Camille Pissarro's victory, illustrating a Franco-Irish friendship

Qatar Prix du Jockey Club

Camille Pissarro's victory, illustrating a Franco-Irish friendship

Summary of the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club

On Sunday, the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (Group 1), the first leg of the Arc Races in Chantilly, was decided well before the finish line: the three horses that would eventually finish on the podium (Camille Pissarro, Cualificar and Detain) were already well positioned behind the two leaders (including the future fourth-place finisher, Trinity College) with one kilometre to go, as they approached the long final turn that passes in front of the grand stables. In fact, among the top five, the only horse that made up ground in the home stretch was the Aga Khan's Azimpour, who finished fifth ahead of his stablemate Ridari.

All the horses that came out wide, often forced by their poor draw in the starting gates, marked time on the home straight. It is true that when classy horses hold the inside rail, it is almost impossible to make up ground on them.

Camille Pissarro is trained in Ireland, at the renowned Ballydoyle stud farm run by Aidan O'Brien, but he loves France, where he has won his most prestigious titles: the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (Group 1) at the age of two in October 2024 and third place in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Group 1) on 11 May 2025. He is also a son of the miracle stallion Wootton Bassett, who made his name in France and now stands at stud at Coolmore Stud (Ireland), the stud farm where Aidan O'Brien trains his horses.

Another link between France and Ireland (apart from the horse's name, which refers to one of the French masters of Impressionism) is that Camille Pissarro's dam produced another Group 1 winner before him: Golden Horde... a stallion in Normandy at the Montfort et Préaux stud farm!

It is worth noting that in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains, Camille Pissarro was beaten by his training partner and stablemate, Henri Matisse – also a son of Wootton Bassett and also named in honour of a great French painter...

Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien – considered by many observers to be the best trainer in the world – won this edition of the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club.

The Qatar Prix du Jockey Club inaugurates the ARC Races

A highlight of the horse racing calendar, the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club today inaugurated the Arc Races, a new circuit of eight exceptional races leading up to the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, with the winners earning a Wild Card for this autumn challenge.

With the Arc Races, France Galop offers a clear, accessible and spectacular thread to follow the greatest champions on their way to the Arc. The series is designed to engage both enthusiasts and newcomers alike, thrilling them throughout a season rich in emotion.

On Sunday 1 June at Chantilly, the winner of the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, Camille Pissarro, earned his place in the ‘World Cup of Thoroughbreds’, which will be held on Sunday 5 October at ParisLongchamp.

The technical result

1st CAMILLE PISSARRO (R. Moore)

2nd CUALIFICAR (W. Buick)

3rd DETAIN (C. Soumillon)

4th TRINITY COLLEGE (W. Lordan)

5th AZIMPOUR (C. Lecoeuvre)

Time: 2'04''40. Margins: 1/2 – ENC – T – ENC – CTT.

Statements from those involved

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Camille Pissarro, 1st, and Trinity College, 4th (Ireland)

"When he dismounted after the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains, jockey Christophe Soumillon immediately told us to run him in the Jockey Club. He's a miler... but he can handle 2,000 metres, and that's all you need to win the French Derby. He's a colt we've always liked a lot. Last year was our first chance in the Coventry Stakes, but at that time he was probably too green. As time went by, he toughened up, and in the second half of the year we felt he deserved to run in the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère. As for his future programme, we're taking it one race at a time. His owners will discuss it with the jockey, who will get back to me... He's got a lot of speed..."

Ryan Moore, jockey of Camille Pissarro, 1st^(Ireland)

‘The race went very smoothly. I had a good draw, the pace wasn't crazy, but the horse was very relaxed. When I asked him, he responded well. It was Christophe Soumillon who taught me how to ride him!’

Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, co-owners of Camille Pissarro, 1st, and Trinity College, 4th (Ireland)

‘It's always a pleasure to come to France and win. When you have a great horse, a great trainer and a great jockey, life is easy!’

Louise Benard, representative of Godolphin in France, owner of Cualificar, 2nd (Chantilly, Oise)

"William Buick is really happy with the colt and thinks he can go longer in the future. He said he had a good temperament and was really easy throughout the race. It's a very nice second place behind a very good colt. It's really positive for the future. He's entered in the Grand Prix de Paris (on 13 July), but we'll have to see how he comes out of this race and how he works in the morning. The decision is up to André Fabre."

Barry Mahon, manager of Juddmonte, owner of Detain, 3rd (England)

"It was a very good performance. We are very happy with what he is doing. Christophe Soumillon told us he believed in him for a few strides. But Ryan Moore and the winner flew down the rail. And then Godolphin came and took second place from him. Detain has great things ahead of him this season. The 2,000 metres suits him perfectly. We could even consider 2,400 metres. We're going to stick with this distance after a short break because he's had a busy start to the season."

Nemone Routh, racing manager at Aiglemont, owner of Azimpour, 5th^and Ridari, 6th(Chantilly, Oise)

"We are very happy with Azimpour. He wasn't helped by his inside draw, but he ran a very good straight. He came on very strongly at the end, but perhaps a little too late. I think he was the horse on the outside that finished best in the whole race. Going forward, I think he'll be better on slightly softer ground, so he'll probably perform better at the end of the year. He's entered in the Grand Prix de Paris, but we'll have to discuss that again, because at this time of year the track is often a bit too fast for him.

As for Ridari, there's no real excuse. We wonder if he can handle the 2,100 metres. Based on his performance in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, he should be right behind the leaders. But here, he didn't have the speed to finish well. He's missing something at the end! Maybe the distance is just too long for him.

Source: France Galop