Whipper gains Gheest revenge
Robert Collet’s charge was beaten just a neck by Somnus in the six-and-a-half furlong race last year and he avenged that defeat in style this time.
Sent off the 2-1 favourite, Christophe Soumillon settled the four-year-old at the rear of the field as his stable companion Tycoon’s Hill set a fast pace down the centre of the track.
But Whipper made good headway to lead inside the final furlong and just hold the late challenge of British raider Goodricke.
The David Loder-trained second (20-1) was struggling at halfway before really hitting his stride and he looked like getting to the winner at one stage but Whipper had enough in reserve to keep him at bay.
Roger Charlton’s Patavellian (16-1) was third ahead of the Richard Hannon-trained Lucky Spin while Somnus was always struggling against the stand rails and finished unplaced.
Soumillon thought it was a well-deserved victory for Whipper as he believes the Miesque’s Son colt was unlucky last year.
“He’s an amazing horse,” said the rider. “We should never have lost that race last year. There was trouble at the start and the horse waited for 10 minutes in the gate.
“He’s very lively but really switches off sometimes. He literally fell asleep waiting for the other horses. We completely missed the start and still almost caught Somnus but we had a perfect ride today.
“Julien Augé (rider of Tycoon’s Hill) set a sensible pace in the race and we had the clearest trip. I can’t wait to meet Divine Proportions next week.”
Whipper could line up against the dual Classic-winning filly if he bids to repeat his success of last year in the Prix Jacques Le Marois over a mile.
However, Collet is keen to see how the horse comes out of yesterday’s race before committing to another Group One event next Sunday.
Collet said: “He’s an amazing horse. He’s now won the Three Group Ones on the Deauville programme - the Morny, Jacques le Marois and now the Prix Maurice de Gheest.
“I will have to wait and see if he can run next week in the Marois against his sister, as I want to make sure he has recovered well from today’s race.”
Soumillon later completed a big-race double with an all-the-way success aboard 8-1 shot Diamond Tango in the Group Two Prix de Pomone. The Andre Fabre-trained filly beat the fast-finishing Guadalajara by half a length with Russian Hill back in third.
