Kodiac was to the fore again on Wednesday thanks to an impressive success by El Bodegon in the Group 3 Prix de Conde at Chantilly.
The colt is owned by Tony O'Callaghan with the NAS Syndicate and has done everyone proud this season, also winning his second start at Sandown before running a close third in the Group 3 Prix La Rochette.
His win also contributes to a rich autumn for Kodiac that also includes stakes wins for Bear Story and Straight Thinking. His son Ardad is also responsible for last week's Group 1 Middle Park Stakes hero Perfect Power, bred here at Tally-Ho Stud.
El Bodegon broke well and was positioned in second by Ioritz Mendizabal before assuming a narrow lead approaching the quarter-mile marker. At the line he had 1 1/4 lengths to spare over True Testament.
"I had watched the videos of all his previous races and running over nine furlongs was definitely much better than running over seven," said Mendizabal. "He's an easy horse to ride and travelled well in his own rhythm. It may have looked as though I was getting after him before turning for home, but I was just getting him prepared for the straight.
"I'm certain the trainer knows his job and the horse better than me, but I will add my personal insight and suggest that he considers the Criterium de Saint-Cloud."
El Bodegon was bred by Cecil and Martin McCracken out their excellent mare Al Andalyya, also the dam of Kodiac's three-time Group 1 winner Best Solution (now at stud in Germany). The daughter of Kingmambo hails from the excellent family of Workforce and Brian Boru.
