Sauterne strikes to gain first Group 1 success in Prix du Moulin

Sauterne provided her trainer Patrice Cottier with a big Group-race double by claiming the Group 1 Prix du Moulin just hours after Horizon Dore landed the Prix du Prince d’Orange on the same card.

Sauterne finishing second to Good Guess. Picture: Healy Racing

Patrice Cottier filly arrived following two high-class placed efforts in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat and Prix Rothschild but was sent off a general 10/1 chance to gain a breakthrough top-level success, with French Derby and Prix Jacques le Marois runner-up Big Rock dominating the betting as he bid for that elusive first Group 1 success. 

As expected, Big Rock soon found himself at the head of affairs the confirmed front-runner looked to have his rivals in trouble Lemaitre kicked his mount for home rounding the bend. However, Christopher Head-trained three-year-old soon came under pressure and the pack began to eat into his lead with a furlong to run. 

Sauterne, who was settled nicely towards the inside under Tony Piccone, showed a smart turn of foot to get upsides the tiring Big Rock approaching the final furlong and from that moment on, the Patrice Cottier-trained daughter of Kingman never looked like being passed. 

Big Rock kept on well once headed to finish runner-up once more but the 3/5 market leader was a length behind Sauterne crossing the line.

The third spot went the way of Facteur Cheval, who stayed on strongly in the closing stages and may well remain in contention for a bid at Ascot's Qipco Champion Stakes later in the season. 


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