Alain de Royer Dupré’s charge opens his Group account in style with victory in the Gr 3 Prix du Lys. A much calmer Montmartre than was seen in the Prix du Jockey-Club at Chantilly showed his true colours at Longchamp when cantering home clear of his rivals in the Prix du Lys. The son of Montjeu lost all chance in the French Classic earlier in the month when getting very nervous before the start due to the festive atmosphere of Chantilly on Derby day. He redeemed himself fully on Thursday with a classy performance which put him among the elite of French-trained three-year-olds. Montmartre is now the winner of two of his four starts and looks perfectly suited to the mile and a half which he tackled for the first time in the Prix du Lys. Next on the agenda for Montmartre is the Gr 1 Grand Prix de Paris at the same track on 14th July.

Montmartre is from the Jean-Luc Lagardère breeding operation, which joined that of the Aga Khan Studs in 2004. He is out of Artistique, a daughter of Linamix who won the Gr 3 Prix Berteux and,in addition to Montmartre, has also produced Gr 3 third Artistica.

updated 24/06/08