Back On the Right Tac

BACK ON THE RIGHT TAC 
Breaking through into the big time when successful in Longchamp’s G1 Prix Royal-Oak twelve months ago, Tac de Boistron (Fr) (Take Risks {Fr}) returns to the Bois de Boulogne today to relaunch his truncated season. Despite having won the 2012 G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil here, it was not until he beat the dual subsequent G3 St Simon S. and G3 John Porter S. scorer Cubanita (GB) (Selkirk) by eight lengths in Chester’s Listed Stand Cup over an extended 12-furlong trip in September that the grey was taken seriously. Second in the G1 Prix du Cadran over 2 1/2 miles on Arc day here, he was imperious when annexing this prize by five lengths later in October and looked a potential star stayer when returning to defy a seven-pound penalty in the two-mile G3 Sagaro S. at Ascot Apr. 30. Not seen since finishing runner-up in the G2 Yorkshire Cup at York May 16, trainer Marco Botti is hoping he has him back at a peak. “He had a fall earlier in the year and bruised his ribs, which can be very painful. We had to stop with him and give him plenty of time to recover,” he told PA Sport. “We had to push him a little bit harder than normal to get him ready for this weekend, but he’s an older horse, he has taken his work well and I’m very pleased with him. As it worked out, we would not have run him much this summer anyway because the ground would have been against him. He seems happy and in good form, his fitness is nearly 100% and the ground should suit him on Sunday, so we are looking forward to the race.” 
Tac de Boistron’s compatriot High Jinx (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) returns to the scene of his career-best win in the Oct. 5 G1 Prix du Cadran and trainer James Fanshawe is hoping that performance has not taken its toll. “He seems in good form at home. He’s been well and bright since the Cadran,” he told PA Sport. “You never know with horses at this time of year quite how they are, but he seems well and we’re looking forward to running him. The ground will be softer than it was at Longchamp, but he has good form in softer ground. That said, it’s a tough race and I think there is probably more strength in depth than there was in the Cadran.” 
His Highness The Aga Khan enjoyed success with the 3-year-old filly Ebadiyla (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) in 1997 and looks to Zarkava’s half-sister Zarshana (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) to emulate that achievement. After a brace of wins in the Listed Prix de Thiberville here July 13 and G3 Prix Minerve at Deauville Aug. 17, she looked in need of this kind of trip when third in the G2 Prix de Royallieu over 12 1/2 furlongs on Arc Saturday Oct. 4. On that occasion, she was a short neck and a head behind the Duke of Alburquerque’s Frine (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and that rival is on six-pounds better terms here. Another with major claims is Dr Ronan Lambe’s Aug. 22 G2 Lonsdale Cup heroine Pale Mimosa (Ire)(Singspiel {Ire}), who did not stay the 2 1/2 miles of the Cadran when third behind High Jinx last time and finally gets the testing ground she relishes here.