Andre Fabre has today announced that his star four year old Persian King could well travel over to England for the Juddmonte International at York next month.
On Sunday the Group One Prix d'Ispahan took centre stage at Chantilly with some smart British raiders making the trip over for the contest but Persian King was not for passing and looks back to his best.
Having been a superstar over the last two seasons, winning the French 2000 Guineas and then finishing a narrow second in the French Derby, his form took a slight dip.
After his Performance at Chantilly in the Prix du Jockey Club, he was not seen for a year and came back in a Listed event needing the run and finished second.
With that run under his belt there was no excuses over a mile at Saint Cloud in a Group Two and although not being dominant he managed to get back to winning ways under a great ride by Pierre-Charles Boudot.
Pure class - Persian King wins the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan for @PCBoudot and André Fabre! pic.twitter.com/SFwh0ysLR3
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 19, 2020
This set him up perfectly on Sunday in the Group One event and he was back to his best, dominantly stretching away from a classy field and now looks one to follow for the Autumn in both France and potentially England.
The son of Kingman is eyeing a possible crack at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with York and the Prix Jacques le Marois a couple of possible options before that.
(Credit ATR) Fabre said: “He was very impressive. He has improved with each race, but don’t forget the horse who beat him first time out (Magny Cours) has since won at Sandown against Group horses.
“So, his form has worked out and he won well on Sunday. He always looked comfortable and he quickened well.
“York is a remote possibility, that’s all, because the Marois is very tempting as a very prestigious race – not that the York race isn’t.
“The difference is the timing because if we go to York, then you have no other options before the Arc or the Champion Stakes.
“Thankfully the travelling is getting better for us, so that would not put us off.
“The Arc has always been in the back of my mind for him because of his family (dam’s sire is Dylan Thomas), so because of that the York race might suit him better, going up in trip gradually, but we have other options as well.”