12 May. FR. Prix Greffulhe. G2. Saint Cloud. 2.000 mts. Turf. 130.000 €
1.- PROSPECT WELLS (O,Peslier)
2.- RIPPLE (C.Soumillon)
3.- TROIS ROIS (D.Bonilla)


Prospect Wells (Sadler’s Wells) exacted revenge on Ripple this afternoon at Saint-Cloud on the way to winning the G.2 Prix Greffulhe, the last of the recognised trials for the G.1 Prix du Jockey Club.

With just five declared there was never going to be any pace and, true to form, there wasn’t.

It was Christophe Soumillon and Ripple (Rock Of Gibraltar) who took them on with the grey Chirango (Chichicastenango) on his outer. Stablemate Salsalavie (Fly To The Stars) chose the rail followed by Alec Head’s Trois Rois (Hernando) and Prospect Wells comfortably cantering at the rear.

With three furlongs to go Thierry Thulliez stepped up the pace on Chirango and was quickly followed by Davy Bonilla on Trois Rois. But Ripple regained the lead as Olivier Peslier made his move on Prospect Wells from the rear.

With a half-furlong left Ripple led by 1½ lengths but Trois Rois and Prospect Wells came with a strong run towards the standside. But there was never any doubt about the winner as a well-timed ride gave Prospect Wells his first win from four career starts, a short neck ahead of Ripple. Trois Rois was a similar margin behind in third but gave Bonilla a difficult ride and should produce a better run next time out.

This win capped capped an extraordinary two days for the Wertheimer brothers, having won the French 2,000 Guineas, finishing runner-up in the fillies version, landing the G.3 Prix de Saint-Georges and finally, today assuring a place in the French Derby. Not forgetting of course that Olivier Peslier was on board each time.