Tag Archive for: ParisLongchamp

Monday Musings: Daryz Makes it the Aga’s Arc

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Ten furlongs (and a little bit) on fast ground at York is a world away from a mile and a half in very soft going at Longchamp in October, writes Tony Stafford. Run in a fast time – yesterday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was the only race among a string of Group 1’s to better the standard – identifies it as a very good version of the race, certainly as far as the first two home were concerned.

The going might explain in part Daryz’s elevation from last of six as a 14/1 shot at York to winning the Arc at slightly bigger odds. In doing so, he collected more than £2 million for the Aga Khan studs. Sadly, Prince Karim, who died in early February this year, never lived to see his colt, a son of champion 2,000 Guineas, Derby and Arc winner Sea The Stars on the racetrack.

https://youtu.be/poLX14qVTA8?si=6MWEOQdjr4vIwOfK

Daryz only made his debut in early April and trainer Francis-Henri Graffard guided him gently through the grades before York, via two conditions events, then a Listed race and a Group 2, before sending him overseas for the first time.

There was an obvious feeling of shock when he flopped in the Juddmonte, but Daryz restored confidence with a narrow defeat in the Group 3 Prix du Prince d’Orange over ten furlongs of Sunday’s course three weeks ago. Just a neck behind Japan’s Croix Du Nord, his was very much a try-out for yesterday, and the form turnaround – 11 lengths – was a stark reminder of how the top French trainers have always used the racing calendar to their advantage.

Daryz would undoubtedly have been at much shorter odds bar the flood of money on the Pari-Mutuel for the three Japanese runners. Two, Croix Du Nord and Alohi Alii, were out with the washing in 14th and 16th of the 17 starters, while Byzantine Dream, supported down to 7/1 second favourite, could do no better than fifth.

So far, we haven’t mentioned the favourite, unreasonably so as Minnie Hauk ran an astounding race, beaten only a neck by the Mickael Barzalona-ridden winner having been in the front four throughout. When Christophe Soumillon took her to the front, it looked like being a Coolmore/Aidan O’Brien treble on the day, but Daryz proved just too strong.

As the colt and filly fought out the finish, it was admirable that they stretched more than five lengths ahead of their field. With such as the Juddmonte one/two Ombudsman and Delacroix absent, as well as unqualified-by-the-conditions star geldings including Calandagan and Goliath, it wasn’t the race of earlier vintages when EVERYTHING used to turn up.

Having been a fan of racing well before Sea Bird II’s 1965 Derby and Arc demolition jobs, I’ll never forget his day in Paris when he cantered over such as Reliance, Diatome and further back the top-class American colt Tom Rolfe.

Big money is to be earned with less sweat for connections and horses alike these days, though, and no doubt the Japanese will be regretting putting so much energy into their continuing luckless quest to win the race. They do far better on Dubai World Cup Day and yesterday’s valiant trio should be ready in time for that.

As the records describe him, Aga Khan IV won the race four times between 1982 and 2008 with Akiyda, Derby winner Sinndar, Dalakhani and the brilliant mare Zarkava.

His father, Prince Aly Khan, married to the actress Rita Hayworth and destined to an early passing via a fatal car crash, enjoyed success in 1959 with Saint Crespin. And his father, Aga Khan III, won the race which was founded in 1920 with Migoli in 1948 and Nuccio four years later.

Talking about the Arc soon afterwards Barzalona explained how he needed to make the most of his good draw. Soumillon on Minnie Hauk (drawn 1) was fast away and Barzalona slotted the winner, exiting stall two, in just handy. It’s always seemed weird to me that over longer distances it happens, but the draw did make a big difference in this race. The highest drawn of the first four home was Marco Botti’s Giavellotto, (drawn five) just behind third-placed Sosie (stall three) in fourth.

You would imagine that the winner, unraced at two, would have plenty to gain from staying in training, and might be aimed at a rare Arc double next year. I would love to see Minnie Hauk, a daughter of Frankel, continue too. One obvious stud route for her was closed when Wootton Bassett came to his untimely end in Australia last month.

It seems a date next month at the Breeders’ Cup has not been ruled out. Yesterday was only her fifth race of the year and seventh in all, so she has hardly been over raced. I’m pretty sure the ever-combative owners would be all for it.

Incidentally, Wootton Bassett had two winners on the Sunday card, both from mares by Galileo. Having already picked up the Qatar Prix Marcel Bousac with Diamond Necklace, O’Brien, Soumillon and the Coolmore partners added the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere for two-year-old colts with Puerto Rico.

Last weekend at Newmarket, on remarking to Michael Tabor that True Love had done well to retain her form through a long season in winning the Cheveley Park Stakes, he replied, “That’s what Aidan does.”

He could have used the same phrase to describe the progress of the Lagardere winner. He was beaten twice in maidens; another couple of times in Curragh Group 2 races before finishing 4th in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (Group 1) a couple of places behind True Love.

