In a middle-distance division that badly needed an alternative to John
Gosden’s deadly duo, Tuesday’s Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-G1) at Longchamp may just
have offered that as the Niarchos Family’s Erupt (Dubawi) extended his unbeaten
sequence in impressive style.
Educated via the Coupe des Trois Ans at Lyon-Parilly May 7 and Prix du Lys
(Fr-G3) at Chantilly June 14, the homebred was thrust back to 7-1 in the betting
with the English (Eng-G1) and Irish Derby (Ire-G1) form represented by Storm the
Stars (Sea the Stars) and a much-respected Andre Fabre protagonist in Ampere
(Galileo) lining up.
Breaking best before being settled in third for Stephane Pasquier granted a
perfect tow into the race by Archangel Raphael (Montjeu) and Storm the Stars,
the bay showed that essential Dubawi kick two out to quickly gain the advantage
over the spent Irish challenger and the Epsom Derby third and Irish Derby
runner-up. Quickly into the clear, he never looked like relenting en route to a
two-length verdict over the 11-10 favorite Ampere, with Storm the Stars 1 1/4
lengths away in third.
“He is a lovely little horse with a great temperament who takes everything in
his stride,” the owner-breeders’ racing manager Alan Cooper said of the
supplemented colt. “We didn’t hesitate in supplementing him, as he was doing so
well and this is a great reward.”
Erupt had booked this ticket with a game neck win over Ampere’s stable
companion Sarrasin (Monsun) on ground that was deemed too lively in the Prix du
Lys, a race used by connections of the subsequent Grand Prix de Paris winners
Rail Link, Montmartre, and Flintshire (Dansili) in recent times. The first and
last of those went on to make their presence felt in the Prix de l’Arc de
Triomphe (Fr-G1) and that is where Erupt will be targeted.
“As a trainer, you always hope to win a group 1 and I’m happy this is behind
me now,” Francis-Henri Graffard said. “This horse shows nothing in the mornings
and that is why we first took him to Lyon. Ever since, he has improved and after
winning the Lys he has been just perfect. Nothing seems to bother him and I
imagine we’ll give him a break now. I had not entered him in this, but he is in
the Arc and I will run him first in the (September 13) Prix Niel (Fr-G2).”
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