Solow, Queen's Jewel Win at Longchamp
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Trainer Freddy Head and jockey Maxime Guyon teamed for a group I double May 24 at Longchamp, winning the Prix d'Ispahan with Solow and the Pour Moi Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary with Queen's Jewel.
Both winners are homebreds for Alain and Gerard Wertheimer.
Solow wore down pacesetter and runner-up Gailo Chop in the closing stages and got clear to win the Prix d'Ispahan by 1 1/2 lengths, while any challenge by multiple group I winner Cirrus des Aigles, third early, was compromised when a hind shoe broke in half. He was eased down to finish last of four, with Christophe Soumillon looking after him. Sparkling Beam finished third.
The final time for 1,850 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) was 1:51.30 on good turf.
Solow, a 5-year-old son of Singspiel out of High Maintenance, by Highest Honor, won the Dubai Turf (UAE-I) from The Grey Gatsby March 28 at Meydan. Sunday's win marked a sixth straight victory for the gray gelding, who won as the 3/5 favorite for a ninth victory from 14 career starts.
One race earlier on the card, Head and Guyon struck in the Prix Saint-Alary for 3-year-old fillies with Queen's Jewel, who was a comfortable three-length winner in stakes record time over Wekeela, with Olorda third.
A daughter of Pivotal, Queen's Jewel covered 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) 2:00.87. The race is a prep of the Prix de Diane (Fr-I, French Oaks) June 14 at Chantilly.
Slow into stride and settled in midfield early, Queen's Jewel rounded the home turn five wide and surged away to secure the victory and stay perfect in three career starts, which include the Prix Penelope (Fr-III) April 14 at Saint-Cloud. Unraced at 2, she broke her maiden in her first start there March 10.
"She is still a little bit babyish," Head told England's Press Association, "but she is improving all the time and I think she will be a nice filly for later in the year. The plan is to go for the Prix de Diane and after that we will see. The Prix Saint-Alary was won in a record time by almost two seconds, which shows the ground is quite firm."
Argentine champion 2-year-old filly and U.S. multiple graded stakes winner Safari Queen, by Lode, is the dam of Queen's Jewel, a half sister to French stakes winner and group III-placed Royalmania, by Elusive Quality. The Wertheimers bought Safari Queen, with Royalmania, in utero for $425,000 at the 2010 Keeneland November breeding stock sale, where she was offered by Sweezey and partners, agents for consignor Arindel Farm.