He broke his maiden at the sixth time of asking at Doncaster last month and improved again markedly on that with an all-the-way emphatic success here. Last year’s winner of the race, stable-companion Camille Pissarro, went on to victory in this year’s Prix du Jockey Club and was retired after getting injured when 4th to another stablemate, Delacroix, in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes.

The second win from that Wootton Bassett-Galileo nick was the Christopher Head-trained Maranoa Charlie in the Prix de la Foret. The three-year-old had been extremely unlucky when third at York and showed his true colours here.

There had been a few mutterings that Soumillon’s spell as temporary replacement for Ryan Moore had not been a success, but the contra view was that he would come into his own on the French tracks. His masterful judgment of pace coming from the back on Diamond Necklace was a typical French ride from the Yves Saint-Martin era, never getting involved until coming with a smooth run down the outside. Those 8/1 odds for Newmarket next spring might shrink a fair bit over the winter.

Unusually, yesterday wasn’t a great day for UK trainers, who drew a blank. One who did play a part in a piece of racing history, however, was Amy Murphy. Now happily settled in Chantilly, she had been among the back-up team behind Asfoora’s first ever win for an Australian-trained horse in France.

Asfoora’s trainer Henry Dwyer was rather sheepish as he related how if it hadn’t been for Ms Murphy and a very quick Uber driver, the mare would not have been allowed to race.

Instead of taking Asfoora’s passport to the track, he brought the one for a horse he’d bought at the Arqana Arc Eve sale on Saturday. Amy sorted the driver and the correct passport arrived with a minute and a half to spare.

It didn’t take Asfoora quite that long to beat her 16 rivals in the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp under a very confident Oisin Murphy. She came through to challenge outsider Jawwal in the last furlong, winning by a comfortable half-length in 56.39 sec. The seven-year-old isn’t regarded as the best sprinter in Australia but she’s more than good enough to beat the cream of Europe’s speed merchants.

It was sad that Peter Charalambous’s Apollo One found so much trouble in the six furlongs of Ascot’s John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes on Saturday, more than enough to prevent a follow-up from last year’s triumph. Stopped in his run repeatedly, he stretched out gamely to the line, making up several lengths in the last furlong, but missed out by a rapidly diminishing short head to Mick Appleby’s Annaf.

Winning group races is never easy, but this was one that slipped through his owner-trainer-breeder’s fingers. It made the difference of £30k and prevented the seven-year-old (that’s right, another one) from getting neatly onto career earnings of almost exactly half a million quid.  I’m sure it’s only delayed.

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Cualificar denies Bay City Roller in Niel thriller

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Cualificar snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a thrilling finishing flourish in the Qatar Prix Niel to deny George Scot’s Bay City Roller.

Andre Fabre’s French Derby runner-up slightly disappointed last time when only third in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano and looked like having to settle for a minor role once again at ParisLongchamp as William Buick saw his passage halted by significant travel problems as the race began to unfold.

However, Buick held his nerve and once finding a gap and meeting clean air, flew home to deny Bay City Roller in the shadow of the winning post.

Paddy Power make the winner a 14-1 shot from 66s for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with the master trainer confirming the October 5 showpiece as the target.

Fabre told Sky Sports Racing: “It’s an impressive win for sure, but this is just a prep race for the Arc and it was what I was hoping and expecting with the extra two furlongs and softer ground.

“I took this route with Trempolino a long time ago and he became quite heavy this summer so I thought he would need the extra race (at Deauville last month).”

On his Arc hand, which includes Prix Foy runner-up Sosie, Fabre added: “They are two serious horses.”

Buick was impressed with his mount and concurs with Fabre that he has improved for moving up in distance.

He added: “I was in that position from pretty much the get-go and I knew all the way through the race I was going to have to try and find an out at some stage.

“In these races the horses are often closely matched and you don’t often get the gap. I didn’t get any room down the inside so had to come back to come out and he still finished the way he did to win the race.

“It always takes a bit of doing and he’s a horse who is improving. I was impressed with him when I rode him in the Prix du Jockey Club and I think he’s only getting better. It was his first time going a mile and a half and he was very happy going the distance so you would have to be happy with what he did.”

George Scott was delighted with Bay City Roller and said: “I am obviously very pleased with how he ran. We have always believed in him, and we were disappointed at York, but he had his excuses that day and he showed his true level again today.

“A horse like him has his whole future ahead of him. I am delighted for Sheikh Nasser (owner). He has a very good horse here with great potential. Bay City Roller has a big future, so this is enjoyable and very exciting.

“I think he will have another race, so we’ll discuss it with Sheikh Nasser and see what he thinks. But yes, he will have another run, so we will see. We desperately need soft ground! Everywhere we go, it dries up! I promise you, he will be a much better horse with some ease in the ground, so we will wait.

