L'Astronome victory in the Prix Hocquart

Frankel three-year-old L'Astronome won his third race in succession and gained his first blacktype after a close battle in the Gr.2 Prix Hocquart at ParisLongchamp yesterday. 

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 27th May 2022, by Tom Frary:

He had to fight to extend his winning sequence on his Group debut, but Al Asayl France's L'Astronome proved equal to the task when prevailing over Galaxie Gold in a thriller for ParisLongchamp's Gr.2 Prix Hocquart.

Sent off the 7-10 favourite for the 11-furlong test, having shown abundant promise so far and having scored over slightly shorter at this track last time, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained chestnut was unable to get a lead from the outset with Christophe Soumillon committed to going on before halfway. Tackled on both sides in what would have been a long last furlong for connections, he refused to allow Ecurie d'Haspel's rail-runner the glory and thrust his neck out to prevail by a head, with three-quarters of a length back to the Gr.3 Bavarian Classic winner Lavello in third.

"I think it was a nice performance," Graffard said. "Christophe feared he might be caught for speed with this horse and so took up his responsibilities. He said the horse is still green and immature and was asked to do something he had never done before, so this education will certainly help him in the future. The horse was courageous and brave and he is now three-for three this season. The owners will enjoy this and we will now concentrate on our target, the Gr.1 Grand Prix de Paris on July 14th. Hopefully the ground will be even faster and he will appreciate the extra furlong."