Missing An Angel

With Michael Dods withdrawing the likely favorite Mecca’s Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Sunday’s G1 Qatar Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp has no doubt lost its star attraction and the way is now open for the remainder in a race that is always hard to predict. Fourth behind David Metcalfe’s revelation in the G1 Nunthorpe S. over this trip at York last time Aug. 21, Sabena Power’s evergreen Sole Power (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) will be buoyed by a subsequent defeat of this race’s 2013 winner Maarek (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) in the G2 Flying Five at The Curragh Sept. 13. Fourth in the July 11 G1 July Cup before his Nunthorpe effort, the 8-year-old retains much of his ability and has ideal ground conditions as he bids to better a third in this in 2011, the best of his four attempts. “He did a bit of work on Tuesday morning and I was delighted with him,” trainer Eddie Lynam commented. “He deserves a change of fortune in this race. He’s gone close once and has run respectably in it a couple of times. It’s a race I’d love to get on his CV. I don’t think the ground will be as soft as it usually it over there, it should be somewhere between good and good-to-soft which will be fine.”

In a renewal in which there are only two home-trained representatives, it is impossible to look outside the British and Irish contenders and David O’Meara brings back one of the most notable in last year’s winner Move In Time (GB) (Monsieur Bond {Ire}). He warmed up with a course-and-distance success in the Sept. 13 G3 Prix du Petit Couvert, but has been drawn in 16, wider than the 12 hole he exited en route to glory 12 months ago. “His prep race went perfect and this has been the plan all year,” his trainer said. “The problem is the draw, like with all of mine this weekend.” Also in the mix are Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s July 31 G2 King George S. winner Muthmir (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) who was sixth in the Nunthorpe, the June 16 G1 King’s Stand S. hero Goldream (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who was fifth at York and the Sept. 19 G3 Dubai International Airport World Trophy winner Steps (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}), while the sole juvenile in the line-up is Al Shaqab Racing’s July 26 G2 Prix Robert Papin and Sept. 11 G2 Flying Childers S. winner and Aug. 23 G1 Prix Morny runner-up Gutaifan (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). He bids to become the first of his generation to win this since Sigy (Fr) in 1978 and has the requisite class, but he has been done no favors by a stall 17 post position which the owners’ racing manager Harry Herbert recognised. “I don’t think the draw is too good, but the horse is in great form and the Hannons are very pleased with him,” he said. “He obviously gets a huge weight concession and there’s not a lot else for him, so we thought we’d throw our hat into the ring and see what we can do.”