“Today was a test over a mile and a half, and he showed he stays it without any problem. He was bred for it, he had won a Group Two over 1,400 metres (seven furlongs) at two, so he has speed and now he stays. He has a lot of quality, and I’m happy to train him.”

Aventure claims first Group One as Whirl disappoints

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Aventure went one better than 12 months ago to seal top honours for the first time in the Qatar Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp in which Whirl was a bitter disappointment.

Second to Ralph Beckett’s Bluestocking in 2024, the Group One event proved an exceptional trial for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with the duo filling the same positions in the French capital a month later.

It was Aidan O’Brien’s Oaks runner-up and dual Group One-scorer Whirl who was expected to lay down her Arc claims, but having been kept wide initially by Christophe Soumillon before tacking over to lead the field into the home straight, she checked out tamely in the closing stages to finish last.

Whirl’s poor performance enabled Christophe Ferland’s four-year-old to take full advantage with Maxime Guyon always having the daughter of Sea The Stars in the perfect position close to the pace.

She quickened smartly when asked to win her race to come home comfortably clear of Francis-Henri Graffard’s French Oaks heroine Gezora in second and inspire dreams of going one better in Paris next month.

William Hill make Aventure their 4-1 joint-favourite for the Arc alongside O’Brien’s Minnie Hauk, while she heads the market with Paddy Power at the same price.

Ferland told Sky Sports Racing: “She won very well, we did not know about the Irish fillies but she did very well today. Maxime was very confident on her and when she came out in the straight she accelerated well so I’m very pleased.

“My mission was to win a Group One with her and that is done and now we have to go for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. She will be better in four weeks time I think and she’s coming along now.

“I don’t think she really enjoys herself before June or July and she’s better at this time of year. It was good ground today so if it’s good ground in the Arc that is fine and if it is heavy she will still go as fast as she did today, even better probably.

“She’s got a big heart, she’s calm with a good mind, she’s the perfect filly to train. We have four weeks to go and it’s going to be a long four weeks. The Arc would be a big bonus, but something hopefully achievable too.”

Graffard said of Gezora: “That was a very good performance from her on her return. She was beaten by a very good filly.

“Mickaël Barzalona said he couldn’t go past Aventure, but she finished strongly. The pace slowed down significantly at one stage, but Gezora is very straightforward and clearly stays the mile and a half.

“We’ll see with the owners, but she’ll be out again in four weeks, either in the Prix de l’Opéra or in the Arc. Personally, I would prefer the Arc. It will be quite an open race, and she’s the Prix de Diane winner… we have nothing to lose!”

More agony for Rosallion in Moulin as Sahlan prevails

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Rosallion’s wait for a first victory of the season continues, as Francis-Henri Graffard’s Sahlan produced a career best to win the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.

It has been a trying summer for Richard Hannon’s stable star who has had made the podium in the Lockinge, Queen Anne and Sussex Stakes before finishing a close-up fourth in the City of York last month.

Sent to ParisLongchamp, the scene of his Group One triumph as a juvenile, his luck was fancied to change and he finishing strongly in the hands of Sean Levey.

However, this time he had to give way to one of the home contingent, as Francis-Henri Graffard’s contender – who was down the field in the French 2000 Guineas earlier in the summer and was supplemented earlier in the week – stepped up markedly on his Group Three victory at Deauville last month to strike.

Sahlan held a narrow advantage over Rosallion on the line, with The Lion In Winter filling the third position for Aidan O’Brien. The winner could now head to the Breeders’ Cup.

Graffard, who is enjoying a dream season in his homeland, told Sky Sports Racing: “You have to thank the owners for respecting my opinion and trusting me to take on a big challenge.

“I said to Sheikh Joaan (of Al Shaqab Racing) I didn’t have many options for the horse, I think he’s in very good form, he can quicken, it’s a big gamble, but if we’re in the first five, we have nothing to lose.

“He believed in me and it’s paid off nicely. I always liked this horse, he’s been beaten but in the Poule d’Essai we had a lot of excuses and I couldn’t blame the horse. He was sick when he was beaten in the Listed race and then he won a Group Three comfortably.

“I had the support, and I’m very happy. I don’t think I will run him again on soft ground here. If he’s well, we might look to the Breeders’ Cup Mile but he’s a horse we will likely keep as a four-year-old. That’s the softest ground we would look to run him on.”

Hannon could not hide his frustration that his pride and joy had been touched off once more.

“It’s extremely disappointing and hard to take,” he said.

“Really, Rosallion is tough. He’s the best horse in the race. Nobody did anything wrong. He will end up winning one, everybody agrees on that. In fact, he hasn’t really been beaten, has he?”

Wayne Lordan rode The Lion In Winter and said: “He enjoyed getting a lead today and he enjoyed (being) on the turn. I thought he ran a very good race and I’m very pleased with him.”

Dream result for Byzantine followers in Foy

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Byzantine Dream strengthened Japan’s hand for the the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with a convincing win in the hands of Oisin Murphy in the Qatar Prix Foy.

