Thursday's G3 Prix Djebel at Maisons-Laffitte offers the opportunity for a clutch of French colts to stake a claim for the G1 2000 Guineas, with one of the most intriguing being the unbeaten Andre Fabre project Make Believe (GB) (Makfi {GB}). A half-brother to the high-class Dubawi Heights (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Prince Faisal's rare foal purchase had the re-opposing fellow Guineas entry Sinfonietta (Fr) (Sinndar {Ire}) back in second on his debut over 7 1/2 furlongs at Deauville in late October before following up over the same trip at Saint-Cloud the following month. By Makfi, who annexed this race in 2010 prior to taking Newmarket by storm, the unexposed colt will make a serious impact on the upcoming Classic if he is able to upstage some solid if unexciting rivals here. Chief among them is Nucifera (More Than Ready), who met his match in Full Mast (Mizzen Mast) when second in the G3 Prix la Rochette at Longchamp in September before finishing eighth of nine in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere back there on Arc day. Full Mast's stable companion Alpha Bravo (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) represents Khalid Abdullah and Criquette Head-Maarek here, having filled the runner's-up spot behind the enterprisingly ridden Fabre-trained filly Alea Iacta (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon over a mile at Saint-Cloud in October. Despite being comprehensively outgunned by that lone runner, the homebred still managed to best Karaktar (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) as he won the battle for minor honors on the far rail and the Aga Khan's colt was very impressive in the Listed Prix Francois Mathet on Saturday.
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