Samangan claimed a Group One triumph in the Prix Maurice de Gheest, a six-and-a-half-furlong contest held at Deauville. The Aga Khan Studs-owned colt tracked the pace-setter Afandy throughout the intermediate distance before making a decisive move in the final quarter-mile. The horse surpassed Stolen Kiss at the wire and narrowly held off the William Haggas-trained Division, who was ridden by James Doyle.
The victory represented a significant reversal of recent form, as Samangan had finished fourth in the Prix Jean Prat on his previous start, behind True Love. This time, Samangan comprehensively turned the tables on the Ballydoyle-trained Classic winner. Racing manager Nemone Routh commented on the colt’s genuine nature and noted his preference for good, firm ground conditions. She indicated that the horse could potentially target Champions Day at Ascot but expressed reservations if ground conditions became too soft.
Trainer Graffard reflected positively on the result, noting that the colt had shown steady improvement over the season despite an inconsistent start. He suggested the Qatar Prix de la Foret as a potential next target, provided ground conditions remained suitable. Graffard also highlighted the colt’s breeding credentials, indicating that his Group One success had secured his value as a future stallion.
In a separate race, Distant Storm made a winning return in the Prix Daphnis, boosting the credentials of fellow three-year-old milers Bow Echo and Gstaad. Charlie Appleby’s colt had been absent since running in the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh. Under jockey Billy Loughnane, Distant Storm pursued the well-backed Italian runner Grand Son Of Dark and eventually prevailed, setting up a progression to higher-level competition. Loughnane praised the colt’s turn of foot, noting that the horse had won cosily in the end.
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