It seems an eternity since the Classic trials of a chilly April, but Stephane Pasquier and Fabrice Chappet kept the faith with Prix Djebel (G3) winner Good Guess through subsequent defeats, and enjoyed mighty reward when the son of Kodiac left Two Thousand Guineas (G1) winner Chaldean and a host of other well-touted British and Irish challengers in his wake to score at 40-1 in the July 9 Prix Jean Prat (G1).
40/1 shock! Good Guess blitzes them in the G1 Haras d’Etreham Prix Jean Prat at @fgdeauville for @pasquito60 and @ChappetRacing!
Hot favourite Chaldean well-beaten at the line… pic.twitter.com/mrejE3Gz9h
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 9, 2023
Chaldean was well positioned behind the trailblazing Sauterne —who stayed on well to be second —but failed to show any spark when the race began in earnest and was one of a number of visitors to disappoint, as the home team swept the places, with Breizh Sky in third.
The Haras d’Etreham-sponsored group 1 is run over the same Deauville straight seven furlongs as the Djebel and it is clearly a strip of turf Chappet would like to roll up and take around the world, given he also won his maiden Classic here with Precieuse in the 2017 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (G1).
Explaining his faith in Good Guess, who runs in the colors of Japanese businessman Hisaaki Saito, Chappet said: “He showed his talent at two before getting injured in the Prix de Cabourg. He made a winning return in the Djebel but things went wrong in the Poule d’Essai when he was slowly away at the start; making up ground at Longchamp over a mile is nearly impossible.
“Really, it was a better run than his finishing position (sixth) suggests—we’ve worked on him in the stalls since and he’s slowly getting there—while he ran a nice comeback with a view to this race at Longchamp last time.”
Both trainer and jockey believe Good Guess could be as effective at sprint distances as over a mile, with Chappet adding: “We have a choice now: back on this track for either the Prix Maurice de Gheest (over 6 1/2 furlongs) or the Jacques le Marois (at a mile), with a preference for the latter.
“He has confirmed today what we always thought of him and I’m delighted for Hisaaki Saito, who invests plenty and deserves this success.”
Chappet won the final Jean Prat over a mile with Intellogent in 2018 but Pasquier was adding a first victory in the race to his impressive list of group 1 successes.
“It’s not really a surprise,” said Pasquier. “This horse is still immature physically and was fantastic when he won the Prix Djebel here.
“He still needed to grow into himself and today the pace was fast enough for me and it’s a fantastic victory. I always wanted to ride him close to the pace, but he’s been slow from the gates.
“This race usually means an English or Irish winner, so I’m happy. I’m still riding and do my job at my age (45). It’s not easy, but I’m riding with passion.”
Sauterne was three lengths back from Good Guess but was clearly the best of the rest. Trainer Patrice Cottier said: “It’s a shame she got a bit isolated out on the wing. Still, we came here confident of getting placed and she has run well.”
