More Wow

MORE WOW 
Rested since winning the G1 Prix Morny, Al Shaqab Racing’s The Wow Signal (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) returns to France to tackle an extra furlong today in Longchamp’s G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. Backing up his success in Royal Ascot’s G2 Coventry S. June 17 with a comfortable defeat of Hootenanny (Quality Road) in that six-furlong Deauville contest Aug. 24, the unbeaten bay gave the impression that this trip would hold no fears and trainer John Quinn is full of hope. “He’s had a great year already, so if he could go and win again on Sunday it would be 
phenomenal really,” he told PA Sport. “We’re happy with him going into the race and I’d say it will be good ground, which will be no problem to him. At this stage, I would say this will be his last run of the year.” 

One who is already proven at the trip is Michael Tabor’s Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who has done everything right so far in his native Ireland by winning the G3 Tyros S. at Leopardstown July 24, G2 Futurity S. at The Curragh Aug. 24 and G1 Dr Vincent O’Brien National S. back at the latter track Sept. 14. France’s chief hopes appear to rest with the trio who contested the course-and-distance G3 Prix la Rochette Sept. 7, with Khalid Abdullah’s Full Mast (Mizzen Mast) having led the way there to take his record to two-for-two. Just three-quarters of a length behind in second in that tactical affair was the Niarchos Family’s Listed Prix Francois Boutin winner Nucifera (More Than Ready) and jockey Stephane Pasquier is hoping he can reverse the form. 

“We wanted to protect him a bit and so I didn’t go to the front and take responsibility for the pace with this race in mind,” he explained. “I decided to take my time and let him have his own race and he was coming back at Full Mast fast at the finish. I hope there will be more pace here and if that horse is in front this time I’m going to be next to him.” 

Third and a further half length away was Godolphin’s Territories (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and he was another who had late ground to make up. “Territories is tough and battle-hardened, but he needs to step on his previous form,” the operation’s representative Lisa-Jane Graffard said. “It would be an excellent result if he were to finish in the first five.”