Holdthasigreen Wins Unsatisfactory Royal-Oak

[Wandering Eyes]

Sunday’s G1 Prix Royal-Oak produced an unsatisfactory outcome, as while no racing fan would begrudge the journeyman stayer Holdthasigreen (Fr) (Hold That Tiger) his moment in the spotlight there was an incident after the first six furlongs that almost certainly affected the outcome. As the field crossed Chantilly’s all-weather track, Flag of Honour (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) tried to run out and took the favourite Brundtland (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) with him with the pair losing several lengths. Shortly after, the 6-1 shot Holdthasigreen took over the lead and despite the efforts of Brundtland in the straight was always in control and had a 3/4-of-a-length advantage at the line over Called To The Bar (Ire) (Henrythenavigator), with Morgan Le Faye (GB) (Shamardal) finishing strongly to be a further short neck behind in third. Brundtland was only another short neck away in fourth, a head in front of Flag of Honour in fifth lending some doubt as to the reliability of the result as a strict measure of the merit of the main protagonists.

HOLDTHASIGREEN (FR), g, 6, by Hold That Tiger—Greentathir (Fr), by Muhtathir (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Jean Gilbert & Claude Le Lay (FR); T-Bruno Audouin; J-Tony Piccone. €199,990. Lifetime Record: 27-12-4-4, €690,625. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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