Coup d'Etat for French in Prince of Wales's Stakes

French raider Vision d’Etat ensured that England went a second day without claiming group 1 success at the 2009 Royal Meeting, defeating home favourite Tartan Bearer to win the 1 mile Prince of Wales’s Stakes on Wednesday.

The French Derby winner was always going to be a threat at Ascot, but needed to reach deep in the final furlong to edge ahead of Tartan Bearer and take the win. Another French raider, Never on a Sunday, came home in third place. Twice Over finished fourth.

"I was just behind the lead,” winning jockey Olivier Peslier said after the race. “My horse is not lazy and I just took a bit of time. I needed a chance and he moved out well. The trainer told me before it was better if he came late and the race was perfect for me.”

"He's a typical French horse. When you are one or two lengths behind it's not a big problem because he's got a good turn of foot. That was a big help for me."

Trainer Eric Libaud suggested that he’ll be sending Vision d’Etat to the final French Classic, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after Ascot.

"Of all the winners I've had in the world this is the best one,” Limbaud told Sky Sports. "I knew it was going to be difficult from last place but I could see the horse was going well and Olivier had told me the straight at Ascot is long, so I was quietly confident. This is the nicest and best victory I've ever achieved."