CHANTILLY, France: Reliable Man won the French Derby here Sunday to give his trainer Alain de Royer Dupre his sixth win in the classic. Given a superb ride by veteran Gerald Mosse, he came late down the outside to deprive Bubble Chic in the final strides and prevail by 3/4 of a length to give the winning jockey his third win in the race but first since 1996. However, it was the performance of the third horse home, favorite Beraan, which caught the eye as he completely missed the break under Christophe Lemaire and ended up just two and three quarter lengths off the winner. At one point he was 15 lengths off the 15 other runners but with a sedate pace being set up front by Frankie Dettori on Casamento he was slowly but surely able to tack onto the back coming into the final straight. Dettori and Casamento were overhauled by Bubble Chic halfway down the straight and as he retreated he caused further problems for Lemaire and Baraan as they attempted to make their way through the field. Bubble Chic looked set for victory under Ioritz Mendizabal as other favorites like Irish 2000 Guineas champion Roderic O'Connor beat a retreat, while French 2000 Guineas hero Tin Horse rallied from the pack. However Mosse, rousting up all his experience, produced Reliable Man with the strongest of finishes to edge out Bubble Chic. Just behind there was an almighty battle to take third place and a check for nearly 200,000 euros to boot as Lemaire somehow got his recalcitrant favorite into the frame. Beraan just nosed out English outsider Colombian while the brave Tin Horse was fifth. – Agence France
