By Tom Frary
Following a remarkable Chester May meeting, Ballydoyle will look to continue their momentum into the weekend, with two Classics at stake on Sunday. Heading the baker's dozen going forward for ParisLongchamp's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains is the yard's Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and Criterium International hero Puerto Rico (Wootton Bassett), while their Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica) is heavily favoured for the 15-strong G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.
Puerto Rico (Wootton Bassett), who will be accompanied by the G3 Killavullan Stakes and Goffs Million winner Dorset (Wootton Bassett), is drawn in stall seven with his stablemate in three. The domestic defence is headed by Francis Graffard trainee Rayif (Sea The Moon), who was last seen running third to Puerto Rico in the Lagardere.
Nemone Routh, racing manager of the Aga Khan Studs, is hoping for a bold show from Rayif while remaining realistic on what will be his seasonal bow. “Rayif worked very well on Tuesday morning. He reassured us and I really felt that we were seeing the horse we know again,” she said. “We simply hope that the ground will not be too soft, as he is clearly more effective on a fast track.”
“He hadn't fully convinced us in his final piece of work before the Prix de Fontainebleau, when we were coming out of a slightly difficult period at the yard with several horses not running well so we gave him time. He is back to his best in training, is a straightforward, well-made horse with a very good turn of foot. He'll be tackling 1,600 metres for the first time, but that does not particularly worry us as he is a relaxed horse who does not pull and knows how to settle before producing his turn of foot.”
Britain's lone contender is the Karl Burke-trained G3 Autumn Stakes winner Hankelow (Night Of Thunder), who will depart from stall five. Re-routed from the 2,000 Guineas, he needs the rain that connections of Rayif are hoping stays away. “Hankelow is in great form,” he said. “Rain would be welcome for him and I am looking forward to seeing him run. I think he is a quality horse who could appreciate a slightly longer distance, but 1,600 metres on soft ground is a good starting point.”
Second and third to Godolphin's re-opposing Komorebi (Pinatubo) in the Fontainebleau, the Wertheimers' Nighttime (Wootton Bassett) and Elastic (Lope De Vega) have drawn 13 and six respectively.
“The two colts ran very well in the Prix de Fontainebleau and I think they still had a little in hand that day so they will arrive at 100% on Sunday,” Pierre-Yves Bureau said. “They know ParisLongchamp, they are not particularly ground-dependent, so we are fairly confident. Nighttime, in particular, has changed enormously over the winter. He is developing into a very handsome colt and I absolutely do not think that his two-year-old season has left any mark on him. Elastic is also at his peak for this target and both are in very good physical condition.”
Also in the mix is Yeguada Centurion's unbeaten TDN Rising Star Wootton Centurion (Wootton Bassett), who beat the subsequent G3 Prix de Guiche runner-up Lord Clover in a Chantilly conditions event last month. “I could have stepped him up in trip, but I preferred to stay at a mile,” trainer Victoria Head explained. “He is not a very demonstrative horse, but so far he has always done what has been asked of him.”
“In a race that can be quite tactical, it is an advantage that he is easy to ride and can go forward,” she added. “The horse worked in a public gallop at Longchamp about ten days ago and behaved well that day. The ground will be a factor to take into account, but he has already won on sticky ground, so that is not a real concern. He is an unflappable horse.”
While Aidan O'Brien will look to add to a lone victory in the fillies' Classic with Rose Gypsy in 2001, opposition to Diamond Necklace is solid. The Aga Khan Studs are represented by the Marcel Boussac third Narissa (Siyouni), who ran second to the subsequent 1,000 Guineas runner-up Evolutionist in the G3 Prix de la Grotte over course and distance last month. Her trainer Francis Graffard will also saddle the Grotte sixth Anashkaya (Starspangledbanner), with Narissa in stall nine.
“Narissa worked well last Tuesday and her latest race is very interesting, especially as the form has since been franked,” Nemone Routh said. “Narissa is a filly who absolutely has to be covered up in order to show her full ability. She has a real turn of foot and seems capable of adapting to different types of ground, even though she may be slightly better on good ground. The [nine] draw will be decisive in optimising her run.”
The Christopher Head-trained Marcel Boussac runner-up Green Spirit (Kingman), who ran fourth in the Grotte, has been drawn in stall 14 and connections are hoping a change of tactics will see an uptick in fortunes, despite the wide draw.
