Femmes, Femmes, Femmes

Often won by the classiest distaffers, Sunday’s G1 Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp features two more of that sex with real gravitas in Esoterique (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). While the latter has not beaten the colts as yet, Esoterique put them firmly in their place in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville Aug. 16 and has shown as much of a liking for this circuit as she has for that Normandy venue. Successful in this track’s G3 Prix Vanteaux in 2013 before finishing a neck second to Flotilla (Fr) (Mizzen Mast) in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, Baron Edouard de Rothschild’s homebred was also a close-up fourth in this race 12 months ago. His Highness The Aga Khan’s Ervedya had been third in the G1 Prix Morny at Deauville last August on her only try at taking on the colts, but has shown marked subsequent improvement when winning the May 10 G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches over this track and trip and Royal Ascot’s G1 Coronation S. June 19. Upstaged by Amazing Maria (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) when second in Deauville’s G1 Prix Rothschild last time Aug. 2, she may just have run into a rival of real substance there. Esoterique’s trainer Andre Fabre also has Godolphin’s May 2 G1 2000 Guineas runner-up and July 12 G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Territories (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) to represent him, but is worried that the easy ground may compromise him, as it seemed to when he was second to his stable companion in the Marois. “They are both in good shape, but the only concern would be if the ground was really soft,” their conditioner said. “Esoterique is a 5-year-old and it is a big ask for a young horse like Territories to beat her on a track that she really likes. Territories, though, is really at home at Longchamp and won there impressively earlier in the season. I’ve no preference for either horse.”

Qatar Racing’s progressive Arod (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who annexed Ascot’s G2 Summer Mile July 11 before finishing just a half-length second to Solow (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood last time July 29, has another try at the top level but needs the ground not to deteriorate further. “Arod is in very good order and is working well,” racing manager David Redvers commented. “He looks fantastic and [trainer] Peter [Chapple-Hyam] is very happy with him. Obviously we are praying that the rain stays away, as the quicker the ground the happier we are. His last run showed he is one of the best milers in Europe. We are looking for an opportunity to get his head in front in a Group 1, but this certainly won’t be easy, especially if any rain comes.”

Last year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Mile hero Karakontie (Jpn) (Bernstein) was a respectable sixth in the Marois and should be closer to that race’s surprise third Wild Chief (Ger) (Doyen {Ire}) with that outing now under his belt.