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.
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.
