Tag Archive for: Chantilly

Chantilly ace Sky Majesty given lofty sprint targets

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William Haggas’ Sky Majesty looks to be bursting with promise for next season after a smart success in the Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte at Chantilly.

The filly is a daughter of Blue Point out of Majestic Alexander, endowing her with a real speed pedigree, as her dam is the producer of four other black-type sprinters, including 2019 Ayr Gold Cup hero Angel Alexander and this year’s Beverley Bullet winner Democracy Dilemma.

Making her debut in a Newbury maiden in late August, the bay got off the mark right away and then stepped up in grade to contest the Group Three Firth of Clyde at Ayr the following month.

There she was a winner again, scoring ahead of Queen Mary third Maw Lam and subsequent Cornwallis runner-up Grande Marques in a field of 13.

Another upgrade in race calibre was then awaiting the filly at Chantilly, as she lined up for the Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte on Saturday, a Group Two six-furlong sprint in which she was the mount of Christophe Soumillon.

Sky Majesty and Callum Rodriguez after winning the Firth Of Clyde at Ayr
Sky Majesty and Callum Rodriguez after winning the Firth Of Clyde at Ayr (Steve Welsh/PA)

On heavy ground, she kept her flawless record intact, defeating the favourite, Patrice Cottier’s Cheveley Park runner-up Daylight, by a length and a quarter, with the rest of the field fairly well-spaced behind them.

“She’s progressed with each run this year and she surprised us a bit when she won first time at Newbury,” said Sean Graham, racing manager to co-owner Tony Bloom.

“Not so much that she won, it was the way she did it. Coming into the race, William said he was happy with her and she was working well – but like all his fillies, she wasn’t going to be given a hard race first time out.

“She sat in fourth with a furlong to go and she picked up, I thought she was going to be third or fourth at best and she went and won.

“I think the horse she beat (Hold A Dream) went and won at Yarmouth and she went to Ayr, she was probably drawn on the wrong side of the track there but Callum Rodriguez gave her a brilliant ride to get her hidden and get a bit of cover.

“She got up on the line and I think she probably won with a bit more in hand than the winning distance suggests, we were then umming and ahing over whether that would do for the year but William said there was a race in Chantilly for her.

“We were very, very happy with her, she showed an awful lot of guts and great resilience.

“On figures, she wasn’t entitled to beat the favourite and yet she’s gone and done it by over a length and it was probably a deserved margin.

“She’s improved and we’ve talked over whether she will get further, but the dam never raced over five furlongs and most of her siblings haven’t either – I think she is really a five or six-furlong filly.”

Sky Majesty is likely to have run her last race this year, with connections hoping to aim high with her next season after the promise she has shown so far.

“I suppose, touch wood, the next step would be a Group One somewhere. Something like the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot next year would be the obvious target,” said Graham.

“William and Maureen have done a fantastic job with her so far and they’ll make all the decisions and find the right races for her, they do such a good job.”



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Burke delighted as Arabie fends off Shadow Army at Chantilly

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Arabie was a winner in France once again as he added the Prix Robert Papin to his CV at Chantilly on Sunday.

Karl Burke’s son of Dandy Man was a winner over course and distance in the Group Three Prix du Bois last month and was partnered by Jim Crowley once again as he supplemented that previous victory on French soil with Group Two honours.

In an event dominated by British raiders, it was Ed Walker’s Empress Fillies’ Stakes winner Celandine who led the field into the closing stages.

However, that was where Arabie was beginning to do his best work and responding gamely to Crowley’s urgings, the youngster surged his way to the front and built up an advantage Richard Fahey’s fast-finishing Shadow Army was unable to bridge close home.

Burke was not at Chantilly to watch his youngster as he is enjoying a mid-season break in a warmer climate, but was thrilled to see Arabie take another step up.

He said: “He’s a tough, progressive horse who is very idle and always has been. It amused me when they said he had a hard race because I knew Jim would say he has not had a hard race.

“He’s as hard as nails and hopefully there is plenty more to come. He has definitely improved since his last run in his homework and I think he showed that today, it was a good run.”

Arabie is now poised for another visit to France next month, where he will be on a collision course with his Royal Ascot-winning stablemate Shareholder in the Prix Morny at Deauville on August 18.

“I don’t know how much improvement he has in him, but he will go to the Morny and will run very well I’m sure,” continued Burke.

“I couldn’t see a reason why we wouldn’t go there and there’s the Gimcrack with a penalty, but you may as well have a crack at the Group One.

“I’m sure his owner will be keen to do that and the biggest danger will be one of his stablemates unfortunately.”