Japanese contenders are famously yet to conquer Europe’s richest middle-distance prize with Orfevre’s near miss in 2012 the closest the raiders from the Far East have come to getting their hands on the trophy at ParisLongchamp.

However, compatriot Alohi Alii has already stated his claims when blitzing the field in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano last month, while Japanese Derby winner Croix Du Nord is also on course for the French capital on October 5.

Now Byzantine Dream can also add his name to the mix after being shortened to 12-1 for the Arc by Paddy Power, with Coral going even shorter at 8-1 after his dress rehearsal in Paris.

Second in the Tenno Sho when last seen, the Tomoyasu Sakaguchi-trained four-year-old was successfully ridden by Murphy when winning the Red Sea Turf in Saudi Arabia in February, and his proven stamina came to the fore here to finish strongly and edge out Andre Fabre’s Sosie.

Murphy told Sky Sports Racing: “He broke well but the one beside him stumbled and I actually clipped a heel for a stride, but he relaxed immediately and the pace wasn’t super fast and I was able to get on the back of Maxime Guyon (on Sosie).

“He doesn’t do an awful lot in front and in Saudi Arabia he ran around, so I just thought I would hopefully get there hands and heels and if he wasn’t winning today it would set him up perfectly for the big race (Arc).”

He went on: “I wasn’t concerned about dropping back in distance as I think he is a weak stayer over extended distances and has a very good turn of foot. He beat a high-class field today but he does want fast ground.

“He was a lot heavier today and you would notice the crest in his neck is much thicker. He obviously hasn’t run since May and he just did two kind of nice bits of work without anything being difficult in the build-up to this.

“He’s probably quite a light-framed horse who doesn’t need graft and I would hope he could be an even better horse come Arc weekend provided he gets his preferred conditions.”

Sakaguchi said: “The horse was in very good condition. The jockey rode a perfect race. It’s a beautiful victory. He still has room for improvement. He will be at the peak of his condition for the Arc.

“Today was just a prep race, and he still has something in hand. The question will be the ground, but the main goal is to have the horse ready for the Arc, and then we’ll see how the ground turns out on the day.”

Sosie ram a fine trial for the Arc
Sosie ram a fine trial for the Arc (Steven Paston/PA)

Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager for Wertheimer and Frère, owners of Sosie, said: “That was a very good return! He hadn’t run since early July, and the idea was to prepare him for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

“We were beaten by the horse we knew the least about, but against the other runners, he clearly showed his quality. If all goes well, we’ll be at the start of the Arc in four weeks’ time. We are satisfied.”

Ed Walker was pleased enough with the run of Almaqam back in third.

“That’s a very good performance, I’m very pleased with Almaqam,” he said.

“All week, I was worried about where to run him. I think we made exactly the right choice in coming here. He definitely stays the trip. We learned a lot today. Almaqam wasn’t beaten by much. I think he will be better on softer ground.

“He’s had a light campaign this year, and today’s race opens up more options for him going forward. Disappointed to be beaten, but very pleased nonetheless, I believe he’s a great horse.

“This is probably the best year to run in the Arc. William (Buick) told me: ‘If you’re going to take your chance, do it this year!’ As an option, we had the Champion Stakes, which will be a red-hot race. But I think he really enjoys the mile-and-a-half. So why not try? If the boss (Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum) agrees to take the chance, then I think we should go for it.”

Rosallion ready to face Prix du Moulin challenge

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Rosallion has another opportunity to return to the Group One winner’s enclosure in the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp on Sunday.

Richard Hannon’s stable star broke his top-level duck in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at this track two years ago and last season enjoyed success in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes.

His pursuit of further Group One glory as a four-year-old has so far proved frustrating, however, with nose and neck defeats in the Queen Anne and Sussex Stakes respectively followed by a fourth-placed finish when dropped back to seven furlongs for the City of York Stakes two weeks ago.

Returning to a mile on a track where he has proven his worth in the past, Hannon is hoping his charge can finally prevail.

“He’s in good form, hopefully the ground will be drying out and hopefully the ground will be good by Sunday,” he said.

“He’s fit as a fiddle, he’s won there before and we’re keen to take the race on.

“He has no problem backing up quickly – he went from the Irish Guineas to the St James’s Palace and he takes his racing well and looks after himself. He’s got a solid constitution.

“We gave Henri Matisse 8lb at Goodwood and beat him, we have to give him 6lb on Sunday, so we’re 2lb better off.”

Aidan O’Brien’s Henri Matisse is another with winning form at the Parisian track, having struck Classic gold in the French 2000 Guineas in the spring, while he was just over two lengths behind Rosallion when third in a muddling Sussex Stakes won by 150-1 shot Qirat.

He is one of three runners for O’Brien along with The Lion In Winter, who is yet to strike in four starts this term, and a possible pacemaker in Serengeti.

Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “Henri Matisse ran on slow ground last year in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and it didn’t go to plan, but hopefully the ground should definitely be better than it was then. The quicker the better for him.

“He has come through Goodwood very well and it is another very tough Group One – you have obviously got Rosallion in it, Lead Artist, and plenty in it.”

Of The Lion In Winter, Armstrong added: “He dropped back down in trip in the Prix Jean Prat and ran an unbelievable race there (when third) and then went back to France (for the Jacques le Marois at Deauville) the last time and the way we rode him that day didn’t work out.

“This race should be different tactics and, hopefully, it will be a different result.

“The engine is still there, just a few things have got to fall right for him.”

A strong raiding party is completed by Roger Teal’s Dancing Gemini, Simon and Ed Crisford’s Quddwah and John and Thady Gosden’s Lead Artist.

Dancing Gemini finished a close-up third in the Prix Jacques le Marois three weeks ago, while Quddwah has returned victorious after his two previous trips across the Channel this season, scoring at ParisLongchamp in May and Chantilly in July.

Lead Artist beat Dancing Gemini and Rosallion when landing the Lockinge at Newbury in May and while he failed to fire in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot, better is expected on his return this weekend.

Barry Mahon, racing manager for owners Juddmonte, said: “He’s had a nice break since Ascot. We initially planned to go to the Marois and his bloods were just a little bit off, so he had a quiet week before it and missed that race but he’s back in good form. Colin (Keane) had a sit on him on Wednesday and thought he felt great, so we’re looking forward to seeing him.

“They’ve had a lot of rain in France, but I think the forecast is good between now and Sunday, so we’re hopeful that the ground will dry out sufficiently and it will be close to good ground.

“It’s a top-class renewal, as it always is. You’ve got Rosallion, The Lion In Winter, Henri Matisse and Dancing Gemini – they’re all there.

“It’s a top-class Group One, but in fairness we know our horse is a top-class Group One horse, we’re entitled to be there and although after a long break he might need it a little bit, it will set us up for something like the Breeders’ Cup then after.”

Dancing Gemini set for Prix du Moulin jaunt

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Dancing Gemini is being readied for a second successive trip across the Channel and another tilt at Group One glory in Sunday’s Prix du Moulin at ParisLongchamp.

Roger Teal’s stable star made an excellent start to the season with victories in the Doncaster Mile and the bet365 Mile at Sandown, and he was only narrowly denied a top-level breakthrough when beaten a neck by Lead Artist in the Lockinge at Newbury.

Dancing Gemini failed to fire in a slowly-run Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, but having bounced back to form when finishing a close-up third in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville in mid-August, the four-year-old will return to France with a degree of confidence behind him this weekend.

Teal said: “He seems in good order, so the plan at the moment is to run in the Moulin.

“Deauville was a bit frustrating and a case of so close but yet so far, but it was a good performance and hopefully he can run another big race on Sunday.

“The ground was rock hard at Deauville, I couldn’t believe how quick it was. Looking at the forecast it looks like it’s been wet over there this week and it’s due to dry up later in the week, but hopefully the ground will be a bit easier than what he’s been running on.

“Rossa Ryan will ride him again and we’re looking forward to it.”

Shuwari delights Ollie Sangster with ParisLongchamp strike

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Ollie Sangster was thrilled to see Shuwari reward the patience of her connections with victory in the Prix de la Cochere at ParisLongchamp.

The New Bay filly enjoyed an excellent juvenile campaign a couple of years ago, beating the subsequent triple Group One winner Fallen Angel in the Star Stakes at Sandown before filling the runner-up spot in both the Rockfel Stakes and the Fillies’ Mile.

Shuwari missed the entirety of the 2024 season and after finishing sixth on her long-awaited return to action at Kempton in March, she was not seen again until placing third in Haydock’s Dick Hern Stakes three weeks ago.

But ridden confidently at the rear of the field by Mickael Barzalona on her first appearance in France, Sangster’s charge moved menacingly into contention halfway up the home straight and picked up well in the closing stages of the one-mile contest to edge out Zabeel Light in a driving finish.

Sangster said: “She was obviously a high-class two-year-old who has had her issues since then and I’m very happy for my dad Ben and the whole team at Ballylinch (part-owners) as they have been very patient all along and let us keep trying.

“We were happy with her going into Haydock, but we were very much using that as a comeback run and a springboard for the rest of the season. This was on more suitable ground today, we were cautious about the draw (stall 12), but Mickael gave her a nice, cool ride and I think she performed very well in the circumstances.

“I think she’ll improve again for today and we look forward to getting her back and hopefully having a successful autumn. She’s not in a few of those big autumn Group Ones as they close very early in the year and obviously we’ve had our issues so we were reluctant to make many entries.

“We’ll get her back home and see how she comes out of it and try to go back up to Group company, anyway.”

