No joy for Aidan O’Brien in French Derby as Saonois triumphs

Imperial Monarch was out of luck for the Aidan O’Brien team as Saonois claimed a rough renewal of the Prix du Jockey Club – French Derby – at Chantilly yesterday.

O’Brien and his son Joseph were bidding for a Derby double following the triumph of Camelot at Epsom on Saturday. But Imperial Monarch was last turning for home after being shuffled back and although he picked up well once switched wide in the home straight, his late flourish was not enough to get near the leaders.

The honours went to Saonois, trained by J-P Gauvin and ridden by Antoine Hamelin. Saint Baudolino claimed the runner-up spot in a bunch finish for the places. The British raiders failed to make their presence felt, with Roger Varian’s Ektihaam and Most Improved from the Brian Meehan stable meeting all sorts of traffic problems.

John Gosden’s Gregorian was stuck wide throughout and was also well beaten. French Fifteen, second to Camelot in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, was another who never had any chance from behind a wall of horses in the straight.

Mick Channon’s Laugh Out Loud made every yard of the running under William Buick to collect top honours in the Prix De Sandringham. The West Ilsley trainer enjoyed his first taste of Classic glory when Samitar landed last Sunday’s Irish 1,000 Guineas and he landed another big prize in France.

Buick was happy to let Laugh Out Loud bowl along at the head of affairs in this Group 2 contest and she was still galloping on merrily at the top of the home straight. Mashoora loomed up as a big danger under Christophe Soumillon with a couple of furlongs to run, but Laugh Out Loud ran out an easy winner.