Historical themes are set to run through this year’s Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club (2100m) at Chantilly, where several leading contenders bring profiles that could reshape the record of France’s premier three-year-old middle-distance Classic.

Wootton Bassett has an immediate chance to become the outright leading sire of the modern 2100m era. Since the race was shortened in 2005, no stallion has produced more than two winners, a mark he currently shares with Siyouni and Chichicastenango following the victories of Almanzor in 2016 and Camille Pissarro in 2025. Constitution River and Hawk Mountain give him two opportunities to move clear on three, joining Sadler’s Wells, Royal Oak and Young Emilius among the race’s historic stallion elite.

Recent trial evidence also gives the Listed Prix de Suresnes (2000m) another prominent role. Dolmalan is unbeaten in three starts and arrives through the same late-spring route used by Sottsass and Ace Impact. His narrow Suresnes defeat of Montreal lacked the visual

authority of those two subsequent Jockey Club winners, but the sectionals were notably strong, as he came from off a steady pace and closed his final 600m in 32.43s.

Daryzan would test an even deeper historical precedent. The Zarak colt has raced only once, winning a 14-runner Saint-Cloud newcomers’ event by five lengths after a slow start. A Jockey Club victory would make him the first winner since Pharis in 1939 to take the race on only his second career start. His pedigree adds substance, as he is out of outstanding producer Daryakana, whose previous runners have all won.

André Fabre has a familiar route with Komorebi. Fabre’s three winners since the distance change all came directly from the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains (1600m), and Komorebi fits that model after winning the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau (1600m) and finishing second in the Poulains. By Pinatubo, from a line linking Shamardal and Dalakhani, he also carries notable Jockey Club bloodlines.

Germany, meanwhile, seeks a first win in the race. Gostam and Peace Of Japan represent an unusually strong challenge after their Group 2 Bavarian Classic (2000m) efforts, with Wild Chief’s 2014 fourth still the modern benchmark for German-trained runners.

Photo: Focus on Racing