Eton Rifles: made all under Andrea Atzeni on Thursday
PICTURE: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)
Report: France, Thursday
Fontainebleau: Prix Contessina (Listed) 6f, 3yo+
THE Stuart Williams-trained Eton Rifles created his own bit of French racing history when making all under Andrea Atzeni to score for the third successive year.
It’s unlikely Paul Weller had Fontainebleau’s unique dogleg sprint course in mind when he penned the ode to class war after which Eton Rifles is named.
There is something of the warrior about the eight-year-old, who was named by Graham Wylie before Williams bought him for his enthusiastic syndicate of owners – their absence unfortunately denying racegoers a rendition of The Jam’s hit.
The race was won early as the son of Pivotal had his rivals well and truly spread out with barely two furlongs covered from his rail draw.
“The draw was kind to us and he just jumped out and dictated, but he was the highest-rated horse in the race and so he’s run to form,” said a delighted Williams. “He likes soft ground and he also likes the track being downhill with a bit of a bend, it all seems to suit him very well. We’ll be back next year with a walking stick.”
Eton Rifles had a neck to spare over Aksil at the line, while the Sir Mark Prescott-trained Athenian failed by a short head to grab third.
The home side held sway in the day’s other two Listed contests in the face of a strong Anglo-Irish challenge.
Amy Weaver’s Silver Treasure fared best in third behind Zygmunt in a bunched finish to the Prix Zeddaan.
The Prix Ceres went the way of the Nicolas Clement-trained Queen’s Daughter, a Classic hope in the spring but unable to win a claimer last time out.
“She was entered in the Poule d’Essai but was slightly disappointing in the spring and then unlucky on her last start,” said Clement.
“When we saw the rain I said to the owner this could be a good opportunity for her.”
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