Chantilly 02 October 2016
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Some top class fillies have won this contest before going on to prove themselves as champions including the likes of Miesque (1986), Salsabil (1989), and Zarkava (2007). Aidan O'Brien has won the last two renewals with Found and Ballydoyle and he has every chance of making it three in a row with PROMISE TO BE TRUE, who was disappointing when last seen in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh but is entitled to improve for the outing and for the extra furlong she encounters here. Toulifault has been impressive on her three starts to date and has to be respected along with Jean-Claude Rouget's other contender First Of Spring, who is out of 1000 Guineas winner Homecoming Queen and is unbeaten in her two starts to date, while Dabyah has looked impressive on both her starts to date and should have no issue stepping up to a mile. Wuheida is another to consider having won her maiden well at Newmarket and she remains unexposed.
Not a particularly strong contest for the grade and a chance is taken on WHITECLIFFSOFDOVER, who might just have the best form amongst this field after finishing a close-up second in a Group 3 last month. The son of War Front kept on well there and only found a Richard Hannon-trained colt too good. Kontrastat claimed a Group 3 at Saint-Cloud last time out for that form might not be up to much, while National Defense looks best of the remainder.
Just a field of seven line up for the Prix De L' Opera and it is tough to see past John Gosden's exceptional SO MI DAR. The three-year-old remains unbeaten after four career starts, most recently with an encouraging return to action at Yarmouth to defy an 8lb penalty. She looked ready for a return to Group company there and can take this before being campaigned with the Arc on her agenda in 2017. Speedy Boarding claimed a Group 1 with relative ease last time out and deserves to take her chance in this company for James Fanshawe, while Jemayel has only found the likes of Minding and La Cressonniere too good in her last two starts and could be the main danger to the selection. Pleascach completes the list of likely contenders.
This may not be the most vintage renewal but it is still a race packed full of quality with the field combined having won 19 Group One races between them and just under 20 million pounds in prize money. Since last year's King George, POSTPONED has gone from strength to strength having been unbeaten ever since and he has proved himself to be the best turf horse in the world over 1m4f due to his successes in the Sheema Classic at Meydan and the Coronation Cup at Epsom. The son of Dubawi has improved further since joining Roger Varian's yard and has shown more tactical speed this year than in the past, as shown when winning the Juddmonte International over 1m2f at York despite an interrupted preparation and him arguably not being at 100 per cent. The return to 1m4f combined with a good draw and the fact he should improve from York make him look the clear one to beat, even factoring in the weight-for-age allowance. Japanese Derby winner Makahiki warmed up for this with a win in the Prix Niel over C&D but needs to take a massive step forward from that performance, while dual Derby winner Harzand has something to prove after a below par effort in the Irish Champion Stakes due to being struck into. Of the older horses, Found and New Bay both look the main threats. The former has a reputation as a bridesmaid but does improve plenty in the autumn, while the latter has been brought along steadily due to slight setbacks and was best of those who raced close to the pace in the Irish Champion Stakes when fourth.
AL MOURTAJEZ has proven himself to be a cut above the opposition in these contests and this looks easy pickings for the Al Shaqab owned grey despite having to give weight all round. Gazwan looks the most likely to chase home the selection, while Sir Bani Yas and Mehdaaf Athbah look best of the remainder.
Mecca's Angel is the class act in the race and has bounced back from the disappointment of her defeats in the Temple and King's Stand at the hands of Profitable by landing the Sapphire and Nunthorpe the last twice. Although she lobbed her way through the York contest and could be called the winner quite some way from home, she looks to be priced on the short side here and her Haydock and Ascot supporters in particular will be apprehensive about backing her at such short odds. JUST GLAMOROUS is the one that has the potential to put the cat amongst the pigeons. Ron Harris' rocket seemingly had plenty to find at the weights when rolling up in the Prix du Petit Couvert over C&D, but he broke the track record and slammed all of his rivals in devastating fashion from the front with Goldream, last year's King's Stand and l'Abbaye winner, scrambling around off the bridle in third, with Marsha (second) splitting the pair. Having bagged stall two, close to the rail, the thriving three-year-old could be hard to catch and he looks the each-way play in the race with his main pace rival Take Cover berthed in stall 13. Ardad is no forlorn hope for a place in receipt of a hefty weight-for-age allowance and could be keeping on late through tired horses if there is a burn up.
LIMATO arguably beat himself with a tardy start when second in this race (when run at Longchamp) last season. Forced to race in the rear, he made plenty of late progress under Ryan Moore, however, Make Believe had stolen first run on him and had simply skipped beyond recall. With his conqueror having subsequently been retired to stand at stud, this looks the ideal opportunity for Henry Candy's charge to gain compensation. Over a trip considered short of his optimum, the selection ran a blinder to finish runner-up in the Nunthorpe last time out. Spectre and Jimmy Two Times boast placed form at Group 1 level and command respect in receipt of their respective weight allowances.
