The Al Thani family of Qatar seems to have a knack for getting in on a horse just at the right time.
Days before the Abu Dhabi Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, G1), their Al Shaqab Racing purchased a half interest in Brametot, who won the one-mile Prix de Fontainebleau at Chantilly, a Two Thousand Guineas prep race in April.
The money was well spent, as the bay colt trained by Jean-Claude Rouget engaged in a stirring finish to eke out a short head victory over the Andre Fabre-trained Le Brivido (Siyouni). Brametot's victory gave his sire, Rajasman, his first stakes winner.
Thirteen horses lined up for the French Two Thousand Guineas, with last year's highweighted colt National Defense (Invincible Spirit) a lukewarm favorite over Brametot.
With Cristian Demuro in the saddle, Brametot joined the group near the stands after the break and settled in fourth as Coolmore's Orderofthegarter led that pack. Rivet, ridden by Frankie Dettori for trainer William Haggas, dictated the pace for the larger mid-track group.
Shuffled back as the groups merged with four furlongs left to run, Brametot launched his bid from behind the line of horses vying for contention, much like Le Brivido, who found himself in a similar position.
Rivet briefly lost the lead as Godolphin's Inns of Court (Invincible Spirit) took over, but regained control and was put to task some 300 meters from the winning post. As Inns of Court and Orderofthegarter faded, Brametot and Le Brivido joined the fray from the two outside positions.
Le Brivido wrested the advantage from Rivet but could not withstand Brametot's furious last charge. Rivet finished third, three lengths behind. The finishing time for the one mile was 1:36.82 over the soft turf.
H. Cardemil bred Brametot in Ireland out of the German-bred Law Society mare Morning Light, and offered him as a weanling at the Arqana December breeding stock sale, where Sylvain Vidal acquired him for €26,000 (US$31,941). Vidal and his wife Elisabeth own Haras de la Cauviniere, which stands Rajsaman. Brametot originally raced for a partnership of Elisabeth Vidal and Augustin-Normand.
With the French Two Thousand Guineas victory, Brametot emulated his grandsire Linamix, who took the 1990 edition before becoming a two-time leading sire in France.
The group 1 The Gurkha Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary for 3-year-old fillies over 10 furlongs accompanied the Two Thousand Guineas on the May 14 undercard.
Godolphin's lightly raced Sobetsu, who made her 2017 debut, had little trouble dispatching her 10 rivals to win by three lengths under jockey William Buick.
The Saeed bin Suroor-trained homebred daughter of Dubawi put herself on track for either the English or French Oaks (both G1) and ran the distance in 2:05.92.
Vue Fantastique finished best of the others, ahead of Coronet in third and Hebah in fourth.
With her victory, Sobetsu became Dubawi's 140th stakes winner and his 31st grade/group 1 winner. Her dam is the stakes-winning Darshaan mare Lake Toya, a granddaughter of the outstanding broodmare Doff the Derby, whose six stakes winners include classic winners Generous and Imagine.
