Paris, FR — It resulted in a surprising victory at the Prix de l’Atlantique on the Enghien track in Paris, where the underrated Iguski Sautonne, driven by Matthieu Abrivard, surged past competitors in the final stretch to secure a confident win.
Rank outsider Iguski Sautonne, a seven-year-old horse, had never previously competed in a Group 1 race. Additionally, with earnings of €402,640, it was clearly the lowest-earning horse in the field and was listed at odds of 32-1 as the winner on the betting board.
“I would have been satisfied with a fifth or sixth place beforehand,” said trainer-driver Matthieu Abrivard, who only entered Iguski Sautonne in the major race because it was behind the gate—where other, more logical options for the horse would have been a race with standing start.
The race had Go On Boy with Romain Derieux as the favorite, and it was indeed in the lead in the final stretch, battling the leading Etonnant with Anthony Barrier. However, the finish delivered by Iguski Sautonne from the backfield was something Go On Boy couldn’t respond to.
Iguski Sautonne won the race convincingly in 1:54.3f (mile rate) and added €90,000 to its prize earnings. Go On Boy secured second place, while the Italian Ampia Mede SM, driven by Vincezo D’Alessandro, took third place.
More anticipated were Saturday’s other two winners in major races in the Nordics, both of which were Swedish.
At Klosterskogen in Norway, Betting Gangster with Björn Goop confidently claimed the Klosterskogen Grand Prix. Meanwhile, at the Seinäjoki track in Finland, Borups Victory with Daniel Wäjersten triumphed in the Seinäjoki Race, despite being parked out for most of the race.