Simon De Montfort takes on 22 colts on debut

The three-year-old makes his first start for Mahmood al Zarooni in the French Derby at Chantilly today.

Simon De Montfort makes his debut for Mahmood al Zarooni in the French Derby at Chantilly today. The three-year-old King's Best colt, formerly trained by Andre Fabre for Godolphin France, is aiming for a hat-trick of victories after posting a fast-finishing triumph in the 10-furlong Group Three Prix la Force at Longchamp, France, in April, when he came from last to first to beat Pain Perdu by a neck. He also came with a strong late run to land a Listed race over the same distance at Saint-Cloud on April 4.

Simon De Montfort, the mount of Ahmed Ajtebi, takes on 22 colts in the French Derby including Lope de Vega, the Group One Poule d'Essai des Poulains victor, Ice Blue, the Group Two Prix Greffulhe scorer, a Cape Blanco, the Group Two Dante Stakes winner, and Planteur, who beat Rewilding in the Prix Noailles on his latest start. Godolphin have been successful in the Prix du Jockey Club with Shamardal, who took the spoils in 2005. "Simon De Montfort has been working well and looks in good condition at the moment," al Zarooni told www.godolphin.com ahead of the contest over an extended 10 furlongs on turf. "He goes to France in excellent form and I am hoping to see him run a good race.

"He is an improving colt but he is taking a step up in class. He is drawn in stall one, which is far from ideal in a 23-runner race around Chantilly, and he will need a huge amount of luck to win." Simon De Montfort ended his juvenile campaign in 2009 with his only defeat to date, coming home eighth behind Godolphin's Passion For Gold in the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud, also over 10 furlongs at Saint-Cloud, in November. He had previously posted an easy success in a nine-furlong minor contest at Longchamp at the end of October and made a winning debut when scoring in a mile maiden at Chantilly earlier the same month.

* Agency