His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani-owned Big Five opened his scorecard in the Prix Matahawk at Clairefontaine, Deauville, in France yesterday.
The debutant bay gelding, which is also bred by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed, ran a little green in the 2400m race for three-year-old maidens.
The Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Big Five had to hold in the straight line to find the gap, but finished bravely under Pierre-Charles Boudot to get his head in front of Keep Away, who ran in the colours of Ecurie Normandie Pur Sang and finished second for trainer A. Schutz with Ronan Thomas astride.
Rockwood, trained by JP. Carvalho and owned by BB Bloodstock GBR, was further two-and-a-half lengths behind in third under Ioritz Mendizabal.
Big Five was gelded last November. He is a brother to the superstar Flotilla, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Group 1) and the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Group 1). Big Five was bred by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Al Shahania Stud at Haras des Cruchettes.