Vision d’Etat held off a fast-closing Loup Breton by three-quarters of a length to capture the Prix Ganay (Fr-I) at Longchamp April 26.
Winner of the Prix du Jockey-Club (Fr-I) and Qatar Prix Niel (Fr-II) in 2008, Vision d’Etat entered the Prix Ganay off of a third-place finish in the Prix d’Harcourt (Fr-II) in his seasonal debut April 5. The 4-year-old son of Chichicastenango now has recorded seven wins from nine career starts.
Thewayyouare went to the lead from the break under Johnny Murtagh, followed closely by stablemate Red Rock Canyon. Normally used as a pacemaker for the Coolmore team, Red Rock Canyon was under heavy restraint by jockey David McCabe, which allowed Thewayyouare to set a moderate pace for much of the 10-furlong contest.
Vision d’Etat, under regular rider Ioritz Mendizabal, sat just behind the leaders in third throughout the early portion of the race. As the field entered the home straight, Thewayyouare took a slim lead over his tiring stablemate. Vision d’Etat produced a superb turn of foot to take command within the last furlong.
Once in front, the bay colt began to idle, but had plenty in the tank to hold off a hard-charging Loup Breton. German raider Adlerflug, who had plenty of traffic problems throughout the race, had to settle for third, a short head behind Loup Breton.
Thewayyouare, a group I winner at 2 who was making his debut for trainer Aidan O’Brien, faded to fourth, another length back. The 4-year-old son of Kingmambo, who hadn’t raced since June, had previously been trained by Andre Fabre.
Final time for the 10 furlongs was 2:09.43 over a course rated as good.
After the race, Vision d’Etat’s trainer Eric Libaud told reporters, “I think the horse is a lot stronger than he was last year, and I’d like to stick at this trip (10 furlongs) for the moment.”
He continued, “I think the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot is a possibility now, among other races.”
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.