Another Classic for Wootton Bassett as Camille Pissarro lands French Derby
On an incredible day for shuttlers in France, Coolmore Stud’s record-breaking dual-hemisphere stallion Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) secured his second French Classic of the season on Sunday when Camille Pissarro (3 c Wootton Bassett – Entreat by Pivotal) took out the Prix du Jockey Club (Gr 1, 2100m) at Chantilly under yet another inspired Ryan Moore ride.
Having landed the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Gr 1, 1400m) on his final start as a two-year-old in October, the Aidan O’Brien-trained colt had returned with two placings as a three-year-old prior to Sunday’s contest.
The first of those starts saw Camille Pissarro run second behind his elders in the Gladness Stakes (Listed, 7f) at the Curragh in March, before a fast-finishing third in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (Gr 1, 1600m) at Longchamp behind stablemate Henri Matisse (Wootton Bassett).
Sent off as the 7-2 favourite for Classic success returned to France, Camille Pissarro travelled well upped to beyond 1600 metres for the first time in his career.
Entering the final 400 metres and the Coolmore-owned colt was still looking for room against the far-side rail but, under a confident Moore, shot to the front when a gap appeared inside the final 200 metres and kept on well to deny Cualificar (Lope De Vega) by a half-length.
There was a further neck back to the third-placed Detain – who had finished sixth in last month’s Poule d’Essai des Poulains – in a first and third for Wootton Bassett.
“I’m delighted for everybody and Ryan gave him an incredible ride. Christophe [Soumillon] was delighted with him the last day and he said to come here with him. But what a ride Ryan gave him,” O’Brien said.
“He had a lovely draw as it’s very difficult when you’re wide, he was wide the last day when he ran in the French Guineas, he was very wide all the way. But if you have a draw and you have class like he was, then Ryan was prepared to wait, there was no rush getting him there and I don’t think he could have waited any longer.
“He’s a very classy horse. Obviously he’s a Group 1 winner on Arc day last day, he was very impressive when Christophe rode him. He had a great run in the French Guineas.
“It’s a difficult race to win and you need a horse with a lot of speed, and they have to get a mile and a quarter as well. It’s a very important race and it makes him a very important horse now. He’s a perfect, big, powerful, black horse by Wootton Bassett.
“I’m over the moon really. All the races are open to him, the [Coral] Eclipse and all that, a mile or a mile and a quarter I’d say, we’ll see what the lads want to do.”
The win marked O’Brien’s second in the French Derby after fellow shuttler St Mark’s Basilica’s (Siyouni) victory in 2021, while it was also Moore’s second win in the contest after guiding the Kevin Ryan-trained The Grey Gatsby (Mastercraftsman) to success in 2014.
Bred by Cn Farm Ltd, Camille Pissarro was purchased by M V Magnier and White Birch Farm at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 1.25 million guineas.
A half-brother to seven winners including fellow Group 1 scorer Golden Horde (Lethal Force) and the Listed winners Line Of Departure (Mehmas) and Exhort (Dutch Art), he is out of the winning Pivotal (Polar Falcon) mare Entreat.
Following Sunday’s Classic success, Camille Pissarro was a best-priced 10-1 for the Coral-Eclipse (Gr 1, 1m 2f) at Sandown on July 5.