Kept away from Royal Ascot due to a setback, Godolphin’s Territories
(Invincible Spirit) made up for lost time to notch a first top-level success in
Sunday’s Prix Jean Prat (Fr-G1) at Chantilly.
Detached in last throughout the early stages with Mickael Barzalona not
always looking happy, the May 2 Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) runner-up came on
the bridle once in among rivals at the top of the straight but was momentarily
kept in by Dutch Connection (Dutch Art) on his outer. Allowing that British
raider first run inside the last quarter-mile, the bay — who started as the
13-10 favorite — followed him and swooped to lead with 100 meters remaining
before being pushed out with hands and heels for a comfortable half-length
success.
“After his good race in the Guineas, I could not run him in the St James’s
Palace (Eng-G1) because of a foot infection, but he is now back to his best,”
commented trainer Andre Fabre after drawing level with the race’s previous
record-holders Francois Mathet and Francois Boutin with five editions. “Provided
all is well, he will run in the Prix Jacques le Marois ([Fr-G1] August 16) at
Deauville as long as it doesn’t come up heavy.”
Territories was arguably emerging as France’s leading three-year-old miler
here, having steadily built towards that accolade by finishing third in the
seven-furlong Prix la Rochette (Fr-G3) at Longchamp in September and again,
before being promoted to second, in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Fr-G1) over the
same track and trip on Arc day. Returning with a smooth win in that venue’s Prix
de Fontainebleau (Fr-G3) over a mile April 12, the homebred had finished 2 1/4
lengths behind Gleneagles (Galileo) in the Newmarket classic before his
injury-enforced break.
“This was a very accomplished performance by Territories, who showed his
class,” said Godolphin’s Lisa-Jane Graffard. “Mickael rode a cool race and did
not panic. Territories was a bit further back than we wanted but the leaders
went very fast. He will remain at a mile and might go for the Deauville race
(the Marois).”
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com