Improving Savanne stars in G3 for Rock

The Andre Fabre-trained Savanne (3f Rock Of Gibraltar-Sevenna, by Galileo) looked a filly with a big future when comfortably winning the G3 Prix de Royaumont on French Derby day at Chantilly.

The Gestut Ammerland home-bred was having only her third start as she ran out an impressive winner of the 12-furlong contest under Pierre-Charles Boudot.

Crispin de Moubray, racing manager to Gestut Ammerland, told JDG: “This has always been a beautiful filly. I thought she was good but that she may just lack experience today.”

Boudot told Equidia: “My filly was very calm before the race and she picked up well in the final stages. She did that very pleasingly and I think she is a really good filly on good ground.”

Savanne is out of the Galileo mare Sevenna, a Goodwood G3 winner whose half-sister Scatina was a G2 winner in Germany.

Meanwhile, Rock Of Gibraltar’s son Prince Gibraltar (3c Rock Of Gibraltar-Princess Sofia, by Pennekamp) had a frustrating run when sent off favourite and finishing third in the G1 Prix du Jockey-Club. His long-term aim is the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

“I feared that scenario might happen and it is very difficult to come from behind so the way the race was run didn’t suit him,” said trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. “He is a class horse but it was impossible for him to win with the way the race developed. He’s likely to run in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris then hopefully in the autumn he is a horse for the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.”