Cavalryman capped off a tremendous day for Andre Fabre and Sheikh Mohammed when he powered to a 1 1/2-length victory in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-I) July 14. The Grand Prix de Paris was the highlight of the special Bastille Day program at Longchamp Race Course.
Earlier in the evening, Colonial, a 2-year-old son of Cape Cross, captured the listed Prix Roland de Chambure by 2 1/2 lengths for the same connections.
Hail Caesar, who was part of the four-horse Aidan O’Brien entry, went straight to the front to set the pace for his stablemates in the Grand Prix de Paris. Johnny Murtagh, aboard Age of Aquarius, tracked him closely from second, as Cavalryman rated comfortably in mid-pack.
As the field entered the home straight, Age of Aquarius took command and looked as though he had the race well in hand. Young Maxime Guyon, a rising star in the French jockey colony, set Cavalryman down for the drive and the pair swept by Age of Aquarius with over a furlong to go.
Cavalryman ran on well to record the win over Age of Aquarius, who in turn was two lengths in front of Godolphin’s Mastery. Final time for the 12 furlongs was 2:27.60 over the good to soft turf course.
The victory was the 10th for Andre Fabre in the Grand Prix de Paris, his most recent tally coming with Rail Link in 2006.
Fabre said of his charge after the race, “I was quite confident coming into the race as he is a progressive horse by Halling and he has won nicely. He is effective from a mile and a quarter on heavy ground to a mile and a half.”
Cavalryman is a 3-year-old bay colt by Halling out of the Highest Honor mare Silversword. Closely related to champions and/or group I winners Double Honour, Magnificent Style, Silver Ending, and Siberian Summer, Cavalryman was bred in England by Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley.