THE TRAP DIDN’T WORK… AND GOLIATH WON
LONGCHAMP, DIMANCHE
PRIX DU CONSEIL DE PARIS (Gr2)
THE TRAP DIDN'T WORK... AND GOLIATH WON
1er GOLIATH
2e HAMISH
3e MARQUISAT
Impressive in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr1) on a fast track – where he beat Bluestocking (Camelot), future winner of the Arc –, Goliath (Adlerflug) was expected to turn the corner in the Prix du Conseil de Paris (Gr2). This race had all the makings of a trap: on heavy ground (4.7), Goliath gave up 2 kilos to hardened horses like Hamish (Motivator). Worse still, the race lacked momentum, and unsurprisingly, the future winner began to pull. Everything was therefore in place for Goliath to be beaten. But the class spoke and the victory in this Gr2 has all the makings of an ideal preparation for the Japan Cup (Gr1)… The first of his major international objectives.
The class spoke
Going straight out of the boxes, Goliath found himself in a race without momentum. Up front, Maxime Guyon riding Maniatic (Intello) brought everyone into line and Goliath began to pull in thick. Christophe Soumillon did not falter and he brought his partner to the finish line 400m from the finish line. The colt then signed a fine passage – setting the best partial times of the final phase – to come and take the lead. But facing him, the courageous Hamish did not give up. Although respected by his jockey, Goliath only won by half a length. Hamish, winner of eight Groups (!), was a valiant second. Marquisat (Zarak), third at just over a length, is on the podium of a Group for the fourth time in a row.