River coasts home
Trainer Nicolas Clement was keeping his options open after Stormy River won the Listed Prix Djebel, the traditional French prep for the 2000 Guineas, at Maisons-Laffitte.
The grey came down the middle of the track to pass leader Tsar Xaar over a furlong out and go on to beat Marchand d’Or by three-quarters of a length in the seven-furlong race.
Clement said: “That confirms his good two-year-old form and suggests he has a good season ahead. We’ve got lots of options, and we’ll wait before deciding our plans.”
Jockey Thierry Thulliez added: “He wasn’t fully wound up and this is a good sign for the future.”
Hot favourite Mauralakana landed the Prix Imprudence to book her place in the French 1000 Guineas.
“It’ll have to be the French 1,000 after that,” beamed owner Maurice Hassan after watching his filly beat Mytographie by two lengths.