When asked how the two star juveniles stack up, Burke added: “It’s very hard to say as we’ve not had Shareholder very long and I’m not sure whether they have worked together or not.

“Shareholder has had a nice break since Ascot and we will start preparing him for the Morny next week.

“Maybe the two will work together leading into the Morny, but it is very hard to compare. They are two different characters of horses – one is very lazy and the other is very forward going.

“It will be very interesting and you can’t take anything away from Arabie, he is a tough horse and has a lot of ability.”

There was no joy for Ralph Beckett’s Skellet, who led the Darley Prix Chloe heading into the final 100 yards only to see the Carlos Laffon-Parias-trained Blush edge in front by a head at the line.

British raiders were also out of luck in the Prix Messidor which was won by Caramelito.



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Karl Burke continues good run with Chantilly success

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Karl Burke was on the board at Chantilly on Sunday when Arabie surged to a taking success in the Prix du Bois.

The son of Dandy Man was second at Thirsk on debut but soon got off the mark on his second start at York last month.

Now stepped up to Group Three level, he follows in the footsteps of Royal Ascot bound Ramatuelle and Andre Fabre’s Belbek who have won this for the past two seasons.

Always in a handy position in the hands of Jim Crowley, Arabie was soon fighting things out with French hope Daylight at the head of proceedings and after kicking clear of the market leader, had plenty in reserve to run out a handy winner.

“It went smoothly and I rode him at York last time and he took a step forward,” said Crowley, who was banned in the UK on Sunday, but with it being a Group One day in France was able to scoop a valuable race overseas.

“He’s a lovely stamp of an individual and he was always doing just enough in front. He got there quite easily and he then sort of just found himself in front and just doing enough.

“He’s a lovely type of horse and hopefully he will keep progressing.”

Elsewhere on the French Oaks day card, Jean-Claude Rouget’s Delius maintained his unbeaten record with a stylish victory in the Group Three Prix du Lys Longines.

The Coolmore-owned son of Frankel holds entries for both the Grand Prix de Paris and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and his rider Christophe Soumillon was impressed with his mount.

He told Sky Sports Racing: “I didn’t have a nice draw but Jean-Bernard (Roth, assistant to Rouget) asked me to give him a nice run in the middle of the pack depending on the pace.

“He jumped well out of the gates and I had to find my position after 700 metres in the race and once he was settled into the race he was really relaxed.

“He was a bit unbalanced in the last turn and when I asked him to come on the bridle he was still a bit green and is a very immature horse.

“The way he quickened was quite amazing and I think he has everything under his belt to get a Group One win soon I’m sure.

“The Grand Prix de Paris could be good depending on how he returns home, but for me he deserves to go there, he is a very nice horse. He’s tall and very good mentally, he was still a bit green today but I think he has a brilliant future in front of him.”



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Tamfana only third as Sparkling Plenty claims Prix de Diane

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There was no joy in the Prix de Diane for David Menuisier as Sparkling Plenty edged out Survie in an all-French finish to the main event at Chantilly with Tamfana having to settle for third.

Carlos Laffon-Parias’ Halfday led the field along with Oisin Murphy not far away from the pace, eager not to suffer a repeat of Tamfana’s luckless 1000 Guineas run aboard Menuisier’s star filly.

That duo were still in with a shout of Classic honours as the field entered the straight and started to dash for home but Patrice Cottier’s Sparkling Plenty was catching the eye in the hands of Tony Piccone as the daughter of Kingman burst onto the scene from her position towards the rear

As Tamfana’s challenge faltered late in the day Sparkling Plenty was just beginning to hit top gear and she had enough up her sleeve to register a narrow success and a first Classic for her handler.

“It’s fantastic and I was thinking I have a good chance but the race went like a dream,” the winning jockey Piccone told Sky Sports Racing.

“To win this race is fantastic for me.”

For Sussex-based Frenchman Menuisier it was a case of mixed emotions after watching his talented daughter of Soldier Hollow come close to big-race success for the second time this season.

“I have joy and sadness running through me, but I’m very proud,” said Menuisier.

“They are hard to get (these good horses) and she ran her heart out. She had every chance and she has done the hard work at the front there. I’m proud because she did what she could, but obviously disappointed as well because she looked like the winner.

“I think she showed more kick over a mile than she did here and I may have got this one wrong (stepping up in trip) but we can correct that later on.”



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Menuisier hoping plenty in favour of Tamfana at Chantilly

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All boxes appear to be ticked for Tamfana, as she prepares to go for Classic compensation in the Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly.