Afjan is in line for a shot at Group One glory on Arc weekend after narrowly denying Irish raider Havana Anna victory in the Group Three Prix d’Arenberg.

Havana Anna was a warm order to complete her hat-trick for Donnacha O’Brien following back-to-back wins at Naas, most recently impressing in the Listed Marwell Stakes in July.

Ridden by Gavin Ryan, the Havana Grey filly took over the lead from Archie Watson’s Shine On Me approaching the last of five furlongs, but Henri Devin’s Afjan also finished off strongly in the hands of Christophe Soumillon.

The pair passed the winning post almost as one, but the judge confirmed the Al Shaqab Racing-owned Afjan the winner by a nose and the juvenile could now take on his elders in the Prix de l’Abbaye.

Rupert Pritchard-Gordon, Al Shaqab’s French racing consultant, said: “That was brilliant, particularly with him being a homebred colt.

“It’s great that he’s confirmed the promise he showed when winning on his debut. Henri Devin has always had a lot of confidence in the horse and after he finished second in the Prix de Cabourg over six furlongs at Deauville the other day, Christophe felt he had so much natural speed that the very obvious race was today’s.

“It’s very possible he’ll run in the Prix de l’Abbaye, I think – we’ll roll the dice. He’s got a lot of speed and he’ll carry 54 kilos.

“We’re not there yet, but that would be the plan I think as we’ve got very little to lose. He’ll have the weight in his favour and he’s now proved his effectiveness over that quick five furlongs, so why not?”

Espoir Avenir claimed a shock victory in the other Group Three on the card, the Prix Gerald de Geoffre.

Hotheaded was a short-priced favourite to claim a third win from four starts for Andre Fabre, but he folded after being rushed to the front following a slow start and it was Christophe Ferland’s Espoir Avenir who picked up the pieces, with Joseph O’Brien’s Emit beating Hotheaded to the runner-up spot.

Maranoa Charlie on course for Foret challenge

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Maranoa Charlie is booked for the Prix de la Foret after his gallant third-placed run in the Sky Bet City of York Stakes at the weekend.

The Wootton Bassett colt is trained in Chantilly by Christopher Head and made his first trip across the Channel to contest the seven-furlong Group One under the French rider Aurelien Lemaitre.

He was a 9-1 chance among a field of 10 and ran a fine race to come home just three-quarters of a length behind the winner on his second start for new owners Bond Thoroughbreds.

“He ran a very good race, I was really happy with the performance of the horse,” said Head.

“We tried a new strategy this time, we were waiting with him a little bit and it was really worth it.

“He showed a real change of speed at the end of the race, he was very resilient and I was very happy with him.

“He’s come out of the race very well and he didn’t even lose that much weight, which is fantastic because now we know he’s capable of taking all the travelling.

“We’re going to go to the Prix de la Foret for his next race, and that may be the end of his season.

“I need to discuss it with his owner, of course, but we’re going to concentrate on a nice programme for next season with lots of travelling because he looks like he can handle it.

“He’s going to be very interesting for all the big mile races next season.”

Ed Walker targets Prix Foy with Almaqam

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Ed Walker is hopeful his patience can be rewarded when Almaqam puts his Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe credentials to the test in the Prix Foy next month.

Held in the highest regard by his team, the dry summer and fast ground has rather curtailed the four-year-old’s progress since his impressive win over Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes back in May.

While that Sandown rival has gone on to contest – and win – some of the summer’s highest profile middle-distance events, Almaqam has only been seen the once since, finishing second to Royal Champion when a beaten favourite at York last month.

However, Walker is content to sit and wait for the right opportunity for his star colt to advertise his quality on his preferred going, now eyeing a move up to a mile and a half at ParisLongchamp on September 7 which could prove the catalyst for an exciting Arc tilt later in the autumn.

“He’s bouncing but it’s just a bit frustrating again that we can’t get him out and we’re just being patient and waiting for some soft ground,” said Walker.

“The plan at the moment is the Prix Foy and that will tell us if we’re going to have a crack at the Arc or not or head for the Champion Stakes.”

Almaqam was no match for Royal Champion
Almaqam was no match for Royal Champion at York (PA)

He went on: “I’m not sure if the ground may have caught him out at York last time really, as it was a very good performance from the winner. Probably the slightly drying ground and slick track just didn’t play to his strengths.

“He’s a hard horse to beat on soft ground so we just have to be patient.”

Almaqam is currently a best price of 50-1 for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with odds of 16-1 available for the Qipco Champion Stakes on British Champions Day.

Sajir team plot familiar route for Deauville winner

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Replicating his father in the Prix de la Foret and a tantalising Breeders’ Cup tilt are the likely targets for Sajir this autumn following his Prix Maurice de Gheest heroics.

Andre Fabre’s four-year-old excelled at Deauville when claiming the feature Group One sprint in the hands of Oisin Murphy, lowering the colours of both defending champion and Royal Ascot scorer Lazzat and Prix Jean Prat winner Woodshauna who filled the places.

