French Racing - Review of Prix de Fontainebleau

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Feature Race Review: G3 Prix de Fontainebleau.

Welwal gained a third career victory from just five starts when scoring narrowly at Longchamp on Sunday, the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau (1600m), the traditional colts trial race for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (1600m).

The ten runners broke well from the stalls and around ten lengths covered the group in the early stages of the race. Welwal, raced in mid-division, three back on the inside travelling nicely under Cristian Demuro.

Turning into the home straight, the son of Shalaa needed some luck as he was briefly held-up on the inside but the three-year-old continued to catch the eye travelling powerfully with the gaps beginning to appear. The Jean-Claude Rouget trained colt came through the pack with ease to move to third passing the 300m marker. With 200m to travel, Welwal was showing a game attitude and had a narrow advantage from Texas (eventually fourth) and Mathletic (second). Making Moovies came powering home on the outside and looked a big danger in the final 150m, but Welwal found another gear and responded to score narrowly by a neck from Mathletic who produced a strong effort from the closing in Making Moovies just ahead of Texas who was a close fourth.

Welwal holds a promising profile of three wins from five outings. The son of Shalaa (who now has six individual stakes winners as a sire) made a winning debut last August at Deauville before progressing to finish second in Class Two company at Chantilly a month later. Next came another successful visit to Deauville, this time on the all-weather prior to a Class One AW second at Chantilly after a winter break. Sunday's performance was another step up in grade but the three-year-old handled it in great style and is still open to further improvement. With an entry in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulaines (1600m) next month, Welwal has the makings of a Classic contender.