by Mike Curry

After placing three times in Group 1 races, Lord Shanakill battled gamely to post a breakthrough victory in the Prix Jean Prat (Fr-G1) on Sunday at Chantilly.

The Kentucky-bred Speightstown colt held off game runner-up Oiseau de Feu by a head in a thrilling finish, providing trainer Karl Burke with his first success at the highest level.

Lord Shanakill brought Burke tantalizingly close last year when he was beaten by a nose by Intense Focus in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes (Eng-G1) in October. After a 12th-place finish in his season debut in the Stanjames.com Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1), he entered off a strong third-place finish in the St. James’s Palace Stakes (Eng-G1) on June 16 at Royal Ascot. On Sunday at Chantilly, Lord Shanakill would not be denied.

Ridden by Jim Crowley, Lord Shanakill stalked pacesetter Milanais from second and seized command with about 300 meters remaining in the 1,600-meter (7.95-furlong) race for three-year-olds. Oiseau de Feu rallied willingly to test Lord Shanakill to the limit in the final strides, but the winner fought to the finish to prevail in 1:38.90 on turf rated as good. He is owned by Mogely Stud and Mark Gittins.

"It is my first Group 1 winner and it does so much for the horse’s [résumé], so we are really delighted,” Burke told Racing Post. “The [Prix du Haras de Fresnay le Buffard] Jacques Le Marois (Fr-G1) is a possibility and the [BGC] Sussex Stakes (Eng-G1) at Goodwood, they are the races to consider."

New York-bred Group 3 winner Oiseau de Feu finished a half-length in front of third-place finisher Irian. Multiple French classic-placed Group 2 winner Westphalia (Ire) finished a nonthreatening fifth in the nine-horse field.

The first starter of the Theatrical (Ire) mare Green Room, Lord Shanakill is from the family of Irish classic winner Al Bahathri and Grade 1 winners Spanish Fern and Heatseeker (Ire). He improved to three wins, two seconds, and four thirds in 11 starts.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor