Sauterne provided her trainer Patrice Cottier with a big Group-race double by claiming the Group 1 Prix du Moulin just hours after Horizon Dore landed the Prix du Prince d’Orange on the same card.
Patrice Cottier filly arrived following two high-class placed efforts in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat and Prix Rothschild but was sent off a general 10/1 chance to gain a breakthrough top-level success, with French Derby and Prix Jacques le Marois runner-up Big Rock dominating the betting as he bid for that elusive first Group 1 success.
As expected, Big Rock soon found himself at the head of affairs the confirmed front-runner looked to have his rivals in trouble Lemaitre kicked his mount for home rounding the bend. However, Christopher Head-trained three-year-old soon came under pressure and the pack began to eat into his lead with a furlong to run.
Sauterne, who was settled nicely towards the inside under Tony Piccone, showed a smart turn of foot to get upsides the tiring Big Rock approaching the final furlong and from that moment on, the Patrice Cottier-trained daughter of Kingman never looked like being passed.
Big Rock kept on well once headed to finish runner-up once more but the 3/5 market leader was a length behind Sauterne crossing the line.
The third spot went the way of Facteur Cheval, who stayed on strongly in the closing stages and may well remain in contention for a bid at Ascot's Qipco Champion Stakes later in the season.
