Reliable Man Wins French Derby

Despite solid opposition from both home, Ireland and England, it was the Alain De Royer-Dupre trained Reliable Man who stormed to victory in the French Derby at Chantilly on Sunday. It was the sixth time that De Royer-Dupre had saddled the winner of the race.

The win extended the unbeaten run of the colt to three, but this was by far and away his biggest success and marked down the son of Dalakhani as a genuine contender for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October.

Ridden by Gerald Mosse, Reliable Man went to the front after edging right 100 yards from the line and held on fine style to win by ¾ length from the Guiseppi Botti trained Bubble Chic, with 4/1 favourite Baraan a further two lengths behind in third. Bubble Chic had finished second 1½ lengths behind Epsom Derby winner Pour Moi in the Group Two Prix Greffhule at Saint-Cloud over ten furlongs early last month a performance which further enhances the credentials of both Reliable Man and Pour Moi. That said Baraan did have a problematical race and has genuine excuses but will be a better horse next time out according to his trainer, Jean-Claude Rouget.

The Irish challenge was led by the Aidan O’Brien trained Roderic O’Connor, winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas last month but who had flopped in the English version three weeks earlier. This race was his first effort over a mile but he despite being second favourite with odds of 5/1 he could only finish in eighth place some seven lengths or so behind the winner suggesting that this trip was too far for him.

John Gosden entry, Colombian, was the best of the non-French runners, finishing in a very creditable fourth place, but was no match for the first three, although he would be a very much better prospect with some cut in the ground. Also disappointing in 9^th place was the Godolphin entry Casamento, who flopped once again like he did in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. When under the wing of Irish trainer, Mick Halford, Casamento won the Group One Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster as a two year old, but since moving to the Godolphin yard of Mahmood Al Zarooni he seems to have gone backwards.

As far as the ‘Arc’ is concerned, it is Baraan who has been given the shorter price by the Bookmakers. They go around 8/1 for him and Reliable Man is in from 33/1 to 12/1.