Three things we learnt from Chantilly on Wednesday

We have had three days of racing in France since the sport restarted after the coronavirus-enforced shutdown. Here is what we learned from today’s action.

Andre Fabre’s horses are not quite there yet

Arguably the best trainer operating in Europe, if not the world, at the moment, Andre Fabre has had just the one winner since racing returned, and that was with a horse he thought would improve for the outing in Tropbeau.

It is no overstatement to say that Fabre is a master at getting the very best out of his horses and having them spot on for the days that matter. Generally his horses are running well this week without having that absolute race sharpness. Expect that to change as the weeks go on.

Hurricane Ivor comes storming back

He looked a horse with a huge future when powering to a seven-and-a-half length victory on his debut last year and was mooted as a big contender for Royal Ascot’s two-year-old races.

However, the wheels came off next time when he was well beaten in a Group 3 back at Chantilly, but he looked back to his best in no uncertain terms on Wednesday with an all-the-way win under regular jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot.

The sprinting division in France has not always been the strongest, and Hurricane Ivor has the potential to make hay if he is able to back up this performance time and again this year.

Goken progeny look quick

Goken was a fast and precocious two-year-old, making his debut over 4½f in March before winning a Group 3 later in the year before progressing into a smart older sprinter for Kevin Ryan.

The season is only just underway for 2020’s juveniles, but from the early skirmishes it seems that Goken’s progeny have inherited plenty of his speed with a winner (Livachope) and a second (Axdavali) in the two maidens at Chantilly on Wednesday.

More offspring of stallions having their first runners this year will appear in France, Britain and Ireland over the weeks ahead, but for now the Goken youngsters may be worth a second look.

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