It was a performance which delighted connections and vindicated their belief in the son of Make Believe as he flew home in blistering fashion, also providing compensation for being withdrawn before the start of the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes that Lazzat subsequently won at Ascot back in June.

“He looked magnificent on Sunday and these victories don’t happen often so you try to enjoy them more knowing they are not a regular thing,” said Ted Voute, racing adviser to owner Prince Faisal.

“I rang Andre (on Monday) and the horse had just arrived back from Deauville to Chantilly and was sound. Obviously with the ground as rattling as it was, we were holding our breath a little, but he was sound as a pound.

“He beat the form horses in second and third who had both won Group Ones themselves, so it franks everything and was won in the second fastest time ever in that race and the fastest time from a colt in that race – it writes quite a nice stallion advertisement.”

Make Believe won the seven-furlong Prix de la Foret for Fabre in 2015 and Sajir will take a direct route to ParisLongchamp on Arc day in a bid to emulate that achievement.

Sajir winning at Newmarket earlier this season
Sajir winning at Newmarket earlier this season (Mike Egerton/PA)

That outing could well be followed by a trip to America for the Breeders’ Cup Mile, with the master trainer also tempted to test the colt’s stamina at Del Mar in November.

Voute added: “He’s in the Foret and Andre said directly after the race we will follow his father’s footsteps. He runs best fresh, so I could see us going straight there.

“Andre also said though that there is something about him that makes him feel the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar wouldn’t be a bad idea, so we might put him in the mix there and see how we get on.

“It’s Andre’s idea and he’s a master of these sort of things and he just felt the layout of the course might play to his strengths a little bit.

“There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge before we get there, but it’s not a bad target!”

Jean-Claude Rouget back in the big time courtesy of Leffard

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Jean-Claude Rouget returned to the Group One winner’s enclosure as Leffard got up to deny Trinity College in a pulsating finish to the Cygagames Grand Prix de Paris at ParisLongchamp.

The dual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe-winning trainer – who has had health battles and seen his string much reduced over the last year – was clearly emotional after Cristian Demuro put Leffard’s head down right on the line to edge out Aidan O’Brien’s Trinity College.

Ryan Moore and Trinity College had tracked Frankly Good Cen before switching out and showing a smart turn of foot, one that looked like it would seal matters. That was not counting for Leffard, however, and he too picked up in great style when asked to leave the pair battling out.

After the shortest of waits, Leffard – who holds an Arc entry – was announced the winner, putting a below-par effort in the Prix du Jockey Club – in which Trinity College had been fourth before winning at Royal Ascot – behind him and fully justifying the decision to supplement for the Paris showpiece.

Rouget told Sky Sports Racing: “It was fantastic when I saw the horse coming. I was very confident there was not a big difference between the two (Leffard and Trinity College).

“I knew he was very good, but I had to find a new confidence in him (after the Prix du Jockey-Club). He was so well this week and the field was not tremendous I decided to supplement him. When I saw six runners, it was possible to be third and we did better.

“I think yes (he is an Arc horse), because when I bought him I was sure I bought a good horse.

“It’s a big fairytale, life continues and we do other things.”

Rouget said the Prix Niel would be the Arc prep race for his winner, and added: “This is a great moment for my team in Pau. It’s hard to sum it all up in a few words. Their support is what kept me going. Without them, I would have quit.

Leffard powers up alongside Trinity College to win the Grand Prix de Paris
Leffard powers up alongside Trinity College to win the Grand Prix de Paris (Scoopdyga)

“My assistant, Jean-Rene Dubosc, did a remarkable job. He took two weeks off and will be returning from vacation a happy man!”

Demuro said: “It’s incredible for Jean-Claude Rouget. He made the trip here and I’m so happy for him.

“It’s amazing that he’s back and winning a Group race. He’s a father figure to me. Leffard is a superb horse, and I had a great trip – he’s really top class.”

Of Trinity College, who was trying 12 furlongs for the first time, O’Brien said: “He ran a very good race. I don’t think there’s much more to say. The distance wasn’t an issue.”

In third was New Ground, who was fourth in the Derby at Epsom but did not help his chance here in pulling far too hard for Colin Keane.

His trainer Henri-François Devin said: “He was very sharp throughout the race. He’s a somewhat tricky horse. The pace was too slow for him — below what he needs. Even so, he finished very well, which is impressive for a horse that pulled so much.

“For now, we’ll shorten him up. Once he settles down more, we might revisit longer distances.”

Arc emerges as ultimate target for Map Of Stars

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Map Of Stars will be pointed towards the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe when he returns from a summer break, after pleasing connections with a respectable effort in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Francis-Henri Graffard’s four-year-old had made a fine start to the new campaign, winning his first two starts before going down narrowly by a neck when up against Andre Fabre’s Sosie in the Prix Ganay.

