One of France’s elite mile races, the Group I Prix Jacques le Marois (1600m) was run at Deauville overnight and while last year’s winner Diego Velazquez (IRE) is now holding court in Victoria at Swettenham Stud a new chapter was written with victory going to Aga Khan Stud’s homebred colt Rayif.
Click here to see more of Diego Velazquez at the Swettenham stallion parade last Thursday.
Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and ridden by Mickael Barzalona, Rayif won the Group I Poule d’Essai Des Poulains back in May and then was fifth in the Group I Prix Jean Prat when dropped back to 1400m.
Stepped back to the mile for this assignment, the Sea the Moon colt finished with a late rush to win by a neck over progressive 4YO Night of Thunder stallion Zeus Olympio with last year’s Champion 2YO Filly Precise a gallant third.
Rayif now has four wins from six starts and Mickael Barzalona has ridden him in every start.
“Once Rayif found his rhythm he travelled very easily. I had a few nice horses in front of me, who I knew could take me closer to the front line. When I asked him to do the job, he did it very well and won the race in a nice way,” he said.
“He seems like he's improved since the Guineas and he's just a very good horse who can go wherever. We had plenty of excuses last time. They went very slow and the first three horses in the race were the first three home at the line. That was frustrating but we were expecting a huge run today and he proved he's a proper horse.”
Rayif is a half-brother to slick Group winning sprinter Rayevka, who is likely to line up against Asfoora later this week in the Group I Nunthorpe Stakes at York.
Rayif and Rayevka are the best of five winners from six foals to race from stakes-placed Rayisa, a half-sister to Group III winner Rehana from a family more geared to sprinter milers.
Rayif is the sixth Group I winner for Lanwades Stud based sire Sea the Moon, best known to Australians for siring Caulfield Cup winner Durston (GB).
