Anabaa Blue overpowered favourite and long-time leader Maille Pistol two furlongs from home to land the Prix du Jockey-Club, the French Derby, at Chantilly yesterday.
The winner, who paid 8.6-1 on the Pari-Mutuel, was brought with a storming run by jockey Christophe Soumillon at the end of a rough race to come home half a length ahead of Chichicastenango with Newmarket raider Grandera, doing best of the British-trained trio, a short-head back in third.
Grandera's trainer James Fanshawe is now likely to aim his charge at the Budweiser Irish Derby on July 1st. "He ran a good race, he was a bit shut in on the rails," the trainer said.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained Milan finished fifth after stumbling his way out of the stalls. "That was encouraging, he's run a good race although he hasn't won," said joint-owner Michael Tabor.
There was a thrilling finish to the Group One Prix Jean Prat with the John Dunlop-trained Olden Times getting the better of a protracted battle down the straight with Irish raider King Of Tara by a head under Pat Eddery.
The runner-up will now be campaigned in France by Francois Doumen, according to Aidan O'Brien.
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