Ghaiyyath puts down marker for season with French stroll

Ghaiyyath is an exciting colt for this summer. Picture: Steven Cargill / Racingfotos.com

Ghaiyyath staked a big claim for QIPCO British Champions Series middle-distance honours this season with a taking success on his seasonal debut in the Prix d’Harcourt at ParisLongchamp.

William Buick rode the lightly-raced son of Dubawi with supreme confidence, letting him bowl along in front from the outset of the mile-and-a-quarter Group Two.

Steadily turning up the tempo, Buick continued to stretch the lead on the Charlie Appleby-trained colt and was well clear in the straight.

He was so far in front that Buick was able to ease Godolphin’s four-year-old right down in the final furlong.

Andre Fabre’s Soleil Marin, wearing the same silks, was extremely flattered to get within a length and a half of the winner at the line.

Appleby said of his one-time Investec Derby contender: “He’s a horse we’ve always held in high regard. He’s done his natural progression from three to four, as Dubawis do.

“It wasn’t the plan to make the running. The plan was just for him to get on with it. In doing so he ended up an impressive winner in the end. It was a pleasing start to the season for him.”

Champions Series Middle Distance races for older horses:

May 31: Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom (£500,000)

June 19: Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot (£750,000)

July 6: Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park (£750,000)

July 27: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO) (Ascot) 1,250,000.

August 21: Juddmonte International (York) (£1,000,000)

October 19: QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot (£1,300,000)