First Group 2 success for the sire who now counts three Classic fancies among his first crop. Dalakhani has quickly established himself as a sire of Classic potential, thanks to the recent victories of Centennial (Sandown Classic Trial Gr 3), Chinese White (EBF Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes, Listed) and Democrate (Prix Hocquart Gr 2).

The Prix du Jockey-Club and Arc de Triomphe hero enjoyed an impressive start to his stud career with 50% winners to runners with his first crop of juveniles last season. However it was to be expected that the champion racehorse would be even more successful when his produce reached maturity and this has proved to be the case.

Democrate provided the stallion with a first Group winner in France with his comfortable success in the eleven furlong Prix Hocquart, a traditional preparation for the Prix du Jockey-Club. The colt was opening his account on his fourth racecourse appearance, having previously taken three second places. The André Fabre-trained grey was beaten just a nose and a short head in his two outings as a juvenile, and he was far from disgraced when going down by two lengths on his seasonal debut in heavy ground.

Connections have yet to confirm an objective for Democrate. His Hocquart success gives him the credentials to be a leading contender in the 10 ½ furlong Prix du Jockey-Club but the colt looks to be a true mile and a half racehorse and may therefore be kept for the Grand Prix de Paris, for which he would certainly figure among the favourites.

Just days earlier, Chinese White had fulfilled expectations when returning the facile winner of a Gowran Park Listed contest. The daughter of Dalakhani shot to favouritism for the Epsom Oaks although her handler Dermot Weld later warned that the filly is unlikely to travel to England, preferring to wait for the Irish version of the Classic. He declared his charge to be “potentially high-class, with a lot of improvement still to come.” Chinese White was racing for only the second time in her career. She was a convincing six-length winner as a juvenile.

Updated on 13/05/2008