G3 second again for Syrtis

Syrtis finished a G3 runner-up for the second successive outing this year, and third time in all, when dropped in trip for the nine-furlong G3 Prix de Guiche at Chantilly, France, on Monday, 6 May.

The three-year-old Frankel colt was second on his return to action in G3 Prix Noailles over ten and a half furlongs at Longchamp on Sunday, 14 April.

Syrtis, trained by Andre Fabre and partnered by Pierre-Charles Boudot, broke well and was prominent on the outside before being settled in third. He progressed to second and cruised up to lead soon after entering the straight, but was headed by the eventual winner, Flop Shot, nearly a furlong and a half out.

Syrtis, slightly checked by the winner coming across to the inside rail at the distance, kept on to be beaten three lengths by Flop Shot whose time was 1m 52.55s on turf described as soft.

Lisa-Jane Graffard of Godolphin commented: “Both Andre and I thought immediately after the race whether we should drop back further in distance with Syrtis, but Pierre-Charles was not so sure.

“We will discuss what to do – Syrtis travels strongly in his races, but seems to lack a real kick.”

Syrtis made a winning debut over a mile at Longchamp in September last year and then chased home Godolphin’s subsequent G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf victor Line Of Duty in the nine-furlong G3 Prix de Conde at Chantilly in October.