Trainer David Menuisier was left wondering what might have been following Tamfana’s luckless run in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, when beaten a length into fourth by Elmalka.

Oisin Murphy is available to ride this weekend, with Menuisier placing no blame at Jamie Spencer’s door for Newmarket, and the step up in trip to 10 furlongs is expected to bring out further improvement in the stoutly-bred filly.

“She is an easy filly to ride and we have a top jockey on board because it may not be just Plan A, we could end up with Plan B, Plan C and Plan D. Oisin knows her well and we have no worries about the draw (four),” said Menuisier.

Tamfana (far right) endured a troubled run at Newmarket
Tamfana (far right) endured a troubled run at Newmarket (John Walton/PA)

“I think I was the only one who was disappointed with the Guineas result, all the owners were delighted. But if you are not unhappy after something like that then you should not be in racing as you want to win the race.

“She has a pedigree that oozes stamina, there is some proper stamina on the dam’s side. On her pedigree, we shouldn’t have any doubts about stamina, rather speed, but that’s something she’s had from when she started to come to herself in September last year.

“She makes me think of Zarkava, which is a big statement. She shows similar traits in that she can be ridden very cold and win a race within a few yards because of her massive turn of foot.

“She looks more like a colt than a filly, she is a very powerful horse and I’m sure she will keep on improving physically.

“If you compare her to War Chimes (placed in the Oaks), it is like comparing a diesel to a petrol car. War Chimes is very good, but Tamfana has so much more speed. Tamfana, there is no other horse in a morning who can go with her.”

Dance Sequence was second to Ezeliya at Epsom
Dance Sequence was second to Ezeliya at Epsom (John Walton/PA)

Charlie Appleby is represented by Dance Sequence, the only other UK-trained runner, after she bounced back to form to finish second at Epsom in the Oaks.

Appleby told www.godolphin.com: “Dance Sequence appears to have come out of Epsom in good shape.

“It’s always a bit tricky in terms of timing running in both races but we feel that she is showing the right signs.

“I feel dropping back in trip will suit and hopefully some ease in the ground won’t do her any harm.

“We are applying cheekpieces just to hopefully keep her concentration at the business end of the race. She has a sensible draw in seven and, if she can reproduce her Epsom form, she is going to be a big player.”

Chris Hayes has picked up the ride on Francis-Henri Graffard’s Aga Khan-owned Candala having ridden Ezeliya in the same colours at Epsom, while Graffard has booked Tom Marquand for his other runner, Paraiba.

Aventure is arguably the best hope for the home team after Christophe Ferland’s filly won a Group Three by seven lengths last time out.

“After the Prix de Royaumont, everyone asked me if she would heading to the Prix de Diane. It was difficult question to answer when put on the spot, even though we had this Classic at the back of our minds before the race, and in the event that she were to win as if it were a routine exercise gallop. It also depended on how she recovered from the Royaumont,” said Ferland.

“She has come out of the race in great shape and the filly hasn’t lose an ounce. For me, the 2,100m trip won’t be a worry. The overriding consideration was how she recovered and, since then, she’s been doing her normal daily work, in the form of some gentle canters on the all-weather, combined to a very short piece of work on grass to see if her action was still fluid, and there were no problems on that score.”

Hollie Doyle will partner the Tim Donworth’s L’Equilibriste as she seeks to replicate the success she enjoyed on Nashwa in the race two years ago.

“She’s going to be a big price but you never know,” said Doyle.

“I think it’s an open race this year and she has a good draw. She’s an improving filly who won a Listed race last time and stays well. She seems to be progressive, but as we know she needs to take a huge step forward.

“It’s nice to have a ride in the race and when I got offered the ride by Tim Donworth I could not really turn it down to go to Salisbury instead.”



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Menuisier not looking too far ahead with Chantilly-bound Tamfana

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David Menuisier is refusing to look too far into the future as Tamfana heads to Chantilly with leading claims in the Prix de Diane Longines on Sunday.

Regarded by most as an unlucky loser in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, the daughter of Soldier Hollow is the favourite across the boards as she seeks Classic redemption in the Sussex-based Frenchman’s homeland.

Menuisier – who tasted Classic success in Germany with Devil’s Point recently – admits it would be a huge addition to his CV to land one of his nation’s biggest prizes, but having seen his dreams crushed at Newmarket, is unwilling to get ahead of himself.

David Menuisier is seeking his second Classic of the year in Chantilly
David Menuisier is seeking his second Classic of the year in Chantilly (Simon Marper/PA)

“It would be absolutely massive (if she was to win) but it is not the sort of thing I want to think about before it happens,” said Menuisier.

