British raider Dalgarno flew home to land the €52,000 Listed Prix Lyphard (1.50pm local time, 14 runners) over nine and a half furlongs on Polytrack at Deauville this afternoon, Thursday, November 28, the first of three Fast-Track Qualifiers in France during the 2019/20 All-Weather Championships.
The Fiona Carmichael-owned six-year-old is now guaranteed a free start in the feature £200,000 Betway Easter Classic over 10 furlongs at Lingfield Park on Finals Day, Good Friday, April 10.
Trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam and ridden by Stephane Pasquier, Dalgarno (24.7/1) was settled in rear from stall 13 as fellow British challengers Century Dream (Simon Crisford/Pierre-Charles Boudot), sent off the 12/5 favourite, and Nkosikai (William Haggas/Tom Marquand, 10/1) duelled for the lead.
Century Dream established a clear advantage rounding the home turn and appeared to be in control with a furlong and a half remaining. Meanwhile, Dalgarno was manoeuvring through the field and, as Century Dream weakened well inside the final furlong, burst between rivals to score by a head in a time of 1m 53.82s.
Carlton Choice (Laurent Loisel/Jean-Bernard Eyquem, 31/1) finished well to take second, with a further length and a quarter back to Folamour (Andre Fabre/Maxime Guyon, 8.4/1) in third. Century Dream finished fifth.
Dalgarno, a full-brother to G3 winner Chemical Charge, has been lightly-raced in 2019 following a spell on the sidelines that lasted almost two years. He finished sixth in a Newmarket handicap on November 1, his first start for 176 days.
He began his career in France, winning three races between 10 and 12 furlongs on turf for his former trainer Nicolas Clement.
Chapple-Hyam said: "Stephane got Dalgarno nicely relaxed and the horse showed the ability today that we have always felt he had.
"We have been patient with him this year, as he has had a few niggles and we have been waiting for suitable conditions, but he is fit and ready now for an All-Weather campaign.
"The main aim now will obviously be the Easter Classic on Good Friday, which we are very much looking forward to, but there are some nice races to go for in the meantime.
"There is a Listed race at Lingfield on December 21 and I think we will have a look at that next, provided he comes out of today's race OK."
