Botanik takes chequered flag in G2 Grand Prix de Deauville

Botanik secured a second straight Group-race win at Deauville, France, with a comfortable victory over Stay Foolish in the G2 Grand Prix de Deauville on Sunday, 28 August.

The Golden Horn four-year-old, who made all over the same extended 12-furlong trip in the G3 Prix de Reux earlier this month, soon settled in a clear second as Stay Foolish took up the running.

Botanik started to close at the top of the straight and stayed on strongly after being switched out by Mickael Barzalona a furlong and a half out. The Andre Fabre-trained runner collard Stay Foolish approaching the final half-furlong and soon asserted over this year’s G2 Dubai Gold Cup winner, passing the line a length and a quarter in front.

Mickael Barzalona said: “Botanik has shown plenty of class since the start of the season and ran another great race today. He is an easy horse to ride and I was able to get a nice lead, with the horse to beat in front of me.

“Botanik travelled well and I had plenty in my hands. I knew that we needed some class to beat Stay Foolish and he did it well. He has done everything that he had to and now the team will decide where to go next, although I am pretty sure he will have to travel.”