“History proves you can be so close but so far and it is something I would rather you ring me about on Monday morning!”

Despite preferring to wait for the outcome of Sunday’s contest to get carried away, Menuisier is certain he has a top-class filly on his hands and one he believes could thrive when upped in trip to the Diane distance of 10 furlongs.

He continued: “She is very good and I have always thought she was an exceptional filly.

“I thought that when we would take her over a longer trip she would be better and I thought we would use the Guineas as a stepping stone for the Prix de Diane, but at the same time I did say to the owners we were running at Newmarket to win – it was not just a prep race it was a proper target.

“On quick ground I thought she would be outpaced and that is why we decided to ride a quiet race and pick up the pieces after the dip. Watching throughout I was quite flabbergasted by how easy she was going.

“She was travelling alongside Ryan Moore on Ylang Ylang and when I saw Ryan struggling and our filly still travelling I thought if she gets the gap, she surely can’t get beat. Sadly she didn’t get the gap.”

Menuisier remains staunch in his defence of the ride given by Tamfana’s pilot Jamie Spencer on the Rowley Mile, but revealed he will not get the chance for his own redemption story at Chantilly, with Oisin Murphy taking over in the saddle.

Murphy rode Tamfana in her comeback run in Deauville’s Prix Imprudence and rather than the switch being a direct consequence of the filly’s Guineas reversal, it is simply a case of Menuisier returning to his regular rider now he is available.

“Jamie did absolutely nothing wrong, I said it at the time and I say it again,” said Menuisier.

Oisin Murphy takes over on Tamfana at Chantilly
Oisin Murphy takes over on Tamfana at Chantilly (John Walton/PA)

“Oisin has always been number one and has come down a few times this year and last year to work the filly and I always made it clear to Jamie’s agent whenever Oisin is available he would ride the horse. It is nothing to do with the ride in the Guineas.

“We decided to ride the filly cold to give her a chance to travel and handle the track and pick up the pieces and Jamie ended up not having the gap whatsoever.

“Jamie whenever he does something right or wrong there are people who criticise him which is not fair. But when you have that way of riding it can make people criticise and more often than not it is not justified.

“I’m not sure what else he could do he does not have wings, he could not fly over the wall of horses in front of him. I think to the day I die I won’t have any regrets – first of all about the jockey booking and secondly how he rode the race.

He went on: “It’s still sore when I watch the race, but by no means is it against Jamie, It’s just one of those things. The stars nearly aligned, but it didn’t quite happen, it wasn’t our day.

“I’m trying to be philosophical because you can’t live your life with the pain of almost winning your first British Classic. We have to move on and Oisin Murphy rides and it has always been the plan.”



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Vega has winning Look in Prix du Jockey Club

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Look De Vega maintained his flawless record to land the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club for Carlos and Yann Lerner.

One of the market leaders along with Aidan O’Brien’s Diego Velazquez, the colt came into the race with two comfortable prior victories under his belt.

He broke well from the stalls and settled in behind the front runners under Ronan Thomas, keeping his powder dry until the home straight when others began to falter.

Then he picked up the lead, surging clear in the final two furlongs to cross the line comfortably ahead of First Look.

Sosie took third with the Clive Cox-trained Ghostwriter in fourth, while David Menuisier’s Sunway and Diego Velazquez finished down the field.

“The only thing we were a little bit worried about is that he came out of stall number three and everything had to go right at that moment,” said Yann Lerner.

“But when I saw him get into that good position, I have never watched a race as relaxed as I did this one.

“When we won at Fontainebleau (in November) we immediately thought about this race, he had a more or less perfect winter until February, where we had a little bit of a setback, that was the only dark point in the past.

“What is really incredible is his mental state, we hadn’t worked him a lot since his first seasonal reappearance.

“Between the two races he didn’t do much, we took him to the Chantilly track because it was very important to us that he could see the track.”

Look De Vega was cut from 33-1 to 8-1 with Coral for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Lerner added of the prospect of running there: “At the moment we don’t have any plans whatsoever, this was the big plan and he confirmed today what we thought of him.

“We will go home and recover and see how he is after this race, however he does have an entry in the Arc and I think he can stay the mile and a half, absolutely no doubt.

“The Arc can be a very tricky race and he can adapt to those conditions, he is a horse that ticks all the right boxes because he has shown today what he can do in the future.”

Thomas, for whom the success was a first at Group One level in France, said: “Obviously I am very, very happy, but more than anything I was so confident in this horse because I have been working with him since the end of last year and I was really impressed.

