Warrior Stance

There is no star in the guise of Westerner (GB) in Sunday’s G1 Qatar Prix du Cadran at Longchamp and it is disappointing that the race lacks the leading European stayers Fly With Me (Fr) (Beat Hollow {GB}) and Alex My Boy (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) or the winner of any of the Ascot, Goodwood or Doncaster Cups. Having already capitalized on both the weakness of the flat’s marathoner brigade and the strength of his own formidable jumping team by winning the G2 Lonsdale Cup with the impressive Max Dynamite (Fr) (Great Journey {Jpn}), Willie Mullins is here with a duo headed by the June 16 Ascot S. winner Clondaw Warrior (Ire) (Overbury {Ire}). Second in the Sept. 11 G2 Doncaster Cup, the 8-year-old looked as if that 18-furlong trip was not enough and it is significant that Ryan Moore has opted to ride him over his old favorite Simenon (Ire) (Marju {Ire}). From Britain is the Ebor H. winner Litigant (GB) (Sinndar {Ire}), who achieved a remarkable feat of landing that prestigious 14-furlong handicap on his seasonal debut Aug. 22. Trainer Joe Tuite is hoping the sequence continues here. “I couldn’t be happier with him,” he said. “He’s in the best shape we’ve ever had him. Obviously it’s a big ask, it’s a Group 1, but the Ebor was a big ask after so long off. We still don’t know how good he is and logic would tell you he can only have improved for having a race. We’re going there very hopeful and I don’t think there is a stamina issue.”

The French defence is headed by last year’s runner-up and May 24 G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier scorer Bathyrhon (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), while Al Shaqab Racing’s unexposed 4-year-old filly Iltemas (Galileo {Ire}) goes a mile further than she has ever done. She has to find improvement on her latest effort when promoted from second to first in the Listed Prix des Tourelles over 12 furlongs at Chantilly Sept. 8, but the disqualified Lady of Kyushu (Smart Strike) provided a boost to the form when second in Saturday’s G2 Prix de Royallieu here.