ParisLongchamp

Mario Baratti trainee Misunderstood (Fr) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}-- Waldjagd {GB}, by Observatory) made all to shed maiden status on debut at Deauville in July and repeated the dose in Thursday's G3 Prix des Chenes at ParisLongchamp to become the first black-type winner for his freshman sire (by Kodiac {GB}). Breaking well from the outside stall to establish a clear buffer through the early fractions, the 13-10 favourite was shaken up with 350 metres remaining and maintained a high tempo in the closing stages to easily account for Nesthorn (GB) (Expert...

There is every chance that Sunday's G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange was a hot affair and so all credit goes to Godolphin's Ombudsman (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}--Syndicate {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) for extending his unbeaten sequence in ParisLongchamp's 10-furlong test. Impressive on good ground in the Listed Prix Nureyev at Deauville last month, the 3-5 favourite raced in the box seat behind the leader First Look (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and was gifted a clear run up the rail as that G1 Prix du Jockey Club runner-up drifted...

Christopher Head trainee Houquetot (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Happen, by War Front) endured a first defeat in three career starts when runner-up in last month's G3 Prix Francois Boutin and bounced back with a game victory in Sunday's G3 Prix La Rochette at ParisLongchamp. The 11-10 favourite, previously successful in two seven-furlong heats at Compiegne, broke smartly and raced in a prominent second from flagfall in this fourth start at the specialist distance. Stoked up with a quarter-mile remaining, he joined long-time leader Sir Tommy Cen (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) entering...

Seven milers will go to post for Sunday's G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, with Nurlan Bizakov's G1 Queen Anne Stakes and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois hero Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) set to lock horns with Godolphin's G1 2,000 Guineas and G1 Sussex Stakes winner Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Godolphin also have the Andre Fabre-trained multiple group winner Tribalist (GB) (Farhh {GB}), whose forward-going tendency will complement Charlie Appleby's hold-up merchant, while Ballydoyle's G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes winner and G1 St James's Palace Stakes runner-up Henry...

Making amends for his defeat in Goodwood's G3 Molecomb Stakes in July, Wathnan Racing's Aesterius (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}--Jane Doe {Ire}, by Hallowed Crown {Aus}) led from start to finish in Sunday's G3 Prix d'Arenberg at ParisLongchamp. Bagging the rail under James Doyle, the 9-10 favourite saw off all threats to hit the line 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Kaadi (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}), with Treasure Isle (Ire) (No Nay Never) a short neck away in third. "At Goodwood, I felt I rode him too quietly so today I wanted to...

Winning ParisLongchamp's G1 Grand Prix de Paris for the 14th time, Andre Fabre was also ending a drought of 10 years since the last as the Wertheimers' Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Sosia {Ger}, by Shamardal) prevailed at ParisLongchamp on Saturday evening. Third in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club last time, the homebred became the latest to emerge to bestow extra gravity on that Chantilly Classic as he swept by his contemporaries up this hallowed straight. Ideally placed in fourth early by Maxime Guyon, the 5-2 second favourite took...

Sent off the 11-10 favourite for Saturday's G2 Prix de Malleret at ParisLongchamp, Gerard Augustin-Normand's G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Survie (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) justified that faith to record a notable black-type breakthrough win. Content to follow the pace early, the Nicolas Clement-trained homebred was asked to take control 300 metres from the finish as Candala (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) became ensnared in traffic to her right and needed no second invitation en route to a 1 1/4-length success from Mosaique (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}). Candala, who met with abundant trouble in...

Showing courage as well as a fair amount of ability at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, Nurlan Bizakov's Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) maintained his unbeaten record in the feature G3 Prix Paul de Moussac. Enjoying a lead throughout the early stages, the Jerome Reynier-trained G3 Prix Djebel and Listed Prix de la Californie winner was in front and there to be shot at from 2 1/2 furlongs out. Tenacious for Antonio Orani as TDN Rising Star Havana Cigar (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) emerged from the pack late, the 6-5 favourite dug out...

Showing that she is now a regular presence in the top strata, Baron Edouard De Rothschild's Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}--Penne {Fr}, by Sevres Rose {Ire}) battled to a third top-level victory in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix d'Ispahan on Sunday. Needing all of the unique nine furlongs and 55 yards to get to Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}), last year's G1 Prix Rothschild and G1 Prix Jean Romanet winner enjoyed the perfect tow under cover from Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) and benefitted from a typically nerveless Alexis Pouchin...

France looks to have a new staying star after the hybrid Melbourne Cup contender Sevenna's Knight (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) confirmed the form of the G3 Prix de Barbeville in Sunday's G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at ParisLongchamp. Bought by OTI Management prior to his breakthrough black-type win in Deauville's Listed Michel Houyvet in August, the Ammerland-bred colt had been kept back from big competition by Andre Fabre until his 4-year-old bow when sixth in Meydan's G2 Dubai Gold Cup. Showing the benefit of that patient approach when domineering Shembala (Ire) (Cracksman...

This year's G1 1,000 Guineas took place without Ballydoyle's Opera Singer (Justify), so there is a sense of unfinished business when it comes to the pecking order of the 3-year-old fillies at present. Sunday's Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas at The Curragh should answer some questions, none more so than that concerning how straight she is for a tough reintroduction having suffered that setback. So good in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, some will tell you that she may not have to be at 100% to win this but when it...

Joseph O'Brien has laid out an adventure in America for juvenile Group 1-winner Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), the target being the GI Manhattan S. in New York on June 8, in a path eventually routing to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. After having his sophomore season disrupted by injury, Al Riffa resurfaced in the G1 Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp and was only beaten by three-quarters of a length in a wild scramble on the wire. O'Brien admits his charge's size is something of a concern, and...