Date

Saturday 8 January 2022

Venue

Pau (AW - Standard)

Race

R4 - Prix d'Irouleguy (1600m)

Type

Maiden for three-year-olds only

Winner

Blue Falcon

Jockey

Jean-Bernard Eyquem

Trainer

Jean-Claude Rouget

Breeding

Galiway x Artifix

Second

Perle Rouge

Third

Emperor Maximus

Blue Falcon finally had things falling into place as the three-year-old colt prevailed narrowly to win at Pau AW on Saturday breaking the maiden tag on the fourth attempt.  

The Jean-Claude Rouget trained colt was strongly supported in the betting prior and showed good speed from the stalls going straight to the front and setting the pace. With a tightly packed field the son of Galiway demonstrated a professional attitude securing a good rhythm travelling along the back straight.  

At the halfway mark jockey Jean-Bernard Eyquem still had a half-length advantage from Gorek. The pace continued to look strong turning for home which meant the three-year-old had to respond and find more. Blue Falcon picked up and extended away in style with 300m to go to race three lengths clear. Rivals did close again but Jean-Bernard Eyquem just pushed out to the line for a short-head triumph. Notably, the whip was used only once and appeared to be given an educational and the colt is open to plenty of further progress.

He had previously run with promise on debut when second at Tarbes over 1500m in October before filling the same position at Pau on the all-weather twice (1400m and 1600m) in October and December respectively.

Galiway stands at Haras de Colleville for a fee of €12,000 this year and is best known for being the sire of dual Group One winner, Sealiway.