The July 6 Prix Jean Prat (G1) at Deauville developed into a tale of two recent big-money buys after Resolute Bloodstock's Woodshauna just got up from Maranoa Charlie for a home team one-two, with visitors The Lion In Winter and Shadow Of Light also involved in a pulsating four-way finish.
The fate of the group 1 contest hung in the balance a matter of strides from the line, but Christophe Soumillon emerged victorious after bringing the Francis Graffard-trained Woodshauna from last to first through the tightest of gaps.
Such was the close margin of the finish, there was only half-length back to Shadow Of Light in fourth.
Woodshauna, who landed the Prix Texanita (G3) in May for Al Shaqab Racing, provided an instant return on investment to his new owner John Stewart, having been bought by the American's Resolute Bloodstock for US$847,685 at last month's Goffs London Sale on the eve of Royal Ascot.
"He's a lovely horse and his form was strong," said Graffard, who also saddled four winners at the track on Saturday. "I decided to skip Ascot for this race, so it worked out well. It was a big step. He's got a great attitude and is improving physically, and he was given a great ride.
"He has a lot of speed and seven furlongs is the maximum. The Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1, 6 1/2 furlongs) is definitely a race we can target and I think he will be better dropped back in distance."
Stewart, a founder and managing partner of private equity firm MiddleGround Capital, started Resolute in 2023 and has also bought shares in the likes of Goliath and Believing.
"I'm so happy for John, he's a lovely enthusiastic man for the industry," said Graffard. "He keeps the faith in me and my belief in the horses and lets me do what I think is best for the horses. He's been rewarded with a nice win."
Similarly, the Christopher Head-trained runner-up Maranoa Charlie was making his first start for new connections, in the familiar colors of Bond Thoroughbreds—the racing entity of the late Reg Bond—following a private acquisition by the Yorkshire-based owners.
Charlie Bond said: "It's a great run to be second in a group 1. He was a big purchase and it looks like we've made the right choice. We saw this horse on his last run (when winning the Prix Paul de Moussac) and we made contact with his previous owners.
"He's our first horse trained in France and I think he'll come home to York next for the City of York Stakes. When we talked to Christopher after his purchase, this race was a good stepping stone to York, but we'll follow Christopher's guidance."
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