Sent off 13-2 for a red-hot Group One at the Royal meeting, he was not disgraced when fourth behind Ombudsman, with his team now deciding the time is right to step up in trip with Europe’s most prestigious middle-distance prize the ultimate aim in the autumn.

“We were not disappointed at all with him and with the French style of racing where they tend to go steady then sprint, he will never have gone as fast in his life as they went in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes,” said Richard Brown, racing adviser for Map Of Stars’ owners Wathnan Racing.

“He’s done very little wrong and he will have learned a lot from Ascot. He’s still a baby really and still growing up and will come forward from that mentally.

“He ran a solid race and I think we’ll give him a break now, he’s had four runs and we’ll come back for one of the Arc trials and step him up in distance.

“He’s bred for it, so we’ll run him in a trial and take a look at the Arc. I’m sure he’s going to get a mile and a half and I think he’s going to be better over that distance.

“If he is he’ll likely handle the likely soft ground and it’s the obvious race to target him at. Whether he will be good enough, who knows, but he’s got plenty of ability.”

New Ground full throttle towards Grand Prix de Paris test

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The Grand Prix de Paris is the likely next objective for New Ground following his fourth-place finish in the Betfred Derby.

Trained in France by Henri-Francois Devin, the New Bay colt faced a huge rise in class for the premier Classic at Epsom, but justified the decision of owner-breeders Juddmonte to supplement him with an excellent effort in defeat.

The three-year-old now has the opportunity to prove that performance was no fluke, with an appearance at ParisLongchamp on July 13 on the agenda.

Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager, said: “New Ground is in the Grand Prix de Paris and he’s in the German Derby. We’ll look at both, but it feels like the Grand Prix de Paris is probably the plan for him.

“He’s a good horse, I think Henri always felt he was very talented and we knew a step up to a mile and a half was going to suit.

“I thought given how he behaved in the preliminaries, he ran an unbelievably good race as he got very warm and very excited, but he came home well.

“I think we’re heading towards the Grand Prix de Paris and hopefully he’ll run a good race there.”

Goliath regains winning thread with La Coupe strike

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Last season’s King George hero Goliath made the most of having his sights lowered with a comprehensive victory in the La Coupe at ParisLongchamp.

Francis-Henri Graffard’s charge was a brilliant winner of Ascot’s midsummer highlight in 2024, but returned to home soil with a point to prove having since failed to make his presence felt in either the Japan Cup in November or Hong Kong’s QEII Cup in April.

Dropping down to Group Three level, the five-year-old was sent straight to the lead by Christophe Soumillon and while Grand Stars briefly loomed up as a threat early in the home straight, Goliath picked up again once challenged and was well on top at the line.

On the front-running tactics, Graffard told Sky Sports Racing: “We decided with Christophe that his two best races were when he jumped and not to fight with him. We decided to let him roll along on his own and let him be very comfortable and when he’s like that he’s a very good horse.

“Off any pace he can quicken, he has this ability, he just needs to be relaxed. He’s a horse that can be very tense, that’s why he ran so poorly in Hong Kong. I’m very happy because I was unsure how he was going to behave mentally and this race will do him good, so we can restart the season with him.”

On whether a defence of his King George crown could be on the agenda, the trainer added: “I have to discuss it with the entourage. We’ll see how he comes back and what Christophe says, but obviously he will target the big races again.”

Maranoa Charlie stamped his class on the Group Three Prix Paul de Moussac.

An impressive winner of the Prix Djebel on his seasonal reappearance, Christopher Head’s charge was subsequently beaten into fourth place when dropped back to six furlongs in the Prix Texanita.

The free-going three-year-old was unable to get to adopt his customary pacesetting tactics that day, but was soon out in front in this seven-furlong contest and confirmed his superiority over Djebel runner-up Silius with a clear-cut victory.

Head said: “He’s really a beast! I can’t wait to see him in the Group One Prix Jean Prat as his next race. That is why we were here today and I’m happy he has shown he has the capacity to win over 1400 metres (seven furlongs).

“It was important (to run in the Prix Texanita) because if he could have been a sprinter he could have been to Royal Ascot and everything, but he’s showing that’s he’s not a sprinter and he’s not a miler, he’s in between and he’s doing it very well.

“This horse keeps on surprising us and we just can’t wait to see his next race.”

Ed Walker’s British raider Troia claimed Listed honours in the Prix Volterra.

Winner of two of her previous four starts and third in Listed company at York last month, the daughter of Kingman knuckled down to go a couple of places better under Kieran Shoemark.

“She broke cleanly from the gates and we were able to get a beautiful position and we weren’t going overly quick on the front end,” said Shoemark.

“We were able to save and save and she stays this trip really well. It actually surprised me as it just took her a few strides to hit top gear, but when she found it I felt she was comfortable at the line.

“She’s a pretty straightforward filly and she wants to do it, which is the main thing.”