“He gave me a really good feeling, he won as we thought he would first time out and since then he’s made giant steps.

“Of course I respected my opposition today but I was always very confident.”



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Low draw pleases Cox for Ghostwriter’s Classic bid

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Clive Cox was “very happy and relieved” to avoid a wide draw with Ghostwriter in Sunday’s Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly.

The son of Invincible Spirit carries rock-solid credentials into the French Derby after overcoming trouble in running to finish fourth in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

That form has been franked by placed horses Rosallion and Haatem going on to dominate the Irish equivalent, while sixth-placed Inisherin dropped down in trip to secure an impressive success in the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock.

With Ghostwriter having prevailed over a mile as a juvenile in the Royal Lodge and then staying on strongly in the Guineas, a step up in distance looks sure to suit the Jeff Smith-owned colt.

Cox said: “We’re very pleased with the two stall. With 15 runners, we’re very happy with that. We don’t have to worry about being out wide now, so thank goodness. We’re very happy and that’s definitely a piece of the jigsaw that has been sorted out.

“He’s in very good shape and we’re looking forward to travelling over. I really think stepping up to 10 furlongs will be beneficial for him and the ground is the same for every horse.

“He’s only performed on a quicker surface, so that’s a territory we’re just going to have to find out about, but I’m confident with the way he moves that he’ll handle himself on softer ground.

“We’ve had a good week so far and at this time of year it’s pleasing with some very nice races coming up.

“Ghostwriter’s main target was the Guineas to begin with and he ran a super race to finish fourth. Without a shadow of a doubt, the form of the Guineas is already showing how strong a Guineas it was.

“You have the first and second in the Irish Guineas and then the sixth horse winning the Sandy Lane. It’s very pleasing to see that form look so solid.

bet365 Spring Celebration – Sandown Park Racecourse – Friday 26th April
Trainer Clive Cox has plenty of faith in Ghostwriter (John Walton/PA).

“We’re looking forward to stepping up to a mile and a quarter, he’s out of a Champs Elysees mare and I very much believe that winning over a mile in the Royal Lodge last year gave us that confidence that with more strength we would be able to step up in trip.

“And after such a pleasing run in the Guineas, we’re really looking forward to it.”

Aidan O’Brien, who claimed this prize three years ago with St Mark’s Basilica, is also looking forward to trying Diego Velazquez over a longer trip.

The son of Frankel won the Group Two Golden Fleece Stakes over a mile at Leopardstown at two and was doing his best work at the business end when a close fourth in the French 2,000 Guineas first time out this term.

O’Brien said: “With Diego, we felt a mile is as short as he wanted to go and we thought a mile and a quarter might be his ideal trip.

“Obviously he could get further, but we always viewed him as a French Derby horse more than anything else.

“We thought and hoped Chantilly would suit him. Everything has gone very well since the French Guineas, he came out of it very well.

Leopardstown Races – Sunday 10th September
Diego Velazquez and Ryan Moore after winning at Leopardstown (Damien Eagers/PA).

“He stays and he’s uncomplicated. It was a very good run-out the last time, we were over the moon, and Christophe (Soumillon) was very happy with him as well.

“We definitely think he has plenty of class, especially for a mile-and-a-quarter horse.”

David Menuisier’s Sunway has been a beaten favourite in two starts this season but does have a Group One victory in France on his CV from last term, when upsetting the reopposing Alcantor in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud on very soft ground.

Sunway (second right) represents David Menuisier
Sunway (second right) represents David Menuisier (Tim Goode/PA)

“One day, he’ll show the same class in the afternoon as he does in the morning,” said Menuisier. “Sunway proved last year that he was a very good horse and has a big race in him.”

Fast Tracker is rated the leading home hope by bookmakers, with the Henri-Alex Pantall-trained son of Churchill having been snapped up by Wathnan Racing since scoring by a wide margin at Listed level over this course and distance.

James Doyle takes the ride and Pantall said: “Fast Tracker is a straightforward ride as he races handily, doesn’t pull and he’ll be able to adapt. He exhibits just one flaw in his racing style, as he takes time to pick up when the pace quickens.”

Look De Vega is unbeaten after two outings for Carlos and Yann Lerner, while Ace Impact’s half-brother Arrow Eagle represents last year’s winning combination of trainer Jean-Claude Rouget and jockey Cristian Demuro.

Rouget also saddles Wahdan and Grecian Storm as he bids to complete a hat-trick of Prix du Jockey Club triumphs.



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Diego Velazquez to spearhead O’Brien’s Chantilly challenge

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Diego Velazquez is Aidan O’Brien’s chief hope of winning a second Qatar Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on Sunday.

