ZELZAL sauntered home in the Prix Paul de Moussac at Chantilly last Saturday and paid a considerable compliment to The Gurkha who had him trailing in his wake in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains at Deauville last month. The form of that classic has worked out exceptionally as five of the colts trounced by The Gurkha have either been placed in the Prix du Jockey Club or won a group or listed event.

Zelzal was 11th (beaten 12 lengths) in the Poulains and a very different proposition when taking the Group 3 Paul de Moussac. Gregory Benoist never had an anxious moment in the mile, which was run at a decent pace thanks to the presence of Moon Trouble. He was clear running into the straight but Zelzal was cruising and just waiting for his jockey to press the button.