Irish Signature on the French Derby…

On Sunday, June 1, 2025, at Chantilly Racecourse, the 2025 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) was won by Camille Pissarro (Wootton Bassett – Entreat, Pivotal), trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore for the Coolmore Stud.

This victory marked O’Brien’s second win in this prestigious race, and Moore’s second as well, following his 2014 triumph with The Grey Gatsby.

Camille Pissarro, a son of Wootton Bassett, found himself in a tight position on the inside rail for much of the race. However, in the final 200 meters, he burst through a gap that opened between his rivals, Bowmark and Trinity College, taking the lead and holding off the challenges of Cualificar and Detain to win by half a length.

After the race, O’Brien stated that he had doubts about Camille Pissarro’s ability to handle the distance, but jockey Christophe Soumillon had assured him that the horse could comfortably run it after finishing third in the French 2000 Guineas (Poule d’Essai des Poulains).

Moore commented that he employed a patient strategy during the race, waiting for the opportune moment. He noted that the pace of the race wasn’t overly fast, and Camille Pissarro’s acceleration allowed them to navigate through tight spaces to secure the victory.

This win marked Camille Pissarro’s second Group 1 triumph of his career, having previously won the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère in 2024. Furthermore, this victory automatically qualified Camille Pissarro for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. However, French Galop handicappers assigned Camille Pissarro an official rating of 116 for this victory, making it the second-lowest rating given to a Prix du Jockey Club winner since 2010.

In the French Derby, Cualificar (Lope De Vega) finished second, Detain (Wootton Bassett) was third, and Tirintiy College (Dubawi) secured fourth place.