“Everything went wrong on her reappearance in the Prix de la Grotte,” the Wertheimers' racing manager Pierre-Yves Bureau reflected. “She had to make an effort to bring the field along, exactly the scenario we wanted to avoid, and she should absolutely not be judged on that. The filly has developed well over the winter, she is not very big, but she has strengthened and has a lot of depth. Above all, she has a very good turn of foot and the aim will be to give her the best possible trip so that she can use it fully. She comes into this race very well and her experience can represent a real advantage.”
There are three challengers from Britain, headed by Victorious Forever's G2 Rockfel Stakes scorer Zanthos (Sioux Nation), who has drawn stall 11. “We bypassed the 1000 Guineas, because she needed a little time to truly come to herself this year,” explained racing manager Chris Wall. “She is in very good condition, she has worked well and all the lights are green. Our only slight concern is the ground, because there has been a lot of rain in Paris and the track could be soft, which probably would not suit her. She came from the breeze-ups and was quite keen, but she is more relaxed now, which will give her every chance of staying the distance. It remains an unknown and, until we have tried, we will not know for certain. She has progressed, so we're very confident that there is still more to come from her.”
Guy Pariente and Satoshi Kobayashi's G3 Prix Imprudence heroine Showna (Kendargent), supplemented for €39,600 on Thursday, is another with stamina concerns. “Showna worked very well on Wednesday morning with Marvin Grandin and that is why we decided to supplement her,” Kobayashi explained. “The question of whether she will stay the mile may arise, but she really took a step forward over the winter and I think she can be effective. Her way of galloping has improved, she is capable of taking up a good position and finishing quickly, and she will not be bothered by a strong pace. I would prefer it not to be too heavy.”
Gousserie Racing's Imprudence sixth Baklawa (Stunning Spirit) is the other supplementary entry, while TDN Rising Star The Last Dance (Iffraaj) takes something of a leap into the unknown for her black-type debut and comes back off impressive wins at Chantilly and this venue. Softened turf is of little concern to connections and a plum draw in four has elevated hopes.
“We have a filly in great form, but we know how important the draw is,” said co-trainer Yann Lerner. “The Last Dance has done good work on soft tracks and will not be inconvenienced by easy ground. Her debut was excellent and her second run was just as good. She has two races and two wins and it is difficult to fault her in any way.”
Earlier on the card, there is an unbeaten trio in action in Riviera Equine and Maurice Lagasse's Listed Prix Caravelle winner Lapotheose (Wootton Bassett), Baccari Racing Stable's G3 Prix Vanteaux winner Concorde Agreement (Persian King) and Juddmonte's G3 Prix Cleopatre-winning TDN Rising Star Gilded Prize (Frankel) in a fascinating renewal of the G2 Camille Pissarro Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary. There has been scant depreciation in quality since the Prix de Diane trial was downgraded from Group 1 status and the presence of fellow TDN Rising Star Evita (Persian King) and Ballydoyle's G2 Debutante Stakes and G3 Silver Flash Stakes winner Composing (Wootton Bassett) in the line-up add further intrigue.
Epsom Clues Abound…
Before we get to Paris on Sunday, Lingfield's Saturday card features the Listed Oaks and Derby Trials, where the Epsom possibles get an early taster of the up-hill-and-down-dale experience. The usual low turnouts come as little surprise, but stellar action is guaranteed.
Godolphin's TDN Rising Star Romantic Symphony (Dubawi) annexed her seasonal debut at Kempton last month and will be a warm order to take care of business against Ballydoyle's Wootton Bassett pair Cameo and Bloom in the Oaks Trial, while 30 minutes later TDN Rising Stars Maho Bay (Dubawi) and Maltese Cross (Sea The Stars) lock horns with Coolmore's Criterium de Saint-Cloud and Listed Feilden Stakes fourth Isaac Newton (Camelot). Aidan O'Brien has seven editions in the bag, with 2019 winner Anthony Van Dyck the last to go on to Blue Riband glory.
In Ireland, Saturday's Listed Darley Irish EBF Naas Oaks Trial sees the O'Brien brothers clash with Skara Glen Stables' Eretria (Camelot) and the Acheson Family's Mixed Feelings (Sioux Nation) who both impressed in Leopardstown maidens while Ballydoyle are back in the driving seat in the following day's G3 Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial at Leopardstown. Last year's Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Pierre Bonnard (Camelot) looks to get back on track after a disappointing seasonal bow in the G3 Ballysax Stakes over this course and distance last month. Donnacha and Joseph account for the non-Ballydoyle representation in the race, with the former's Shaihaan (Night Of Thunder) coming off an impressive maiden success at the Curragh in March.
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