Misunderstood And Neglected Despite Record

Trainer Baratti may be French 2000 Guineas defending champion but is a long shot again

- Michael Lee

Young Italian trainer Mario Baratti claimed European racing's big scalps in 2024, when 25-1 outsider Metropolitan scored a boilover win in the Group 1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (1,600m) at Paris-Longchamp.

With the elite of the training ranks such as Andre Fabre, Aidan O'Brien, John Gosden and Francis-Henri Graffard saddling multiple-pronged attacks from both sides of the British Channel, the little-known Chantilly-based trainer drew cursory attention at best.

Less than two minutes later, Baratti, in combination with up-and-coming French jockey Alexis Pouchin, turned giant-killers when Metropolitan snuck up on the inside to steal the race known by non-francophones as the French 2000 Guineas.

It was an early Group 1 first for a trainer just thrown in at the deep end in 2019, but the polish earned from top yards like Mario Botti and Jim Bolger in UK, and the just-retired Pascal Bary, must have counted for something.

Second place also went to a long shot, 22-1 chance Dancing Gemini for another minnow, Lambourn trainer Roger Teal for a shock quinella.