Parislongchamp 02 October 2011
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LEY HUNTER had stablemate Brigantin well behind when getting up in the shadow of the post to land the Prix Gladiateur, and the manner of that success suggests this marathon trip will be right up his street. The veteran Kasbah Bliss has steadily run into form this season and the possibility of decent ground would help, while German raider Tres Rock Danon's wins in his native land have come on a sound surface but he'll need to improve markedly to reverse Deauville form with Kasbah Bliss. Gentoo was even further behind at Deauville but he won this race last year and shouldn't be ruled out completely.
Margot Did surpassed all previous form when landing the Nunthorpe at York, but she may have had the run of the race there, unlike the fifth, Wizz Kid. Robert Collet's sprinter met plenty of trouble in running on the Knavesmire and could get much closer granted a clear passage, but in third place that day was PROHIBIT, who has since produced a tremendous weight-carrying performance to beat Mar Adentro over C&D. Robert Cowell's King's Stand hero looks the one to beat if reproducing his best form once again.
Zantenda's defeat of Rajastani was more emphatic than the winning distance of a neck, as she was impeded close home but still won with a bit up her sleeve. Falls Of Lora won nicely at Ascot last time but this is a big step up in class, while Elusive Kate has taken each step up in grade in her stride and the Deauville Group 3 winner cannot be ruled out. The two Irish raiders may hold the aces here, though, with YELLOW ROSEBUD preferred to Fire Lily. The latter ran with credit behind Maybe in the Moyglare but has a sprinter's pedigree and the better staying power of Dermot Weld's charge, who was also second to Maybe on her last start, could prove vital.
Sofast was impressive in defeating Mac Row over C&D last month, but he had previously been firmly put in his place by DABIRSIM in the Prix Morny and a similar outcome may prevail here. Christophe Ferland's colt, unbeaten in four starts, travelled with such ease at Deauville this extra furlong should not inconvenience him and he can extend his wining streak. Fort Bastion was a fair second in the Acomb Stakes but will need much more today, while Salure has some fair form in Italy but this is a different kettle of fish altogether.
Dream Ahead got back to winning ways in the Sprint Cup at Haydock but this extra furlong may just stretch his stamina too far, while Bewitched is a winner over 7f this season but her two efforts in Group 1 company to date suggest she's not quite up to this standard. Marchand D'Or was staying on strongly in the Prix Maurice De Gheest last time and may just need this trip nowadays, but it's hard to see past GOLDIKOVA. Freddie Head's superstar mare ran well enough behind the rapidly-improving Immortal Verse at Deauville last time and could sign off her career on home soil with a win in the race she took last term.
Meandre took seven races to get off the mark, but has improved rapidly since then and landed Group 1 honours over C&D in the Grad Prix de Paris. Andre Fabre is a master at getting them ready for the big day, so his defeat at the hands of Reliable Man in the Prix Niel may not have been his true running. Sarafina has been ante-post favourite for this since Fabre's Pour Moi was retired, but she was not massively impressive when edging out Hiruno D'Amour in the Prix Foy, though a stronger pace here will see her in a better light. Australian import So You Think has secured three Group 1 successes in Europe so far but murmurings that he may be better over shorter may give WORKFORCE the chance to avenge his Eclipse defeat. Sir Michael Stoute's charge was best over this trip at three and could be the first horse since Alleged in 1978 to defend his Arc crown.
Asraa Min Albarq has flourished since transferring from Dubai to the UK, winning a similar contest at Newbury two starts ago, but he may struggle to stop AL TAIR making it eight wins in a row, especially on the track that Alban de Mieulle's charge landed a Group 2 last time. Jaafer and Poulain Kossack are others to note.
Nahrain has done nothing wrong in her career to date but this is a step up in class and trip so more will be needed. Banimpire may have been feeling the effects of a hectic schedule when fifth in the Yorkshire Oaks but she has been freshened up since, though preference is for ANNOUNCE. Andre Fabre's filly opened her Group 1 account with a narrow success over Timepiece in the Prix Jean Romanet and while that won't have been the strongest Group 1 run by any means, she could be capable of following up.
Pascal Bary's PALECH sneaks in at the bottom of the weights and after opening his account in good style at Deauville, he could continue the winning form. His stablemate Roatan is more exposed but at least has shown consistency this season, while Snape Maltings, Codoor and Ucandri all merit respect.
