Sport

Khalkevi shows his toughness

Khalkevi bounced back from a French Derby failure to win the Group One Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris in dramatic fashion at Longchamp…

Mon Jun 24 2002 - 01:00

Khalkevi bounced back from a French Derby failure to win the Group One Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris in dramatic fashion at Longchamp yesterday.

The Aga Khan-owned runner almost fell before turning in to the straight as a result of clipping heels with Rashbag.

The incident cost Khalkevi vital momentum as the Prix Hocquart winner dropped back to last under Christophe Soumillon.

However, Khalkevi, who was ninth in the French Derby behind Sulamani, showed his class by producing a whirlwind finish which enabled him to deny Shaanmer at the death by a head.

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Without Connexion was a creditable third a length and a half further back in third as the remainder failed to get a look in.

Soumillon said of Khalkevi (28-10): "The fact that the colt almost fell and still won speaks volumes for him.

"The horse had an unhappy time of it in the French Derby when he got bumped, but he showed his true mettle here."

John Gosden's Foreign Accent sailed into a five length lead as the gates opened, but was well beaten as he faded to finish last of the sextet.

Earlier in the day Morozov edged out John Gosden's Suleiman in the Group Prix du Lys over a mile and a half.

The front-running Suleiman put up stout resistance, but Morozov proved just that bit better by getting up to win by a nose in the Group Three heat.

Paul Cole's Swing Wing filled the minor placing a further length and a half away.

Andre Fabre, who was successful with Morozov, claimed his second Group win in the seven-furlong Porte Maillot by virtue of War Zone's impressive come back.

Unraced since October, the Khalid-Abdullah-owned runner showed impressive finishing speed which enabled him to come from last to first to win cosily by a length and a half.

Eoghan O'Neill's Maranilla gained his third continental success in the Group Three Walther J Jacobs Rennen at Bremen yesterday.

Adding to a French juvenile success and a Frankfurt win in April, Maranilla scored a decisive length and a quarter win over Ammonias.

Maranilla's rider, John Egan, was later fined €150 by the stewards for misuse of the whip. The winner was a 2.7 to 1 shot on the tote.

At Dortmund, John Dunlop's Inglenook ran below his best when fifth to War Blade in the Group Three Grosser Preis der Dortmunder Wirtschaft.