Bar one blip when unplaced in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains, Al Shaqab Racing's Zelzal (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) has exhibited star quality throughout his career and now he has to measure up against the older horses in Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp at Chantilly. Only 11th in the Poulains at Deauville May 15, the bay was held up in the G3 Prix Paul de Moussac and duly delivered over this course and distance June 11 before repeating the dose in the G1 Prix Jean Prat last time July 10.
“We were just astonished that day [after the Poulains]. He just didn't seem himself at all, but he has put that defeat to bed in his last two races by winning very convincingly,” Al Shaqab Racing's representative Harry Herbert commented. “He is a very talented horse and this has been the plan since last time. Jean-Claude [Rouget] is terrific at coming up with these plans and sticking to it. He did a very nice final piece of work this week and Gregory [Benoist] who rides him is very happy with him.”
Chief among the older horses is Haras de Saint Pair's G1 Prix Jacques le Marois runner-up Vadamos (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}), who bids to give Andre Fabre the outright record of six successes here and upstage the great Francois Boutin. He beat Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G2 Prix du Muguet over this trip at Saint-Cloud May 1 and bounced back from a subsequent fourth placing in the nine-furlong G1 Prix d'Ispahan at Chantilly May 24 with another clear-cut success in the G3 Prix Messidor at Maisons-Laffitte July 16. Beaten a half length by Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) in the Jacques le Marois at Deauville Aug. 14, he looks a confirmed miler now after a spell over middle distances.
Runner-up to Almanzor (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in both the G1 Prix du Jockey Club over 10 1/2 furlongs here June 5 and Deauville's G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano last time Aug. 15, His Highness The Aga Khan's Zarak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) reverts to a mile in an intriguing twist. The son of Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar) was possibly Arc-bound after his last run, but he has obviously been showing Alain de Royer-Dupre some dash in the interim. His trainer also supplies the filly Trixia (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), who returned from a four-month break to capture the G3 Prix de Lieurey over a mile at Deauville Aug. 15.
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