Slow start costs Kind Of Blue at Chantilly

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Sun 1 Jun 2025

There was disappointment for James Fanshawe’s Royal Ascot hope Kind Of Blue in the Prix du Gros-Chene, after he completely missed the break and came home last in the Chantilly sprint.

The Wathnan Racing-owned Group One-winner was sent off favourite on seasonal bow in the five-furlong heat, but he lost any chance of taking a hand in the finish as he was unsettled in the stalls before losing significant ground to his rivals when the gates opened.

James Doyle’s mount was eventually beaten a total of six lengths by the winner Monteille, finishing last of the nine contenders, but Fanshawe tried to take the positives out of a somewhat disappointing trip to France.

Disaster for Kind Of Blue who trails in last on his reappearance…
Monteille capitalises on his misfortune to land the Group Three Prix du Gros-Chene at Chantilly! 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/Tm7H7yRm1q
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 1, 2025

He said: “It wasn’t the plan and he just completely missed the break.

“Looking at it from a positive angle, he’s been out, had a run and blown the cobwebs away. All being well, we’ll go to Ascot.

“It wasn’t ideal but at least he’s got a run under his belt. We’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Kind Of Blue was left unchanged by Coral at 7-1 for his mooted Royal Ascot target of the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.

Monteille was making just her second start for trainer Mario Baratti and showed a tremendous attitude to finish strongly off the quick fractions set by eventual third, the Czech speedball Ponntos.

The winner finished sixth to new Wathnan recruit Lazzat on her return and having enjoyed the drop back to five furlongs, she could now have a trip to the Royal meeting on her agenda having been trimmed to 25-1 from 80s by Coral for the King Charles III Stakes.

Monteille was a handy winner at Chantilly (Neil Morrice/PA)

“She was very unlucky in the Petit Couvert where she never saw daylight and would have been in the first three and might have won,” said John Hammond, racing manager for winning owner Gerard Augustin-Normand.

“She was over the top last autumn and needed her first run back. She looks like a filly that is coming to herself and has a good shape about her.

“She is in the King’s Stand at Ascot (King Charles III) so it is now a possibility, let’s see.”