Impressive in his first two juvenile starts, the Frankel colt disappointed on his final appearance at two in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster, but his trainer is happy to “put a line through” that run as he feels he became upset by his unruly stablemate Battle Cry, who was ultimately withdrawn.

The Ballydoyle handler, who broke his French Derby duck with St Mark’s Basilica in 2021, believes Diego Velazquez is better judged on his comeback run at ParisLongchamp, where he was beaten just a length into fourth place in the French 2000 Guineas, teeing him up perfectly for a second French Classic tilt this weekend.

“That’s what we thought, our other horse got upset. He had to be taken out and obviously Diego was left in the race, and he got upset as well,” O’Brien said of his Doncaster effort in a France Galop media call on Tuesday.

“We just felt that being left in the stalls, we should have probably withdrew him. The ground was very soft as well that day. We kind of put a line through it.

“We were very happy with the run in the French Guineas. We always thought he would run a very nice race and we always thought the step up to mile and a quarter would suit him well. We were delighted to go to Longchamp because it is obviously right-handed like Chantilly.

“We felt these two races would suit him well and we were very happy with the way he came out of the French Guineas and happy with everything he has done since.”

With Diego Velazquez having failed to fire in the mud at Doncaster, O’Brien is hoping there is not too much rain at Chantilly ahead of his latest big-race test.

He added: “Obviously he is a very good mover so the better the ground, the better it would suit him.

“We thought he would probably want good, fast ground as you can see when you see him gallop he has a very low, long action.

“Hopefully the ground won’t be soft and will improve (before Sunday). Definitely the better the ground, the better his chance.”

Diego Velazquez is set to be joined by stablemate Cambridge, who so far this season has finished fourth in both the Craven Stakes at Newmarket and the Dante at York.

“Cambridge is a solid horse. Hopefully he can get a mile and quarter very well and he will handle an ease in the ground,” said O’Brien.

“We always thought he was a solid Group horse. Obviously our number one horse would be Diego Velazquez and Cambridge will be number two. He’s a very solid and straightforward horse really.

“He has a different action to Diego, he bends his knee a little bit. He might not be as quick as Diego, but he will definitely handle the soft ground a little bit better.”



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Ghostwriter expected to enjoy step up to French Derby distance

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Ghostwriter will get the chance to further enhance the 2000 Guineas form when he runs in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on Sunday.

Clive Cox’s Newmarket fourth is one of 21 colts left in the French Derby and he has been buoyed by how the horses who finished in his vicinity in the race won by Notable Speech ran at the weekend.

The Richard Hannon pair of Rosallion and Haatem, second and third at HQ, dominated the Irish Guineas on Saturday, while Kevin Ryan’s Inisherin, who led for a long way before fading into sixth, lowered the colours of Vandeek in the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock.

“I’m very pleased indeed with him, he’s had a healthy timeframe between the Guineas and this weekend,” said Cox.

“He’s pleased me very much indeed and the form of the Guineas has worked out brilliantly, with Kevin’s horse winning as well as Richard’s two finishing first and second in Ireland, so we’re very happy.

“We’ve been looking forward to stepping him up to a mile and a quarter, more importantly. He did really well last year when he was unbeaten and winning over a mile at two would give us every indication that he should get a little bit further this year.

“I hope we fare well in the draw and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Diego Velazquez is well fancied for the French Derby
Diego Velazquez is well fancied for the French Derby (Damien Eagers/PA)

Also in contention this weekend from the UK and Ireland are Karl Burke’s Arabic Legend, John and Thady Gosden’s God’s Window, David Menuisier’s Sunway and the Aidan O’Brien pair of Diego Velazquez and Cambridge.

French Guineas winner Metropolitan and Henri-Alex Pantall’s Fast Tracker lead the home team.



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Sunway on track for Chantilly Classic bid

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The Prix du Jockey Club remains the aim for Sunway despite David Menuisier’s star colt suffering defeat when on trial for the Chantilly Classic at Saint-Cloud recently.

Always held in the highest regard by his connections, he finished ahead of 2000 Guineas runner-up Rosallion when second in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster last year before going on to end his two-year-old campaign with Group One triumph in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud.

Having blown away the cobwebs at ParisLongchamp in the early part of the 2024 season, the son of Galiway returned to the scene of his finest hour for the Group Three Prix Greffulhe.

Although beaten a neck in what is regarded a key French Derby trial, Sunway’s handler has confirmed the colt remains on track to compete in the 10-furlong contest on June 2.

