Victoire Magique wins the Listed Michel Houyvet
VICTOIRE MAGIQUE won a Listed race at the prestigious Deauville August meeting yesterday, beating favourite Aeronef by a neck under a superbly judged ride by Cristian Demuro.
Following his fine second in the Group 3 at Chantilly on Prix de Diane day in June, 55 days ago, which was over 1m4f, Victoire was stepping back up in trip from 2400 metress to 3000 metres, a distance over which he won at Angers during early June.
The plan was to have him in the first four in the nine-runner field but Victoire found himself with only two and then three horses behind during most of the contest. The pace was initally slow but Cristian bided his time and made his move on the outside in the home straight. The queston was would he find a turn of foot?
Yours truly with Champagne and trophy
He certainly did and in the end won a shade comfortably from the Fabres’ trained Aeronef. It was a further half length back to the third in the betting, another Fabres’ trained horse, Barzambition. So the ‘right’ horses fought the finish.
Having achieved lower black type when Victoire came second at Chantilly, it was wonderful for him to now achieve capital black type for winning a Listed race and at the wonderful Normandy track, Deaville. We have now run at all the five major flat tracks in France – ParisLonchamp, Lyon, St Cloud, Chantilly and Deauville.
Winning at such a beautiful and historic raceourse in a major race was quite emotional but I just held it together. The trainer felt the same but did likewise and this was another huge milestone in the burgeoning career of Amy in France. This was her 25th win this year and it took her well past the three-quarters of a million euros in prize money (includng French bred premiums).
Words not necessary…!
As for where we go next with Victoire…might he go to the St Leger at Doncaster? It’s a possibility as is a Listed contest at Parislonchamp. His ultimate target is a 3000 meters Group 2 at Parislongchamp on Saturday 3 October.
