Beauvatier rises to the Challenge at Newmarket

Beauvatier’s patience was rewarded as he worked his way from last to first to land the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Challenge Stakes at Newmarket.

The French-trained colt was representing Yann Barberot’s Deauville stable in the five-runner Group Two, with Alexis Pouchin taking the ride as the duo started at 7-1.

John and Thady Gosden’s Audience leapt into the lead and set a stern pace, with Beauvatier initially left in rear before the early speed faded and he was able to pick off the whole field one by one to prevail by two and a quarter lengths from Poet Master.

“Yann said ‘this horse is doing great and it’s a small field and I think we should run’ and he was bang on the money,” said Alex Solis, racing manager for winning co-owners LNJ Foxwoods SC.

“In his other races this year he never got any cover so we said to Alexis just grab him coming out of the gate and to just cover him up and Yann was right, he deserves all the credit.

“The first eighth of a mile the pace didn’t look like it would quicken, but then they took off and it probably set up nicely for him.

“Truthfully I don’t know what we will do with him and we were thinking he could be a nice stallion prospect, but maybe there might be more to running him internationally. We’re very fortunate to have that problem.”