We get the latest views from connections ahead of the Emirates Poule D'Essai Des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) while Man On The Spot makes his selection.
Views From Connections
James Tate is excited at the prospect of Hey Gaman's bid for the Emirates Poule D'Essai Des Poulains at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.
The Newmarket trainer resisted the temptation of running the smart colt on home soil in the Qipco 2000 Guineas last weekend to wait for the French equivalent.
Hey Gaman ended the last campaign with an excellent second in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster in September and made a pleasing seasonal debut when he finished a close third in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury last month.
Though this will be Hey Gaman's first try at a mile, Tate has no concerns about his stamina.
"He's in really good form and he's improved a lot since his Greenham third and obviously a Classic is a tough ask, but he couldn't be in better shape," he said.
"It's never really crossed my mind he won't stay the trip.
"We did use the Greenham very much as a trial and he will be 100 per cent for this race."
Aidan O'Brien, who has won this race four times, is hoping the ground will favour dual Group One winner US Navy Flag.
Successful in the Dewhurst and Middle Park in the autumn, he could not cope with testing conditions when last of four at Leopardstown last month.
"He's a real good-ground horse and he's a fast horse, obviously. We wanted to start and get a run into him," the Ballydoyle handler told At The Races.
"The ground wasn't ideal, but now going to his next run, we're delighted we did get him started."
John Gosden saddles the other two UK contenders, Il Primo Sole and Kings Shield. Both are taking a huge step up in grade.
The Godolphin-owned Wootton, trained by Henri-Alex Pantall, is one of the main French-based contenders after winning all his three starts to date.
"Wootton is in top order," Pantall told www.godolphin.com.
"He worked very well on Tuesday and he has improved at home since his prep race (for the Guineas). I couldn't be happier with him.
"He appears to be at his optimum racing weight."
Jean-Claude Rouget's Olmedo, who was only beaten a head by Wootton last time, and the Fabrice Chappet-trained Dice Roll, a Group Three winner at Deauville last month, are among others with sound claims.
Man On The Spot Verdict
U S Navy Flag represents Aidan O’Brien but a couple of below par efforts since winning last year’s Dewhurst fails to instil confidence. John Gosden runs two with Frankie partnering Kempton novice winner Il Primo Sole while Kings Shield was placed in a handicap at Sandown. Hey Gaman ran well behind James Garfield in the Greenham at Newbury but the latter failed to figure in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket subsequently so today’s prize can stay at home. Dice Roll easily beat Magic Bibou and Infernal Majesty to land a Group 3 trial at Deauville but last month’s Group 3 contest over track and trip won by Wootton looks the stronger race. The unbeaten Godolphin horse just held on from OLMEDO in a battle for the line with Louis D’Or back in third but Jean-Claude Rouget’s colt has previous form in Group 1 company and is fancied to reverse running on today’s faster ground.
