'English' Derby one day, French 'Derby' the next. Off to Chantilly tomorrow for the French version, run on a perfectly flat racecourse over a slightly shorter course. Is it a better race? Usually not, but this year with Wings Of Eagles likely to have moderate stud value, who knows what might happen here?
Taking on the task of dissecting the form is French racing fan, Luke Humphreys, @WorldRacingLuke.
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QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club
Group 1, €1,500,000, 1m2f110y
Chantilly 1615 local, 1515 BST, 0015 AEST
1. Brametot (15/8): Has the potential to be anything on his two runs this year. Terrific first-up in the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau as a trial for the Poule d’Essai des Poulains and then won that G1 in terrific style holding Le Brivido in the closing stages after settling well back. Draws the inside here which isn’t great or horrible, can miss the start, as he did first-up in the G3 but still winning easily. Will put his cards on the table for the big G1 over a furlong and a half here further in October and is a star. In my opinion only the start can beat him as he can be very quirky from the gates.
2. Waldgeist (11/1): G1 over this distance in the Saint-Cloud 2YO Championship last season. Defeated very comfortably by Recoletos in the G2 Prix Greffulhe, main trial for this, last time by Saint-Cloud. Rerouted from Epsom for this. No reason why he is going to reverse form with Recoletos.
3. Orderofthegarter (14/1): Should relish step up in trip on French 2000 run, was off the bridle and under the whip at halfway however battled away and the further he went the better he got. However no reason why he is to reverse form with the likes of Brametot and Rivet.
4. Taj Mahal (66/1): Likely to be deployed as a pacemaker. Already making start 11, defeated by Orderofthegarter two back at Leopardstown. Beaten long odds-on last time, form not franked by winner in G3 Gallinule at the Curragh
5. Recoletos (4/1): Super impressive win of Saint-Cloud G2 trial in Prix Greffulhe when putting some nice Fabre types in Waldgeist and Akihiro to the sword. On that run a huge chance here. Stall 12 not ideal, but he could be that good it probably won’t affect his chances that much.
6. Bay Of Poets (12/1): Has performed with credit in Derby trials the last twice, after bombing out of all of his runs in black-type events as a juvenile. Third to Cracksman and Permian in the Derby Trial at Epsom and ran Cliffs Of Moher to a length and a half in the LR Dee Stakes at Chester. (Cliffs Of Moher ran great in defeat on Saturday.)
7. D’Bai (40/1): Well back in G1 Saint-Cloud 2YO Championship. Second on seasonal debut at that course in a LR event over a mile and had every possible chance. Doesn’t have the class.
8. Soleil Marin (12/1): Forgotten horse. Won his first race at Cholet and since has just kept on winning. Seven-length winner at Saint-Cloud on last juvenile run. Possibly better on Softer ground but still good on Good. Head winner of G3 Prix Noailles over C&D over Akihiro who was since beaten by Recoletos and Waldgeist.
9. War Decree (14/1): Defeated Orderofthegarter on debut last year. Pick of Ballydoyle trio. Won G2 Vintage Stakes over seven furlongs defeating Thunder Snow last season but flopped first-up in the G3 Craven. Something to prove.
10. Be My Sheriff (50/1): Five length conditions winner at the course last time. Piece of form to go on is a G3 sixth when beaten just under three lengths in a weakish trial for this.
11. Rivet (8/1): Will be well fancied with the UK punters. Third in Poule d’Essai des Poulains behind Brametot last time after running second in the Craven to Eminent (who was terrific in Derby). A G1 winner last year and also defeated Thunder Snow in a G2. However was beaten three lengths by the favourite last time and there’s no reason why he’ll be reversing that form here.
12. Plumatic (16/1): Winner on debut at Saint-Cloud before beaten in G3 Prix de Guiche over 9f at this track as favourite. Almanzor won that before winning this last year. Nice enough type but doesn’t appear to have the class.
