Persian-King-Prix-du-Moulin© Scoop DygaEurope

Persian King reigns supreme in Moulin

Persian King swept to a decisive victory in the Gr.1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp yesterday (6th September) and was swiftly followed by another Kingman winner, Chachnak, in the Gr.3 Prix du Prince d'Orange.

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 7th September 2020:

In the absence of Palace Pier, Kameko and the retired Mohaather, Sunday's Prix du Moulin de Longchamp Gr.1 boasted almost everything else that still held some claim to elevated status in the mile category and it was TDN Rising Star Persian King (Kingman) who emerged supreme. Long deemed more than capable of a performance such as this, Godolphin SNC and Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd's imposing specimen just needed things to fall right and with conditions in his favour and an ideal target horse in Circus Maximus it was all set up ideally here.

Persian King, the 18-5 second favourite who is unbeaten at this track, tanked along with relish in the hands of Pierre-Charles Boudot in a close second with the rest detached throughout the early stages. Left in front two out, the four-year-old was in total control from there with the winning margin eventually narrowed to one and three-quarter lengths by the sole closer Pinatubo), as Circus Maximus faded to be six lengths behind in third.

"Persian King's victory was expected, to be fair. I don't want to play the genius, but I was very confident because I could train him properly for the first time," Andre Fabre said. "The surfaces were better than in August and it was less warm, so I could train him harder."

Andre Fabre is looking at stepping the winner back up in trip and, surprisingly, was not ruling out a tilt at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Gr.1. "You can blame the ground for his below-par performance in the Jacques Le Marois and the best horse on the day won today," he said. "He's entered in Champion Stakes [Gr.1]. and the Arc and all is possible. We have different options and I think he can step back up in distance, so we will see closer to the time which way we go. I don't know if a mile and a half would be better, as there is obviously a question mark over the distance."

In the next race on the card Chachnak emerged on top in a tight finish to claim the Prix du Prince d'Orange Gr.3 to claim his second Group win. Winning owner Herve Morin, President of Normandy and former French Defence Minister, said of the son of the dual Classic-placed Tamazirte : "I am absolutely delighted - I own the dam and am happy I kept her to breed. She had yet to produce something equal to her, but she's done well going to good stallions and the result is there with this horse."