The result of the much-anticipated first European Classic of 2020, the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains, provided a poignant result as Godolphin colt Victor Ludorum followed in his late sire Shamardal’s footsteps to win in convincing fashion.
An unbeaten G1 winner at two, it was no surprise that Victor Ludorum was sent off as favourite to win the race which was won by his sire back in 2005.
Settled towards the rear under Mickael Barzalona during the early stages of the race, Victor Ludorum was still cruising as the field approached the two-furlong marker. Once asked for his effort, he could not have been more impressive, flying up on the inside rail to take the lead and win by a length and a half.
The Andre Fabre-trained colt won all three of his starts last year, rounding off his juvenile campaign with victory in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere last October (pictured).
A Godolphin homebred, Victor Ludorum is a half-brother to the Listed winning and G1-placed Mary Tudor, out of the G3 placed Kaldounevees mare Antiquities. She is herself the best performer from the Listed winning Historian, a half-sister to G1 winner and leading sire Street Cry. They are out of the G1 Irish Oaks heroine and blue hen Helen Street, the grand dam of Victor Ludorum’s own sire Shamardal. This is the extended family of G1 Prix Jean Prat winner and Darley stallion Territories">Territories.
Victor Ludorum is one of 25 G1 winners for Shamardal, who sadly died in April. Another, and a colt who is also aiming for Classic success, is of course Pinatubo who will line up in the English 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket this Saturday.
