Sottsass Downs Persian King to Win Prix du Jockey Club

Jean-Claude Rouget proved himself to be a modern master for the Chantilly classics once again as Sottsass flew home under supersub Cristian Demuro June 2 to defeat red-hot favorite Persian King in record-breaking time. 

Rouget missed the race after being taken ill earlier on a sweltering day but was well enough to celebrate the victory from the hospital, from which he is expected to be released Monday.

The trainer was responsible for his fourth QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club (G1) winner and a third in four years.

There were at least two ecstatic men on hand to lift the mood, namely winning owner Peter Brant and Demuro, who only came in for the ride during the week when Christophe Soumillon was claimed for Zarkallani and who was adding to his previous success in the race two years ago aboard the Rouget-trained Brametot.

"It's very emotional to have won one (Jockey Club) and so a second, which to tell the truth wasn't expected, is wonderful," Demuro said. "I was down to ride another horse, but then His Highness the Aga Khan decided to run his horse, and Jean-Claude Rouget once again showed faith in me. Really, it's a dream."

Described by Rouget's long-serving assistant Jean-Bernard Roth as "a divine jockey," Demuro was able to save valuable ground on the rail before finding a deluxe tow into the race on straightening up.

"Without really trying, I found myself directly behind Persian King, and he took me into the race with his acceleration," Demuro said. "I knew he was the horse to beat, and once I was past him, it was easy."

Asked about his blossoming association with Rouget, Demuro said: "More and more, it feels like family to me, and I think that's my fifth group 1 for Jean-Claude. I feel very lucky to get the call on a horse like him."

For Brant, it was a case of keeping it in the family because Sottsass—whose previous win came on soft ground but gave him experience of Chantilly's Piste du Jockey Club—was purchased at Arqana in the wake of his half sister, Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) heroine Sistercharlie, flying the flag for the owner's White Birch Farm. 

"His sister was in the Prix de Diane (G1) and got into a lot of trouble when she was beaten," Brant said. "She hasn't been beaten many times since. I was glad to be here, and this is just a great moment. It's one of the the greatest days I've had, and that includes the Breeders' Cup."

While it will be a recuperating Rouget who plots a course for Sottsass, sired by Siyouni, Brant confirmed that his French Derby winner would be staying in Europe rather than transfer to Chad Brown's barn in the U.S.

Paddy Power gave Sottsass an introductory quote of 16-1 for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), and Brant was in no mood to talk his trainer out of that as a potential end-of-year target.

"I can tell you that the Arc is one of the races I most want to win," Brant said. "My first time at the Arc was nearly 50 years ago with Ivanjica, and I've spent a lot of time dreaming about having an Arc horse."

Pierre-Charles Boudot was obliged to burn plenty of petrol from his wide draw aboard Persian King but still looked to be full of running two out as he came to tackle leader Motamarris before watching Sottsass breeze past him.

"I come back to my first thought, which is that he didn't stay," Persian King's trainer André Fabre said. "He was traveling well with two furlongs to go and then got tired at the end. He was beaten by a top-class horse."

Fabre indicated that the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1) at Deauville might be next for Persian King. 

Freddy Head was delighted with the performance of the inexperienced Motamarris, who helped cut out the pace and stayed on well for third, holding off Cape of Good Hope and Ryan Moore.

"I wasn't sure he'd have the pace for a Jockey Club, and what he's done today is quite something because I think he'll get a mile and a half. We've seen a very good edition today," Head said.

Aidan O'Brien said of Cape of Good Hope: "Ryan's horse ran a lovely race, and we think he'll come forward a bit more. His brother (Highland Reel) was second in this race, and afterwards he started to progress, so hopefully he will, too."