Persian King leads Godolphin one-two finish at Prix du Moulin de Longchamp

Andre Fabre-trained four-year-old beats Charlie Appleby’s Pinatubo by a length and three quarter

Persian King, ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot. Shutterstock

Persian King, under an enterprising ride by Frenchman Pierre-Charles Boudot, led a one-two finish for Godolphin in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp on Sunday.

The Andre Fabre-trained four-year-old son of Kingman under got the better of Charlie Appleby’s Pinatubo by a length and three quarter.

Circus Maximus, who set the early pace, was a further six lengths behind in third followed by Siskin and another Godolphin runner Victor Ludorum.

Boudot tracked Ryan Moore on the front-running Circus Maximus and the pair quickly built up a substantial lead from the rest of the field.

Boudot sent Persian King to the front at the three-furlong mark and was still well clear from the chasing pack. James Doyle on Pinatubo made a vain bid to get close but they were left with too much to do towards the end.

“I wanted to be on the pace today and the horse didn't quite break on terms with Circus Maximus,” Boudot said.

“He went faster up front and I left my horse to gallop in his own rhythm. He was very relaxed and just very good today.

“He began to pick up a little in the false straight and when I pulled him wide he showed all of his talent."

Persian King’s victory took Godolphin’s Group 1 tally to 13 and brought up their total winners to 408 worldwide for the year.

“It's annoying when the front two get a break on you like that but we were mindful of the mile and we wanted to ride him patiently,” Doyle, who had to sit behind early in the race, said.

“I followed Siskin and he elected to give the front two a bit of a gap and he's a horse that, when you do pull him into space, he lights up so we just had to sit and suffer.

“But he's made up a lot of ground and the mile is definitely no problem.”

Persian King was bouncing back from a disappointing fourth in the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois, behind Palace Pier, and was recording his third top-level win.

It appeared to be a tactical race with Fabre double-handed with Persian King and Victor Ludorum.

“I don’t think it was because of strategy – the best horse on the day won,” Fabre said.

The Frenchman, winning the prize for the seventh time, also said he had different targets for the winner.

“We have different options, one is the Champion Stakes at Ascot and another is the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe [in October],” he added.

“I think he can step back up in distance and we will see closer to the time which way we go.”