French raider Vision d’Etat stormed from last to first and had enough to hold off the late challenge of Tartan Bearer to capture the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot June 17.
Ridden for the first time by Olivier Peslier, Vision d’Etat entered the Prince of Wales’s off of a victory in the Prix Ganay (Fr-I) in late April. It marked the 4-year-old colt’s first start outside of France, and he has now improved his record to eight wins from 10 starts.
Sent off as the second choice at odds of 4-1, Peslier was content to settle Vision d’Etat towards the back of the pack as Tazeez set the early pace. Twice Over and Virtual were next as Tartan Bearer was placed forwardly by Ryan Moore, in fourth on the outside.
Twice Over took over the lead two furlongs out, and it briefly appeared that the Juddmonte Farms-homebred might notch his first group I win. Tartan Bearer was also making a strong bid on the outside, but it was Vision d’Etat that was moving the quickest of all.
Peslier had his colt in high gear, and the pair weaved their way through the field, snatching the lead away from Twice Over with 70 yards to run. Tartan Bearer was rolling on the outside but couldn’t get to the winner, falling short by a half-length.
Fellow French runner Never On Sunday got up for third, a head further back. Twice Over held on for fourth, another neck back in a blanket finish. Final time for the 10 furlongs was 2:06.90 over the 'good to firm' course.
Trainer Eric Libaud was understandably proud of his charge after the race, telling reporters, “Of all the winners I’ve had in the world, this is the best one. This is certainly the nicest and best victory I’ve ever achieved.”
Vision d’Etat will now be given a break and will point toward a fall campaign, with the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) as his main goal. He will be looking to avenge his fifth-place finish last year, which has been the only time he has finished off the board.
Vision d’Etat was bred in France by Gaetan Gilles and is owned by Jacques Detre. By dual group I-winner Chichicastenango, the bay colt is out of the Garde Royale mare, Uberaba. Vision d’Etat hails from the female family of champion Stage Door Johnny.