Ponte Tresa, trained by locally-based handler Yves de Nicolay, notched up her first pattern race win at the tenth attempt when clinching the Gr.2 Prix Kergorlay at Deauville this afternoon.

Finalmente and Limatus broke well and set off at a surprisingly strong pace for this 1m7f contest and soon opened up a four-length gap to the remaining group led by four-time group winner Coastal Path. Ponte Tresa and Olivier Peslier were content to remain at the rear of the field.

Entering the final turn the leaders led by little. Royal And Regal made the first move at the apex of the bend and was quickly followed by Coastal Path and Varevees who was taking the shortest route.

Coming into the straight Peslier brought his mare wide towards the stands as Royal And Regal took the lead. Stéphane Pasquier got down to business on Coastal Path to moderate effect but at the furlong marker Mad Rush responded to Christophe Lemaire’s urgings with Ponte Tresa still a length adrift on his outside.

It was quickly to become a two-horse race as Ponte Tresa and mad Rush fought out the finish but Peslier got the best out of his mount and went on to win with a half-length to spare.

Coastal Path came in third 2½ lengths away with Hi Calypso fourth and German raider Caudillo in fifth.

This victory will have been a great relief to the German owners-breeders who came to France due to the paucity of prizemoney and standard of racing in Germany. Ponte Tresa finished third in this race last year and was subsequently rewarded with a third place in the Gr.1 Prix Royal Oak (French St. Leger).

Ponte Tresa is expected to follow a similar route again this season.
RacingNewswire