“He has come out his race at Saint-Cloud really well and we are going to prepare him for the Prix du Jockey Club now and hopefully he can keep improving. Chantilly is still the plan,” said Menuisier.

The handler is also keen to see if he can register a group-level victory with Sirona this term, having seen the four-year-old finish a close-up third on her stable bow in Lingfield’s Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes.

With options amongst her own sex limited, the Sussex-based Frenchman is envisaging taking on open company sooner rather than later, with a trip to Haydock a possibility for the daughter of Soldier Hollow.

“I was delighted with her. She ran a bit fresh and was a bit keen but she showed her true potential and it was great,” continued Menuisier.

“Hopefully we can secure a Group race with her and see how much improvement we can get out of her.

“She’s not easy to place because I would like to stay against fillies but it is not always that easy. She could possibly go to Haydock for the John of Gaunt against the colts and that is one option amongst several really.”



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Tamfana team eager for Diane test

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David Menuisier’s Tamfana is Chantilly-bound in search of Classic consolation after her 1000 Guineas bid ended in a near miss.

The filly, who is by the late Soldier Hollow, made an instant impression as a two-year-old when narrowly beaten on debut before going on to record a nine-and-a-half-length victory at Kempton on her second outing.

She then became a Group Three-winning juvenile when taking the Prix Miesque at Chantilly on her final start last year and began the current term in the Prix Imprudence at Deauville, where she gave Godolphin’s Romantic Style and Christopher Head’s Ramatuelle a run for their money when beaten only a length in third.

The latter horse was well-backed at 9-2 in the 1000 Guineas, but Tamfana was somewhat overlooked as a 33-1 shot under Jamie Spencer when the two met again on the Rowley Mile.

In a field of 16, Menuisier’s filly was held up at the rear and found her path blocked when trying to mount a challenge three furlongs from home, forcing Spencer to switch out wide to find some room.

Despite covering that extra ground, Tamafana flew home to clock the fastest final two furlongs and fall short by just a length when fourth in a tightly-bunched finish.

Though lamenting Tamfana’s troubled passage at a crucial moment, connections were still delighted with the ability she showed and now have another Classic in mind in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly.

Eamonn O’Connor, managing director of owners Quantum Leap Racing, said: “David and I had a conversation as we were still in two minds about whether to go to France, but he thought the filly was good enough to win the English Guineas and I don’t think he was wrong.

“We had a tremendous day, the members had the best day of racing most of them have ever had.

“We didn’t win but it felt like we did, there was some mixed emotion afterwards about what could have been, but it’s churlish to take anything away from the winner of a race like that and start going on about your own hard luck.

“We didn’t win, but in truth we did come home thinking we had the best filly.

“David has never lacked faith in her, on the day she arrived she didn’t look like a €20,000 horse, that’s for certain.

“He genuinely wasn’t surprised by the run, a little bit gutted, I guess, that he didn’t get his Classic winner but not at all surprised that she ran so well.”

Of the French Oaks target, which will entail a step up to a mile and two and a half furlongs, O’Connor added: “We’ve had this plan in mind over the winter, that it would be her main target.

“Whatever she did then (at Newmarket), we expect her to step up for the trip that the Diane offers, so that’s where we will go.

“We’re pretty confident she’ll stay at least that, most of the horses that Quantum Leap Racing buy are horses with a staying pedigree.

“It will be a great day out, I know that from previous experience, we’ll enjoy it and we’re looking forward to the season beyond.”



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French Derby target for Guineas fourth Ghostwriter

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They often say fourth in the Guineas, first in the Derby – and Clive Cox hopes that rings true for the French equivalent as well, as he eyes a trip to Chantilly for Ghostwriter following his fine effort in the 2000 Guineas.

Unbeaten as a two-year-old, the son of Invincible Spirit was sent off at 14-1 in the hands of Richard Kingscote for the opening Classic of the summer, overcoming a stumble exiting the stalls and also becoming unbalanced entering the dip to finish a respectable fourth behind impressive winner Notable Speech.

It was a performance that suggested Ghostwriter will thrive once upped in distance and although the colt holds an entry for the Betfred Derby at Epsom, Cox is keen to stick to 10 furlongs and place a bullseye on the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on June 2.

“I don’t think there was any doubt we saw a very impressive winner, but I’m very happy he ran very well,” said Cox.

“Things didn’t go entirely smoothly for him, but it’s certainly not a disappointing reflection. He just stumbled coming out of the stalls and also got a bit unbalanced coming into the dip as well.

