Sky Lantern Among Deep Field for Sun Chariot

Sky Lantern and Integral were the respective winner and runner-up in last year's Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes (Eng-I), and are set to hook up in this year's edition Oct. 4 at Newmarket.  

 

The race on the Rowley Mile course drew eight fillies and mares overall, including a potent trio from French trainer Andre Fabre: 2014 QIPCO One Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) winner Miss France, French group I winner Esoterique, and French group II victress Fintry, who has won four of five starts.

 

Integral, a 4-year-old by Dalakhani trained by Sir Michael Stoute, won the QIPCO Falmouth Stakes (Eng-I) in July at Newmarket, then checked in a disappointing third behind Esoterique and Miss France in the Prix Rothschild (Fr-I) at Deauville Aug. 3.

 

"Integral bruised her off fore foot during the Rothschild and was not sound afterwards," said Chris Richardson, managing director of her owners, Cheveley Park Stud. "That, combined with it being a messy race where the four-runner field split in two, was the reason for her not performing as we expected.

 

"We have given her plenty of time since then and we intentionally missed the Matron Stakes (Ire-I) to get her ready for this. I watched her work on Saturday when she went nicely and looked to be right on target," Richardson added. "She is much stronger this year and although we have huge respect for Andre Fabre, who does not come over unless he thinks that he will win, we wouldn't swap her for anything."

 

Sky Lantern was fifth in the Falmouth and looks for her first since last year's Sun Chariot by one length three starts back for trainer Richard Hannon.

 

"She has come alive these last couple of weeks, and it's great to have her back," Hannon recently said on his website.

 

French trainers have won four of the past five editions of the Sun Chariot.

 

"I have saved Miss France for this race; she is fresh and in very good shape and we know from her One Thousand Guineas win that she enjoys the Rowley Mile," Fabre said.

 

"We have decided to take advantage of the weather and the good ground with Esoterique, who could afterwards go on to the Breeders' Cup (Mile gr. I) or to Japan."

 

In her most recent start, Esoterique was fourth against males—Charm Spirit, Toronado, and Night of Thunder—in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Fr-I) Sept. 14. 

 

"(Esoterique) was a bit unlucky to be drawn wide in the Prix du Moulin and was left with a lot of ground to make up," Fabre said. "She could have won as she is in the same league as the three horses that finished in front of her.

 

"Fintry won a group in the spring before she was affected by a virus. She needed the race at Sandown last time (Aug. 30 Atalanta Stakes) but was still good enough to win and is a very easy ride—she can make the running or come from behind."

 

Other contenders include a pair of recent group III winners, Kiyoshi and J Wonder, plus Etaab, who makes a quick tunaround after winning the Rosemary Stakes over the Rowley Mile Sept. 26.

 

1. 2. Esoterique (IRE) (Danehill Dancer), P. C. Boudot, 129, A. Fabre

2. 8. Integral (GB) (Dalakhani), R. Moore, 129, M. Stoute

3. 1. Sky Lantern (IRE) (Red Clubs) R. Hughes, 129, R. Hannon

4. 7. Etaab (KY) (Street Cry) W. Buick, 126, W. Haggas

5. 3. Fintry (IRE) (Shamardal) M. Barzalona, 126, A. Fabre

6. 4. J Wonder (KY) (Footstepsinthesand), J. Fortune, 126,  B. Meehan

7. 5. Kiyoshi (GB) (Dubawi) J. Spencer, 126, C. Hills

8. 6. Miss France (IRE) (Dansili) M. Guyon, 126, A. Fabre