup in Ireland or else Ascot (Prince of Wales’s Stakes).”

Iresine, trained by Jean-Pierre Gauvin, won the Prix Foy at ParisLongchamp in September before successfully stepping up to just shy of two miles to win the Group One Prix Royal-Oak.

He was narrowly beaten by the reopposing Simca Mille on his reappearance in the Prix d’Harcourt three weeks ago, but raised his game to turn the tables – charging home under a well judged ride from Marie Velon to score by a length and a quarter.

Velon said: “He’s a very special horse, he was amazing today and knew his job very well.

“He’s a very good horse who can do anything (trip-wise). I don’t know if he will go the Grand Prix de Chantilly or the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.”

Simca Mille beat Bay Bridge to the runner-up spot by a head, with Vadeni – winner of the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown last summer before being placed in the Irish Champion Stakes and the Arc – never threatening to land a telling blow in fourth.

Onesto on course for showdown with Luxembourg and Vadeni

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Onesto is the latest high-class middle-distance operator to throw his name into the hat for a red-hot renewal of the Prix Ganay later this month.

The Fabrice Chappet-trained colt built on an encouraging fifth-placed run in the French Derby to win the Grand Prix de Paris in the summer before going close in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown when second to Aidan O’Brien’s Luxembourg.

Although somewhat disappointing when next seen in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, he ran a perfectly respectable race when seventh in the Japan Cup to end his three-year-old campaign.

Onesto returns following his ParisLongchamp win
Onesto returns following his ParisLongchamp win in the Grand Prix de Paris (Molly Hunter/PA)

The Frankel colt holds entries for the Tattersalls Gold Cup (Curragh, May 28) and Epsom’s Coronation Cup (June 2) but before those options are considered, Odesto will return at Longchamp on April 30 for the Ganay – a race already confirmed as the starting point for old adversaries Luxembourg and Arc third Vadeni.

“He is in good form and is heading to the Ganay, I’m very happy with him,” said Chappet.

“He’s got all the entries and he is a Group One winner so you have to make all the nice entries he deserves. But we will decide after the Ganay where we go next.”

Although another crack at the Arc will always remain an option for the four-year-old, Onesto’s main aim during the 2023 campaign is to secure top-level honours at a mile and a quarter.

“The Arc is the end of the year on heavy ground and there is plenty of time until we get to that, but the main plan is to win a Group One going 2000 metres,” added Chappet.

“He’s a Group One winner over a mile and a half and he goes well going a mile and a quarter as we saw in Ireland last year, so the main target is try to win one going 2000 metres.”