Shamardal and Dettori get Godolphin back in groove

Racing/ French Derby report: There was no French consolation for the Aidan O'Brien-Kieren Fallon team at Chantilly yesterday, and instead it was Shamardal and Frankie Dettori who plundered the spoils in the Prix du Jockey Club.

Dettori rode another inspired race from the front to win the French Derby for the second time and help Shamardal win his own second classic of the year in France.

Dettori and Shamardal also made all the running to win the 2,000 Guineas at Longchamp last month.

Yesterday the partnership just held off the hot favourite, Hurricane Run, who failed to keep a straight course in the final furlong and who was closing all the way to the line.

In contrast, it was a "no-show" for the two Ballydoyle runners as Scorpion and Falstaff filled the last two places. Scorpion was slowly away under Fallon and was always struggling at the rear in the straight.

It completed a bad classic weekend for the Irish team who got closest in the Epsom Derby with Gypsy King in fifth behind Motivator.

Dubawi was an honourable third for Godolphin at Epsom, but Shamardal quickly got Sheikh Mohammed's outfit back in the winning groove. Dettori, who also won the race with Polytain in 1992, kept last year's champion juvenile in front for a neck success.

Laverock passed the post in third but was afterwards thrown out for causing interference, leaving Rocamadour to be promoted from fourth.

Dettori said: "The pace wasn't very strong, so I decided to make my own. We got a bit lost in front, but when Christophe (Soumillon, on Hurricane Run) came he picked up again.

"He challenged very wide and I'm not sure my horse could see him, but I think he heard him and he gave his all to hold him off.

"He has definitely improved since the French Guineas and had been working very well at home."

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford added: "He doesn't have to be in front, but we looked at the race beforehand and couldn't see much early pace, so we agreed with Frankie to try and make it again.

"He has definitely improved since the Guineas and he was beautifully relaxed in front.

"We're inclined to keep him to a mile or a mile and a quarter, which brings in races like the Eclipse and the Juddmonte, although he has plenty of options and a lot of entries.

"In his work he is just as relaxed coming from behind as he is at the front.

"Sooner or later he will have to come from behind to win a race, but we're convinced it won't be a problem. He doesn't need to be in front."

Jockey Ted Durcan said of Rocamadour: "He has run the race of his life and I'm thrilled to bits with him.

"He was in a perfect position all the way and we had the winner in our sights, but he just wasn't good enough. The winner is a very good horse and we've run a very good race."

Hurricane Run's connections nominated the Irish Derby as his next target, in which he could clash with Epsom hero Motivator.

There was no joy for the Irish either in the earlier Grand Prix de Chantilly as Cairdeas, who races in the colours of the President of Ireland, faded to finish only seventh of nine in the Group Two contest.

Victory went to the Thierry Thulliez-ridden Georideland, who beat Fracasant by a length.

Three was the magic number as The Trader took the Prix du Gros-Chene under substitute rider Durcan.

Having finished third in the race for the previous two years, the Michael Blanshard-trained winner delivered his customary late challenge to make it third time lucky in the Group Two five-furlong affair.

The Trader (4-1) had been due to be ridden by Dettori, but a delayed flight meant that Durcan stepped in for the ride.