New Connection reinforces La Teste win with first Stakes success

New Connection took his tally to three wins from only six starts when landing his first Black-Type success in the Listed Prix Millkom at La Teste de Buch.

Having struck an authoritative conditions win over the same course and distance three weeks earlier, the three-year-old son of New Bay was tackling stakes company for the first time. Stalking the early leaders under James Doyle, he was asked to launch his challenge with a furlong to run and burst through to score by a length and a quarter from Siciliano. 

Trained by France’s champion trainer Francis Graffard, New Connection has been brought along kindly this year and will surely step into Group company for his next start. 

There was some poignancy to the running of this year’s Prix Millkom, which is named after the winner of the 1994 Grand Prix de Paris and Prix Jean Prat. Millkom had been a breakthrough first Group 1 winner for his trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, who went on to be crowned champion trainer in France on five occasions, winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe twice with Sottsass and Ace Impact.

The day before this year’s Prix Millkom, Rouget had announced his retirement from the training ranks. He will be greatly missed in French and international racing, and the team at Wathnan Racing sends him our very best regards.