“He’s come out of the race very well and I think as a mile winner at two who has undoubtedly done very well over the winner, I was very pleased with the performance, and I now think he will be helped by going a mile and a quarter at this stage.

“That would be our intention as long as he is fit and well. He’s done a very gentle canter this morning and I’m thrilled he has come out of the race really well.

“I hope he will continue his progress and I would say, after speaking with Jeff (Smith, owner) this morning, that the French Derby is going to be our likely target.”

Ghostwriter also holds an entry in York’s Dante Stakes later this month, but with a short span of time between the the Guineas and his French Classic assignment, Cox is willing to forego a fact-finding mission over 10 furlongs and cross the Channel with a freshened-up Derby contender.

Clive Cox was thrilled with Ghostwriter's Guineas efforts
Clive Cox was thrilled with Ghostwriter’s Guineas efforts (John Walton/PA)

“The Dante comes soon enough and although the Dante would be ideal, we were very keen to run in the Guineas and he justified that with a really solid run,” continued Cox.

“York will come soon enough and then the timeframe between the Guineas and the French Derby is probably going to be much more suitable.

“He’s a very nice horse and I’m just very pleased he has come out of the race well and we can now look forward to him going a mile and a quarter.”



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Araminta claims Prix Chloe honours for Candy

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Henry Candy’s Araminta took her record to three wins from just four outings when successful in the Prix Chloe at Chantilly.

Out of the Roger Charlton-trained sprinter Mince and by Gleneagles, she was beaten a length in a Listed race at Goodwood over a mile on just her second start and returned to the Sussex venue to win the Height Of Fashion Stakes last time out.

Upped to Group Three company in France, she took it in her stride. Settled in just behind the leaders by the veteran Gerald Mosse, she was pulled out to challenge two furlongs from home.

While she did not immediately put the race to bed and briefly looked vulnerable, the longer the race went on, the more her stride lengthened and she pulled away to beat Excellent Truth by a length and a quarter.

Candy said: “She just keeps improving. She’s a lovely, big, scopey animal and she won really nicely today and she was very relaxed which was nice.

“Gerald asked me this morning ‘does she lengthen or does she quicken’ and I replied that she does both. She does lengthen but she does have a kick.

“She’s a little unlucky to not be unbeaten.

“I think the Nassau will come a bit too quick but the entry is there. It does look a very good race this year and the best she could hope for would maybe be third or fourth.

“It might be best to give it a miss but I’ll see what the boys want to do – I sound like Aidan O’Brien saying that but that is as close as I’ll get to him!

“Looking at her pedigree, I can’t see her getting an inch beyond 10 furlongs really – luckily she’s very good at that, she’s very exciting.”



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Ramatuelle lifts Papin prize at Chantilly

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Ramatuelle looks another high-class performer for Christopher Head after the filly became the first French-trained winner of the Prix Robert Papin for 10 years.

The Group Two at Chantilly has been dominated by overseas raiders in recent years, with the likes of Tis Marvellous, Signora Cabello and Blackbeard all on the roll of honour.

This time though, it was all about Head’s hugely-promising filly, who has won three of her four starts.

Her only defeat came on her second outing when beaten by Beauvatier, a subsequent Listed winner who is now unbeaten in three.

She was always travelling very kindly in the hands of Aurelien Lemaitre and once asked to put the race to bed, there was never a question she was going to quicken away.

Amy Murphy’s Myconian briefly threatened to get involved but it was Aidan O’Brien’s His Majesty who stayed on for second, beaten four lengths.

It continues a great season for Head, who has enjoyed plenty of success with Blue Rose Cen and Big Rock already.

Former NBA star Tony Parker is one of the owners of Ramatuelle
Former NBA star Tony Parker is one of the owners of Ramatuelle (PA Wire)

The winning filly is owned by a syndicate which includes former NBA star Tony Parker, who told Sky Sports Racing: “It was a great win and I’m very happy for the team.

“The coach has a plan and now it’s on for the (Prix) Morny next month.

“She’s at home here, that’s her third win here and she’s clearly comfortable here at Chantilly, hopefully it will be the same next month.

“She’s super calm, it looks like she knows what she wants to do and she’s loving it. Her number one quality is her calmness. She has a huge heart and huge talent.

“I just like to share everything with our team, we share the same passion.”

Head said: “She was incredible, she loves the speed and she’ll be going to the Morny for sure. I just can’t wait to get to that race.

“I was not concerned about her being keen as there was nobody who wanted to go in front of her, she’s capable of doing better than that, of course.

“She’s pretty much like an older horse, it’s a pleasure to see her in races behave this way.”



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