Brave Brundtland leads home 1-2 in Prix Chaudenay

Brundtland maintained his unbeaten record with a rallying victory over Lillian Russell in the G2 Prix Chaudenay over a mile and seven furlongs at Longchamp, France, on Saturday, 6 October. 

Three-year-Dubawi colt Brundtland, stepping up in trip for Charlie Appleby following a short-head success in the G2 Prix Niel at the same course on 16 September, broke well and took up the running for William Buick after a furlong. 

Brundtland was asked to stretch his seven rivals turning for home and battled back strongly after being headed by the staying-on Lillian Russell (Henri-Alex Pantall/Mickael Barzalona) over a furlong from home. 

The Godolphin duo went clear inside the final furlong, with Brundtland regaining the advantage half a furlong out before asserting near the line to prevail by half a length in 3m 17.64s on good to soft ground. 

Charlie Appleby commented: “Brundtland is a very genuine horse. We were always intending to make the running and William has given the horse a nice tactical ride.

“When he was challenged in the straight, I was confident that Brundtland wasn’t going to drop away and it was a question of whether something was good enough to pick him up. He showed his true guts and determination to stick it out well. 

“We came here with a lot of confidence and he hasn’t let us down. The plan was always to go for this race rather than the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and I am delighted that he has won.

“That is probably him done for the season now and we can look forward to next year.”

Lisa-Jane Graffard of Godolphin said: “Lillian Russell is improving all the time and has run another cracking race. 

“She is a Dubawi filly from a family that definitely progresses with age, so we have plenty of reasons to think that she has a bright future. 

“Henri-Alex Pantall will decide whether to give her another run this year or put her away.”