Charm Spirit gamely drove through a narrow gap and took the lead late to win the Prix Jean Prat (Fr-I) July 14 at Chantilly.
The son of Invincible Spirit wore down pacesetter Yuften and scored by a neck with Olivier Peslier aboard for trainer Freddie Head. Yuften was subsequently disqualified to fourth place after he drifted right in the final 200 meters and cut off La Hoguette, who finished fourth but was moved up to third.
Shifting Power, second in the Tattersalls Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) last time out, tracked Yuften throughout but could find no extra kick in the closing stages and finished third before he was elevated to second.
Rallying from midfield, Charm Spirit was timed in 1:41.01 for 1,600 meters (about one mile) on turf rated as very soft. He notched a second straight win, coming in off a victory in the Prix Paul de Moussac at the same distance June 6 at Chantilly, and earned his first at the top level.
Charm Spirit won the Prix Djebel (Fr-III) in begin the season April 3 at Maisons-Laffitte and subsequently was fifth in the QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) May 3 at Newmarket before rebounding at Chantilly.
Bred in Ireland by Ecurie Des Monceaux, he is campaigned Sheikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Thani. He was acquired out of his breeder's consignment at the 2012 Arqana October yearling sale, when purchased by Head for €140,000 ($182,322). The bay colt is the first starter out of the winning Montjeu mare L'Enjoleuse. He is from the family Canadian Horse of the Year Fanfreluche.
