Trainer Ken Condon
Trainer Ken Condon

Prix Jean Prat report: Laws Of Indices in surprise success


Ken Condon’s Laws Of Indices was a determined and surprise winner of the Group One Haras d’Etreham Prix Jean Prat at Deauville.

Olivier Peslier had Laws Of Indices prominent throughout in the centre of the course and then held off a series of challengers on all sides in the final two furlongs to win at 28/1, leading home an Irish one-two by a head from Joseph O’Brien’s Thunder Moon.

For County Kildare trainer Condon, this was a third Group One victory – following Romanised’s successes in the 2018 Irish 2,000 Guineas and 2019 Jacques le Marois at this course.

Laws Of Indices had to be very tough, stepping back up in trip and winning for the first time since springing an even bigger surprise in the Group Two Railway Stakes at the Curragh 12 months ago.

He proved himself again, though, to see off Thunder Moon – with Andre Fabre’s joint-favourite Midtown another length and a half back in third.

Condon was delighted that the ambitious plan had paid off, with a horse he knew was still improving.

“It’s just a dream result, fantastic,” he said.

“He got a super ride, an uncontested lead – and when he got there still travelling well, I knew he should be in the shake-up.

“I think he was headed, and he fought back at the end. So it’s brilliant.”

Laws Of Indices has established a handy knack, in his brief career to date, of confounding the odds against him.

Condon added: “These races – 28/1 – (but) the owners are ambitious, and were willing to have a go, not afraid to lose. Sometimes it works!

“I’m delighted the five owners were all of the same mind to have a go, and they’ve been rewarded.

“He’s a horse that’s kept improving, and this is huge for them. He was an eight-grand yearling – it’s a great story.

“I thought he’d been sold a few times, but it just never happened. Group Ones are so hard to come by.”

Laws Of Indices was winless in his previous six starts, but Condon had not lost belief in him.

“I knew when he ran so well in the Guineas trial (in fifth at Leopardstown in April) that he’d trained on,” said Condon.

“Under his Group Two penalty there – yes, Poetic Flare won it, but he showed up well. Then he ran well at Naas, and you’d forgive him Royal Ascot on very heavy ground.

“He was 66/1 when he won the Railway – he was fifth (in the Commonwealth Cup) but only had one behind him two (furlongs) down, well out of his ground on heavy, really deep ground and finished well."

Further overseas trips are likely to be on the agenda for the son of Power – after a break to recover from this weekend’s travel and exertions.

“It’s the last three-year-old only of the year – you have to meet your elders now,” said Condon.

“The Haydock Sprint Cup is normally very soft ground, (and) I see him as a seven-furlong horse. I think that’s his optimum trip.

“So maybe the (Prix de la) Foret I’d say – you’d just hope that Longchamp at that time of year is not too deep. It can go either way, but I don’t think he wants extremes.

“With a horse like him you’d look at a Breeders’ Cup Mile as well, because you need pace there.”

Condon also paid tribute to Peslier, who had won the first of his many career Group Ones in this same race on Le Balafre back in 1993.

“One of the guys asked me beforehand, ‘what did you tell Olivier Peslier how to ride him’?” he said.

“I said ‘you don’t tell him what to do’. I knew we were in good hands, just leave it to him.”

Laws Of Indices’ victory was one of three on the card for British and Irish challengers.

Jessica Harrington’s Loch Lein also won the Listed Prix Armandine for Ireland – and at the same level, in the opening Prix Yacowlef, Monmouthshire trainer David Evans’ juvenile filly Choux was a neck winner in the Chris Kiely colours which have been so successful this season with dual Group and Royal Ascot-winning sprinter Rohaan.


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