Prix Greffulhe goes to Roman Candle

Roman Candle staked his claim as a potential Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club candidate when taking the Group 2 Prix Greffulhe over 10 and a half furlongs at Saint-Cloud this afternoon. This was a second win in four starts for the Andre Fabre-trained son of Le Havre (by Noverre).

The Jerome Reynier-trained Pappalino set out to make all and only gave best in the final half-furlong, going down by a neck. There was a three-length gap back to the favourite, Starmaniac.

Roman Candle won over 10 furlongs at Deauville on the second of two starts as a juvenile and was third to Shaman in last month's Group 3 Prix la Force over nine furlongs at ParisLongchamp, beaten by a total of two and a quarter lengths.

A key French Classic trial won by the likes of Study Of Man, Pour Moi, Dalakhani and Montjeu, Roman Candle takes the Group 2 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud for @mickaelbarzalon and André Fabre □□ pic.twitter.com/8BtZPYwWdC

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 1, 2019

He is the latest pattern winner for Prix du Jockey Club winner and leading French sire Le Havre who stands at Haras de Montfort et Préaux and whose tally includes the mile Grade 1 winner Sudeois and the dual French classic stars Avenir Certain and La Cressonniere.

The colt was bred by the partnership of Ecurie Melanie, Ecurie Haras du Cadran, and A Von Gunten, he is a €190,000 graduate of the Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale, and he is the second foal and winner for the dual pattern-placed seven-furlong mare Holy Dazzle (by Sunday Break).

His grandam is the one-time scorer Belle Alicia (by Smadoun), her offspring also include the prolific winner Black Jewel (by Layman) and her siblings include Smala (by Antheus), the winning dam of the classic-placed Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris and Group 1 Prix Lupin victor Chichicastenango (by Smadoun).