Canari swoops to French Derby surprise
Bary’s other wins in the French Derby had come with Celtic Arms (1994), Ragmar (1996), Dream Well (1998) and Sulamani (2002) and the local trainer was certainly surprised by Blue Canari’s win.
He said: “It was only a last minute decision to run him. He had form but I didn’t think he was good enough.
“He has no other engagements.”
Thulliez was equally shocked by the outcome.
He said: “I couldn’t believe it.
“I rode a very economical race because we didn’t think he had a first chance but he found a tremendous turn of foot and battled to the line.”
The winner was returned a 33-1 chance on the British industry prices and 33.2-1 on the Pari-Mutuel.
Blue Canari got up right on the line to deny Prospect Park by a head with Valixir half-a-length away in third and John Gosden’s Day Flight running a big race for an inexperienced horse only a length back in fourth.
Eric Legrix, who rode the third, said: “I thought I’d come to win it.”
Richard Hughes had kicked on early in the straight on Day Flight and the son of Sadler’s Wells held on to the lead until being overtaken by the front three well inside the last of the 12 furlongs.
Gosden was delighted with Day Flight’s effort and believes the colt will be an even better horse with some give underfoot.
He said: “It’s dried up and I would call it good to firm and he’s run a blinder. It was just a little too quick the ground for him.
“For the third race of his life it was a pretty smart run.”
And as for plans for Day Flight, Gosden said: “Possibly the Curragh (Irish Derby) but we’ll just play with him a little bit. That was only his third race in the Derby and he’s run well.
“We might just box a little clever to give him a chance later in the year when there’s some cut about.”
Hughes said there was plenty to look forward to and he added: “He ran a good race. For the third race in his life it was a great run.
“He would have preferred a bit more cut. He was feeling it a little bit but he managed it pretty good.”
Aidan O’Brien’s Five Dynasties ran better than some of his stable companions have done recently to finish eighth and his jockey Jamie Spencer said: “He ran well and I think I was only beaten five lengths.”
Marcus Tregoning’s Predominate Stakes winner Manyana finished 11th and the Lambourn trainer said: “He ran a nice race but he just wasn’t good enough. There are no excuses.
“He might be Listed or Group Three class.”
The other British runner, Mick Channon’s Top Seed, never got into the race and came home in 13th.
Andre Fabre’s local hope Reefscape was just in front of Five Dynasties after getting behind in the early stages and jockey Gary Stevens said: “I had no speed to stay in the race early but he came home well.”
Meanwhile Bago, last season’s top-rated European juvenile, made a triumphant return to action in the Prix Jean Prat.
The unbeaten son of Nashwan, who had not raced since the beginning of November, had missed two intended engagements this season due due a slight infection and a touch of virus but he looked as good as ever as he trounced a high-class field by three lengths.
Mark Johnston’s Pearl Of Love and the winner’s pacemaker Alnitak vied for the early lead with Bago settled in fourth place by Thierry Gillet.
Once in line for home Bago moved up to challenge and showing an impressive burst of speed stormed clear of his rivals to land the Group One prize by three lengths from Cacique with Ershaad two lengths back in third.
Pearl Of Love faded to finish seventh of the eight runners, one place behind Aidan O’Brien’s Moscow Ballet.
Winning trainer Jonathan Pease afterwards said: “I’ve got him back.”
And Alan Cooper, racing manager to Bago’s owners, the Niarchos Family, added: “I’m delighted.”
When asked if he was surprised with the manner of Bago’s victory, Cooper said: “Having had a long lay-off you can never be certain how you are going to run but I’m delighted.
“The horse has class and I’m delighted he showed it today.
“The good thing is that he has come back and looks as good as ever.”
Bago could now be facing a step up in trip.
“We’ll have a regroup. Today was nine furlongs and we’ll see if we are going to go to 10 or come back to a mile. He’s in the Grand Prix de Paris in three weeks’ time.”
Pearl Of Love was also making his seasonal debut and his jockey Darryll Holland said: “He needed the race.
“They were trying to mess us around in front with the pacemaker trying to slow us up and then when I went faster they went quicker.”
Avonbridge led from start to finish to take the Group Two Prix du Gros-Chene for Beckhampton trainer Roger Charlton.
Steve Drowne had the four-year-old quickly away from his outside draw while fellow British raider The Tatling was racing in mid-division with Michael Blanshard’s The Trader, a winner at Longchamp last month, last of the nine runners.
Avonbridge increased the tempo inside the final quarter of a mile and was always holding the challenge of local hope Porlezza and in the end won by half a length with The Trader coming out of the clouds to claim third just a neck away.
“We’ll go home and think about the King’s Stand and Golden Jubilee,” said Charlton, who has a strong hand in the sprinting division.
“I’ve also got Patavellian, Trade Fair and Three Valleys and it would be nice to get two of them in the sprints.”
