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Pascal Bary has decided to supplement the unbeaten, Feed The Flame for Sunday’s Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) at Chantilly.
The son of Kingman was unraced at two after a series of niggly problems which therefore indicated to the trainer, he was not a suitable runner for the French classic when the original entries were announced.
He made a winning debut at Longchamp in April in impressive fashion over the Prix du Jockey Club distance before following up over a similar trip at the same Paris venue three weeks later, successful at Class Two level to beat subsequent Group 3 Prix Hocquart winner First Minister.
The trainer, Pascal Bary has won the race six times with Celtic Arms (1994), Ragmar (1996), Dream Well (1998), Sulamani (2002), Blue Canari (2004) and Study of Man (2018). Celtic Arms, Ragmar and Blue Canari all represented the Jean-Louis Bouchard silks that Feed The Flame will sport on Sunday.
He said: "Feed The Flame had a few issues at two and it was only in February that he started to come to hand and he has improved throughout with each run.
"He has only run twice, but he is professional enough that he can handle the Prix du Jockey Club.
"He's a very big horse and like all big horses, he needed time to grow into himself. At the time the entries were made I never thought he'd be running this Sunday, but he has been supplemented.
"He only made his debut six weeks ago. I thought he would win but I didn't think he would win that easily.
"We then ran him again quickly because I felt if he had any chance of running in this, he would need time between a second run and a Classic. When he won easily again we then made the decision the supplement him."
It was also reported that Christophe Soumillon will ride the colt again and maintain the partnership.
A total of 12 horses remain from the original entries, with supplementary contenders officially announced on Wednesday.
