RACING:JOSEPH O'BRIEN'S Group One luck ran out at Chantilly yesterday as Imperial Monarch couldn't overcome a troubled passage in the French Derby behind the surprise winner Saonois.
Successful in Saturday’s Epsom Derby on Camelot, and on St Nicholas Abbey in the Coronation Cup, the 19-year-old jockey failed to put the seal on a momentous weekend for his father Aidan who also won Friday’s Epsom Oaks.
Imperial Monarch was towards the rear of the field before the turn in of yesterday’s €1.5 million Prix Du Jockey Club and was one of several big fancies to meet interference early in the straight.
Another was French Fifteen, runner-up to Camelot in the 2,000 Guineas, and while the unbeaten Kesampour looked a likely winner for much of the straight it was Saonois who emerged best in a close finish. Andre Fabre’s Saint Baudolino was runner-up.
It was a fairytale result for jockey Antoine Hamelin who only turned professional just a few months previously and who was partnering a colt that had won the Group Three Prix La Force earlier in the season.
Imperial Monarch had only one behind in the 20-strong field two furlongs out but ran on strongly for O’Brien Jnr in the closing stages to finish eighth.
On this evidence, he will almost certainly stay a mile and a half and if Epsom Derby winner Camelot does not line up in the Irish Derby on June 30th, Imperial Monarch could well prove to be the one to beat at the Curragh.
The three British-trained hopes – Ektihaam, Most Improved and Gregorian — were also out of the money with Ektihaam in particular meeting interference in running in the straight.
