The Aga Khan was denied a famous Derby double at Chantilly on Sunday when Almanzor outstayed his Zarak to the line in the Prix Du Jockey Club.
The prominent owner secured his fifth Derby success at Epsom on Saturday with Harzand but Zarak had no answer to the greater momentum displayed by Almanzor, who beat his rival by a length and a half under Jean-Bernard Eyquem. Dicton was a length and three quarters away in third.
It was a first win in the race for Eyquem and was a second victory in the Classic for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, who first won with Le Havre in 2009.
“He is improving, and I had no doubts at all about the trip or his condition coming into the race,” Rouget said.
English raider Robin Of Navan, who had finished second to Godolphin’s Cloth Of Stars in the Prix Greffulhe last month, set the pace under Tony Piccone with Godolphin’s Talismanic and Mickael Barzalona tracking Imperial Aviator, another English challenger, in behind.
Zarak was wisely held up in the rear by Christophe Soumillon, with the well-fancied Mekhtaal in last place for jockey Gregory Benoist.
Turning in to the straight it was obvious that Piccone had timed his fractions poorly on the heavy ground as Talismanic burned off Robin Of Navan’s fading challenge only for Almanzor to burst through the pack pursued by Zarak.
Although both horses galloped to the line, the soft ground had a significant effect as the time of 2m.11.62s was the slowest ever produced since the race moved back to 2,100 metres in 2005.
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