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Spirit Claims Jean Prat

3 minute read

Charm Spirit swooped late and fast to land the Group One Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly in which Yuften was disqualified from second place.

Freddie Head Picture: Racing and Sports

Fifth in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket back in May, Freddy Head's charge built on a recent course and distance success to edge out the William Haggas-trained frontrunner Yuften in the shadow of the post.

Richard Hannon's Irish Guineas second Shifting Power was well fancied but could finish no better than third for Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes. John Gosden's Jersey Stakes runner-up Muwaary was keen in the early stages and was never able to get in a blow in fifth under Paul Hanagan.

Yuften and Andrea Atzeni had appeared to come across the filly La Hoguette when first asserting in the straight, and the stewards took the decision to later demote him to fourth. As a result, Shifting Power was promoted to second with La Hoguette third.

Hannon said: "He ran his race. We will see where we go from here. He was only beaten half a length and there's no complaints. He could have done with them going a little quicker, but the ground was sticky."

Hanagan said of Muwaary: "He didn't settle, he's always been quite keen. He needs to learn to relax."

Haggas's wife Maureen had resigned herself early to Yuften's likely fate.

She said: "It is a shame that he couldn't keep second, but as soon as he came over I knew that this was going to happen. We are in France, with French rules. He is still a bit babyish."

Head said of the winner: "The plan was to travel closer to the pace, but he didn't get that position and Olivier (Peslier) decided to ride him in the pack. It was the right decision and he produced a really good turn of foot to come late. I'm delighted he was won his Group One.

"The Jacques le Marois would be the logical race, but at the same time he doesn't have to go there. I wouldn't run him over shorter, so he wouldn't run in the Maurice de Gheest and I could see him running over longer trips later in the year."