With the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere now at a mile, the G3 Prix des Chenes serves as an ideal prep for Arc day, and while Thursday's edition staged at Chantilly has only six runners, half are unexposed colts from major yards who could be anything. Leading trainer in this with eight successes, Andre Fabre saddles the Wertheimers' Akihiro (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who was beaten by a short head on debut by the subsequently disqualified Neguev (Ire) (So You Think {NZ}) over 7 1/2 furlongs at Deauville Aug. 9. That rival's trainer, Jean-Claude Rouget, has a line to Fabre's contender as a result and puts forward His Highness The Aga Khan's Pazeer (Fr) (Siyouni {Ire}), who comes into this on the back of a conditions win over this trip at Clairefontaine Aug. 17, while Criquette Head-Maarek saddles the impressive Aug. 23 Deauville scorer National Defense (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).
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