Stormy Weather Forecast For QEII

A crack at the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on September 23 is on the agenda for Stormy River after the French colt landed the Group One win that had previously eluded him at Chantilly yesterday.

The Nicolas Clement-trained three-year-old came from last to first in sensational style in the Prix Jean Prat, but the race failed to bring a much-needed tonic for Kieren Fallon, who was eighth on Aidan O'Brien's Ivan Denisovich.

The pair had met in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot when they filled the places behind the impressive Araafa, but the Gallic raider had looked unlucky after being set plenty to do by Olivier Peslier.

However, reunited with his regular partner Thierry Thulliez, he finally showed what he is capable of.

Despite two pacemakers being employed by the leading fancies, neither could get to the front as first Kendargent and then Kentucky Dynamite took the field along at a generous clip.

Thulliez settled the 7-4 favourite in last position with Fallon just on his outside but as the two manoeuvred for a position with two furlongs to run it looked as if the Frenchman was in a pocket.

Ivan Denisovich did not have the pace to hold him in though, and as soon as the grey Verglas colt saw daylight his turn of foot was instantaneous.

He shot by his 10 rivals in the style of a top-class animal and won by a cosy half-length from Kentucky Dynamite, with Dilek back in third.

'It is a Group One win that is well deserved. He was unlucky in the French Guineas and at Ascot he was set a lot to do. At least we got it right today,' said Clement.

'It looked like he was going to find trouble again. We have decided to drop him in in his races so that may always be the case but luckily the other horse dropped away. I think in another half a furlong he would have won much more easily.

'I think we will keep him to a mile this season.

'I am tempted to take him over to England again for the Queen Elizabeth II at Ascot.

'The question then would be do we run him in the Prix Jacques Le Marois or the Prix du Moulin beforehand. It all depends how he comes out of this.

'The QEII would be a nice target as three-year-olds have quite a good record in it.

'I think the Sussex Stakes could come a bit too quick for him and I want to keep him to a mile this season so that rules out the Irish Champion Stakes this year. I don't want to take him over for the Breeders' Cup either.

'Next year we have ambitious plans for him when he will go for the Lockinge and other major races. I hope he stays in training, I haven't talked to the owner much about it yet and he may be offered a large sum.

'He has won a Group One and he is by Verglas, who was a top miler in France, so he is worth quite a bit of money already.'

? PA Sport