Preview of today's action at ParisLongchamp and Vichy
Jason Kiely previews today's action at ParisLongchamp and Vichy and speaks to the connections of some of the leading fancies on the cards.
Two-year old’s will take centre stage at Vichy today with a field of 12 going to post for the Prix du Haras de Bouquetot – Jaques Bouchara , a Listed race run over 1,000 metres (5 furlongs) sees 12 runners declared.
Always run at a furious pace over the straight course, this race often throws up a surprise or two, along with plenty of British winners.
The James Tate trained filly Second Generation went pillar to post to land the 2018 renewal, a race in which the first three home were all British trained.
Mark Johnston will be hoping that he can keep the trend going as his filly Companion, a daughter of Dark Angel will be the sole overseas runner in this year’s race, due off at 13.25. Coming here off the back of a very brave performance in Newmarket’s ‘Randox Health Empress Stakes’ just under three weeks ago where she tried hard to follow emphatic six length Godolphin winner Summer Romance, and narrowly lost second place towards the finish.
With Black-Type already gained from that performance, Middleham based Johnston, who won this race in 2012 with Baileys Jubilee, is hoping that both he and jockey Ioritz Mendizibal can team up to success once again with Companion.
"Companion is well, she deserves her chance after a good run last time out, the form of the other runners is obviously a bit of an unknown. But, she is tough and we have won this race before," the trainer said.
Theresa and Con Marnane’s black and yellow colours have been carried to victory 16 times already this season in two-year old races in France. Trained by Matthieu Pallusiere in Maisons-Laffitte, Wheels On Fire and Brand New Day will represent the ‘Marnane’ team who will bid to win this race for a second time in three years after Rioticism took the spoils back in 2017.
Much like Rioticism, Brand New Day comes here off a sub-standard run in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, but the daughter of Epaulette showed plenty of class when winning comfortably at both Saint-Cloud and Chantilly earlier on in the year before being narrowly beaten by Xaaros, who she meets again today 3.5kgs better off at the weights.
Stable jockey Antoine Hamelin partnered her in those two wins and takes the ride again on what looks like the first choice for the yard.
Of the remaining runners, there is plenty to like about Ask Me Not trained by Fabrice Vermeulen. Winner on his all three of his lifetime starts, including when beating subsequent Prix La Fleche (L) winner Real Appeal, Ask Me Not holds strong claims and will have the assistance of ten time champion jockey Christophe Soumillon for the first time.
Thursday night racing in Longchamp has become one of the most popular things to do in Paris this summer, thanks to regular high class evening action mixed with great live entertainment after racing.
Once again, starting at 16:20 GMT there is a another competitive eight-race card with two very interesting juvenile maidens maidens to round off the evening.
The Prix Des Colonnes Morris, a maiden for colts and geldings, has attracted eight runners for its healthy prize fund of €27,000. Of those, Panda Seven looks the most obvious winner. A son of Wootten Bassett, he showed plenty to like when only beaten only three-quarters-of-a-length by subsequent winner Dragon Has Landed in the Prix Riverman at St. Cloud just under three weeks ago.
That marked a significant step up form his debut fourth at Dieppe and Panda Seven’s young trainer Gavin Hernon seemed confident on his chances.
He said: "He has shown plenty of ability both at home and on the track, the last day in St. Cloud they were only 0.24 seconds off the track record and he is entitled to improve again for that.".
"He showed a lot of pace even having been still a bit green, his pedigree says the step up in trip to 1,400 will be no problem. He should go well and it would be good for the owners who have seven horses with us if he were to win."
Hernon (26) has already proven his worth with a two year old, when Icefinger gave the Irishman his first winner with his first ever runner in Deauville last August.
Since then he has continued to rise in the training ranks, training a further 10 winners and having multiple Listed and Group runners from his current base in Chantilly. Maxime Guyon will make the 412km trip from Vichy to Longchamp in order to partner Panda Seven and Hernon’s other runner Flighty Lady in the fillies maiden.
Of the others in the race the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Honor Bere could improve on his third placed debut effort at Craon where he was only beaten two-and-a-half lengths.
The second race on the card, a maiden for three year old’s, is the Prix De La Barriere Du Roule and presents Sabi River with a golden chance of opening her account on her fourth start in the 2,100m contest.
Trained by Andre Fabre and with form figures fo 2-3-2, including at Longchamp, the well-bred daughter of Invincible Spirit should confirm her early promise for owners Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd.
Because of the specific conditions of the race, only professional jockeys or apprentices that have ridden less than 10 winners since the first of January may ride, thus, handing a perfect opportunity to promising apprentice Hugo Besnier.
Besnier, who has ridden four winners from only 25 rides this year, is apprenticed to Fabre and looking forward to taking the ride on Sabi River.
He said: "I would almost say she is dropping down in class, I am very much looking forward to riding her. I will just let her travel wherever she is happy in her action, Mr Fabre is very good with things like that," he said.
The 17-year-old has been seen riding in some well-known silks already in his short career including for Godolphin, and is making waves.
Wellington-based trainer Alex Dunn has been testing new waters of late and has had four runners in France in as many weeks, with three of them taking home prize money.
Dunn runs Panatos in the first race this evening a 3000m claimer and explains why the new approach.
"I’ve got 50 flat horses in so they have to go somewhere, the track in Longchamp is very good I was there last week myself. My owners seem to enjoy it and they are picking up some healthy prize money," she said. "I have no entries there next week but I’m sure that we will be over to Deauville soon."
Of Panatos, she added: "He has a chance, it’s very competitive but we will try and take some prize-money."
Next Off
Most Followed
MOST READ RACING
