Dalakhani impresses at Longchamp

Dalakhani maintained his 100% record with a smooth victory in the Prix Lupin at Longchamp today.

The Aga Khan’s colt, trained by Alain de Royer Dupre, came through with a perfectly-timed run inside the final furlong to beat another French-trained colt, Super Celebre, with Aidan O’Brien’s Alberto Giacometti third.

Pacemaker Balestrini was pushed into the lead of this Group One race after a few strides, followed by Dalakhani’s stable companion Diyapour.

The order remained the same until well into the straight when Christophe Soumillon delivered Dalakhani, the 8-11 favourite, to hit the front, and he comfortably held the late challenge of the Eric Lellouche-trained Super Celebre.

Godolphin’s Vodafone Derby hope New South Wales was the disappointment of the race, finishing sixth of the seven runners.