Ratings: (1) BRAMETOT - (5) RECOLETOS - (8) SOLEIL MARIN - (11) RIVET - (6) BAY OF POETS - (9) WAR DECREE - (3) ORDEROFTHEGARTER - (2) WALDGEIST - (12) PLUMATIC - (7) D’BAI
Taking on the task of dissecting the form is French racing fan, Luke Humphreys, @WorldRacingLuke.
---------------------------
QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club
Group 1, €1,500,000, 1m2f110y
Chantilly 1615 local, 1515 BST, 0015 AEST
1. Brametot (15/8): Has the potential to be anything on his two runs this year. Terrific first-up in the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau as a trial for the Poule d’Essai des Poulains and then won that G1 in terrific style holding Le Brivido in the closing stages after settling well back. Draws the inside here which isn’t great or horrible, can miss the start, as he did first-up in the G3 but still winning easily. Will put his cards on the table for the big G1 over a furlong and a half here further in October and is a star. In my opinion only the start can beat him as he can be very quirky from the gates.
2. Waldgeist (11/1): G1 over this distance in the Saint-Cloud 2YO Championship last season. Defeated very comfortably by Recoletos in the G2 Prix Greffulhe, main trial for this, last time by Saint-Cloud. Rerouted from Epsom for this. No reason why he is going to reverse form with Recoletos.
3. Orderofthegarter (14/1): Should relish step up in trip on French 2000 run, was off the bridle and under the whip at halfway however battled away and the further he went the better he got. However no reason why he is to reverse form with the likes of Brametot and Rivet.
4. Taj Mahal (66/1): Likely to be deployed as a pacemaker. Already making start 11, defeated by Orderofthegarter two back at Leopardstown. Beaten long odds-on last time, form not franked by winner in G3 Gallinule at the Curragh
5. Recoletos (4/1): Super impressive win of Saint-Cloud G2 trial in Prix Greffulhe when putting some nice Fabre types in Waldgeist and Akihiro to the sword. On that run a huge chance here. Stall 12 not ideal, but he could be that good it probably won’t affect his chances that much.
6. Bay Of Poets (12/1): Has performed with credit in Derby trials the last twice, after bombing out of all of his runs in black-type events as a juvenile. Third to Cracksman and Permian in the Derby Trial at Epsom and ran Cliffs Of Moher to a length and a half in the LR Dee Stakes at Chester. (Cliffs Of Moher ran great in defeat on Saturday.)
7. D’Bai (40/1): Well back in G1 Saint-Cloud 2YO Championship. Second on seasonal debut at that course in a LR event over a mile and had every possible chance. Doesn’t have the class.
8. Soleil Marin (12/1): Forgotten horse. Won his first race at Cholet and since has just kept on winning. Seven-length winner at Saint-Cloud on last juvenile run. Possibly better on Softer ground but still good on Good. Head winner of G3 Prix Noailles over C&D over Akihiro who was since beaten by Recoletos and Waldgeist.
9. War Decree (14/1): Defeated Orderofthegarter on debut last year. Pick of Ballydoyle trio. Won G2 Vintage Stakes over seven furlongs defeating Thunder Snow last season but flopped first-up in the G3 Craven. Something to prove.
10. Be My Sheriff (50/1): Five length conditions winner at the course last time. Piece of form to go on is a G3 sixth when beaten just under three lengths in a weakish trial for this.
11. Rivet (8/1): Will be well fancied with the UK punters. Third in Poule d’Essai des Poulains behind Brametot last time after running second in the Craven to Eminent (who was terrific in Derby). A G1 winner last year and also defeated Thunder Snow in a G2. However was beaten three lengths by the favourite last time and there’s no reason why he’ll be reversing that form here.
12. Plumatic (16/1): Winner on debut at Saint-Cloud before beaten in G3 Prix de Guiche over 9f at this track as favourite. Almanzor won that before winning this last year. Nice enough type but doesn’t appear to have the class.
Ratings: (1) BRAMETOT - (5) RECOLETOS - (8) SOLEIL MARIN - (11) RIVET - (6) BAY OF POETS - (9) WAR DECREE - (3) ORDEROFTHEGARTER - (2) WALDGEIST - (12) PLUMATIC - (7) D’BAI
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