Soumillon takes Classic honours

JOCKEY Christophe Soumillon rode a Group One treble including the French 2000 and 1000 Guineas on a disappointing afternoon for the Irish and British challengers at Longchamp yesterday.

Only Aidan O’Brien’s Catcher In The Rye threatened to grab Classic glory, but his flashing run under Kieren Fallon in the Gainsborough Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2000) came too late to catch Clodovil.

The winner gave trainer Andre Fabre his fourth victory in the Poulains and he went on to complete a Classic double when Soumillon produced Musical Chimes with a late burst to take the Gainsborough Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, the French equivalent of the 1000 Guineas.