Makfi back in business as star pair forced to take back seat
The 2000 Guineas winner left a dismal display in the St James’s Palace Stakes well behind him to show his Classic win was no fluke.
The Mikel Delzangles trained colt led inside the final furlong and drew away from his field on the rain-softened ground to score comfortably by two and a half lengths from Goldikova with Paco Boy just behind in third.
The first three pulled six lengths clear of Fuisse in fourth.
As expected, Goldikova’s two pacemakers Saying and Only Green set off in front with the brilliant mare, seeking her 11th Group One win, on their tails.
Makfi had a nice position with Christophe Soumillon getting plenty of cover while Paco Boy was at the rear towards the far side.
Although Goldikova took the lead as planned she could not quite produce her trademark acceleration in the testing conditions.
It was Makfi who had the potent turn of foot and he swept into the lead to put clear daylight between his two talented older rivals.
Delzangles was understandably thrilled to see Makfi returning to form in such sensational fashion.
“I’m delighted of course. We have been victorious and I was a bit disappointed after Ascot but we knew he was sick so there was a reason for that,” said the French trainer.
“The horse has proved again that he is a top miler.
“The ground doesn’t bother him. He goes on any ground and is very easy to ride.”
Delzangles suggested Makfi’s next race is likely to be either the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp or the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.
After her defeat Stan James pushed Goldikova out to 6-4 from 11-10 to win a third Breeders’ Cup Mile this autumn.
British raiders Black Spirit, trained by Clive Cox, and Paul Cole’s Circumvent were third and fourth respectively in the Prix Guillaume D’Ornano.
The Group Two heat over 10 furlongs went to Scalo, trained in Germany by Andreas Wohler and ridden by Maxime Guyon.
