Special Kaldoun Impresses as French Sweep at Longchamp

Ecurie Chalhoub's Special Kaldoun turned in an impressive performance Saturday to win the Prix Daniel Wildenstein Casino Barriere de La Rochelle (Fr-II) at muddy Longchamp.

Ridden by Dominique Boeuf, the David Smaga-trained Special Kaldoun clearly enjoyed the testing conditions, getting away early in the one-mile test and posting a four-length victory over My Risk. Gateman was third in the 10-horse field. The race was run on a holding course in 1:42.4.

French connections swept the four group II races on Saturday's Longchamp card.

Moon Search, ridden by Christophe Soumillon, narrowly defeated Whortleberry in the Prix de Royallieu Hotel du Golf Barriere.

The Pascal Bary-trained Weightless, with Thierry Thuillez in the irons, was a two-length winner over Short Pause in th Prix Dollar, completing a one-two finish for owner Khalid Abdullah.

Bary told The Racing Post, "He doesn't cease to improve. We'll have to have a chat now about future plans, as he's had two races in fifteen days now, but Hong Kong is on the cards and the Breeders' Cup Classic has not been ruled out."

The French completed the sweep when the Aga Khan's filly Behkara, ridden by Soumillon, held off favored Risk Seeker in the Prix Hubert de Chaudenay Casino Barriere de Menton.