Holdthasigreen Lands Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp

The 7-year-old Holdthasigreen shrugged off an absence of nearly three months to grind out an all-the-way success under Tony Piccone in the group 1 Qatar Prix du Cadran Oct. 5 at ParisLongchamp, holding off last year's winner Call The Wind in a reverse of the one-two from 12 months ago, with favorite Dee Ex Bee back in third.

The Bruno Audouin-trained runner has managed only fifth in each of his last two runs, but stayed on well to hold off a late challenge from Call The Wind and score by three-quarters of a length.

Having spent the summer in the shadow of Stradivarius, this looked to be Dee Ex Bee's big chance to get a first top-level success under his belt. But despite being prominent throughout, the 6-5 favorite failed to find any extra late on, and Mark Johnston's 4-year-old had to settle for third place under Mickael Barzalona.

Explaining Holdthasigreen's extended absence, former trainer and part-owner Claude LeLay said: "His first run of the year we put down to tiredness, but after he was fifth on his second run back we took some blood and he was sick. To win on what was effectively his comeback run over 4,000 meters (approximately 2 1/2 miles) shows an immense mental strength on his part."

Should Holdthasigreen recover well he will defend his title in the Prix Royal-Oak (G1) here in three weeks' time, a race in which he could meet Qatar Prix Chaudenay (G2) winner Technician.

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