Leading trainer Jean-Claude Rouget is operating at a fantastic strike rate and looks to have another promising colt in Western Front who was a runaway winner last Friday at Pau. 

The third race on the card was a fascinating eleven runner maiden where Western Front was strongly supported in the betting beforehand and started clear favourite. This son of Dark Angel had a good draw from stall two and despite a slow jump, he showed early speed and was close to the pace settling in third on the inside, around four lengths off the leader Sandstorm. 

With a fast-opening 200m, the pace collapsed quickly when Sandstorm got to the front and the winner was keen racing with a high head carriage. The race returned to an average speed as they went through halfway. Jean-Bernard Eyquem made a move on the three-year-old as they turned right-handed for home to be two off the rail and a close fourth. 

When the group entered the home straight, Western Front was finding his stride and quickly made-up ground on the outside passing the 400m marker. He accelerated to the front with 300m left to run and was only pushed out by Jean-Bernard Eyquem. The colt stretched clear securing a comfortable five to six length advantage before dropping off the momentum to finish an easy four length winner of the 2000m maiden. 

Owned by Susan Magnier, this three-year-old colt is promising with two placings and this success from four lifetime starts. He ran a fair fourth on debut at Tarbes in October followed by a third over this course and distance three weeks later, then finished runner-up in January where he beat the re-opposing Sandstorm who has now finished one position behind Western Front on two occasions.  

The pedigree of Western Front is also worth noting. Sire Dark Angel is a highly successful stallion producing multiple notable champion sprinters and milers (1600m horses) along with a good two-year-old record. Further progress is likely, and it will be interesting how Jean-Claude Rouget campaigns the three-year-old.