Fantastic Spirit Lands Derby Du Midi

The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Fantastic Spirit (3 c Charm Spirit ex Fantastic Cuix by Fantastic Light) showed a good attitude to win the Derby Du Midi (Listed, 1900m) at Bordeaux Du Bouscat on Saturday and in the process handed Windsor Park shuttler Charm Spirit (Invincible Spirit) with his seventh stakes winner. 

The three-year-old colt stayed on strongly in the final stages to beat Again Music (Palace Episode) by a short-neck with another length back to Frohsim (Darbirism) in third. 

The son of Charm Spirit was purchased as a foal at the Arqana December Sale by Artemis Bloodstock Investments for €25,000, before being bought by his trainer for €50,000 at the Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale. 

The colt is one of three winners out of Fantastic Light (Rahy)-winning mare Fantastic Cuix, who is herself a half-sister to Listed winner Mont Rocher (Caerleon) and Clizia (Machiavellian) the dam of dual Group 1 winner Goldream (Oasis Dream), while Clizia also produced the dam of Classic-winning Galileo Gold (Paco Boy). 

Further back, this is also the family of multiple Group 1 winner and successful sire Montjeu (Sadler’s Wells) and fellow Group 1 winners Again (Danehill Dancer), Delphina (Galileo) and Aclaim (Acclamation). 

Charm Spirit is represented by four stakes winners in the southern hemisphere and he will return to Windsor Park in 2020, with his fee advertised at a POA basis.