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French Derby Contender for Godolphin

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday May 7

The Godolphin winning run continued in France overnight with a French Derby contender emerging in the shape of progressive Lope de Vega colt Cualificar, who is out of Fastnet Rock’s Group I Epsom Oaks winner Qualify.

Cualificar is now three for three this year after a third and a fourth at his only runs at two.

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Trained by Andre Fabre and ridden by Alexis Pouchin, he strode clear at Chantilly to win the Group III Prix de Guiche (1800m) by a length and a quarter.

“We had already seen him win at this level and he confirmed again that he is quite a nice horse,” commented Godolphin's on-track representative Louise Benard.

“Alexis [Pouchin] positioned him perfectly during the race, the horse quickened well and did it almost under a hand ride. He has a lovely attitude and improves with every run so, hopefully, he can improve more. He will now be back here for the big one [Prix du Jockey Club on June 1] and tell us if he can go up in class two steps higher.”

A homebred for Godolphin, he is a three-quarter brother to Group III winner Swing Vote and is the second stakes-winner among three winners from Fastnet Rock’s Group I Epsom Oaks winner Qualify.

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