G1 Prix d'Ispahan

   Sunday's G1 Prix d'Ispahan at ParisLongchamp sees two of France's big names Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) and The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) go head-to-head over the unique intermediate trip of nine furlongs 55 yards. While Skalleti has yet to strike at this exalted level despite holding the enviable tally of seven group-race wins, his compatriot has won one of the most prestigious of them all in Ascot's G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. in October. Disappointing so far this term, Al Asayl France's The Revenant could have been forgiven for...

Shadwell's Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who won the G3 Finest Surprise S. at Newbury on Apr. 18, will back up in the G3 Al Rayyan S. there on May 15. Originally, the 4-year-old was tagged to go straight to the June 4 G1 Coronation Cup S., but trainer William Haggas determined that his charge was so fresh and well, another run was needed. "I was going to wait for the Coronation Cup, but he's too well so he's going to run next Saturday in a Group 3...

Group 1 winner The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who ran fourth in the G2 Prix du Muguet at Saint-Cloud on May 1, will appear in either the May 30 G1 Prix d'Ispahan at ParisLongchamp or the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot on June 15. A winner of both the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein on Oct. 3 and the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on Oct. 17, the gelding ran third in the G3 Prix Edmond Blanc in his seasonal opener on Apr. 3. "He's come out of the...

'TDN Rising Star' Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) heads to Chantilly on Sunday for another of the European Pattern's main staging posts tackling more than a mile once more in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan. Tried over the 10 1/2-furlong trip of the G1 Prix du Jockey Club here last June, Godolphin and Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd's imposing bay came up two lengths short when runner-up to Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) but it will be a surprise if he is not suited by this unique nine-furlong contest. Proving he retained all his...