Cualificar stars again in G3 Prix de Guiche

Cualificar consolidated his status as a leading Prix du Jockey Club contender with a routine success in the G3 Prix de Guiche at Chantilly, France, on Tuesday, 6 May.

The son of 2010 Prix du Jockey Club victor Lope de Vega was chasing a third straight win this season, having followed up a Saint-Cloud maiden success in March with a game neck verdict in the following month’s G3 Prix La Force at Longchamp.

Settled in second for much of the nine-furlong contest, Cualificar ranged up on the outside of Madero to hit the front approaching the final quarter-mile.

Cualificar stayed on strongly under Alexis Pouchin, who eased the Andre Fabre-trained colt close home to score by a length and a quarter over Al Aali.

Louise Benard of Godolphin said: “Caulificar had already won at G3 level in the Prix La Force and showed again that he is a nice horse. Alexis had him perfectly positioned throughout and won almost under a hand ride.

“He is a horse with a lovely attitude, who has progressed with each of his starts, so hopefully there is more improvement to come. He is entered in the Prix du Jockey Club and Grand Prix de Paris, and Andre will decide where we go next.”