Reliable Man won the French Derby on Sunday to give his trainer Alain de Royer Dupre his sixth win in the classic.
Given a superb ride by veteran Gerald Mosse, he came late down the outside to deprive Bubble Chic in the final strides and prevail by 3/4 of a length to give the winning jockey his third win in the race but first since 1996.
“Its a special pleasure to have won this for the sixth time,” said de Royer Dupre, who last won it with Darsi in 2006.
“I was always quietly confident with this horse. He may not have had the race records of others in the race but he is a horse I have always had high hopes for.
“The ground too didn’t give me too much concern as it has always got a little bit of give in the ground.”
Mosse was delighted to have landed the race again after such a long time.
“It is a real pleasure to have won this race on this horse,” said Mosse.
“I knew I was going to win 400 metres out. I dedicate this victory to the trainer as he has always shown confidence in me.”
However, it was the performance of the third horse home, favourite Beraan, which caught the eye as he completely missed the break under Christophe Lemaire and ended up just two and three quarter lengths off the winner.
At one point he was 15 lengths off the 15 other runners but with a sedate pace being set up front by Frankie Dettori on Casamento he was slowly but surely able to tack onto the back coming into the final straight.
Dettori and Casamento were overhauled by Bubble Chic halfway down the straight and as he retreated he caused further problems for Lemaire and Baraan as they attempted to make their way through the field.
Bubble Chic looked set for victory under Ioritz Mendizabal as other favourites like Irish 2000 Guineas champion Roderic O’Connor beat a retreat, while French 2000 Guineas hero Tin Horse rallied from the pack.
However Mosse, rousting up all his experience, produced Reliable Man with the strongest of finishes to edge out Bubble Chic.
Just behind there was an almighty battle to take third place and a cheque for nearly 200,000 euros to boot as Lemaire somehow got his recalcitrant favourite into the frame.
Beraan just nosed out English outsider Colombian while the brave Tin Horse was fifth.
Beraan’s owner His Highness the Aga Khan was philosophical in defeat.
“He ran a cracking race given that he missed the break and showed real acceleration when he eventually got back to the others,” said the Aga Khan, who has tasted victory in this race seven times.
“He has done this before so it is not a total surprise. However he has plenty of other targets and the Grand Prix de Paris in July is one of them.”
AFP gjw
AAP TURF
