After just eleven contested the two big Group 1s at Inglorious Goodwood, a short trip across the Channel sees thirteen entered for the Group 1 Prix Rothschild for fillies and mares. The supporting card features three Group 3 contests and there is plenty of English and Irish interest.
Those wanting to take a chance on the juvenile form have to wait until after the big race for the Prix Six Perfections (4.50 BST). There is a good chance that the Euros could be exported in this seven furlong contest but is hard to fancy them crossing to England as Adrian Keatley’s York Listed race winner Secret Hideaway was well hidden subsequently at the back of the Queen Mary field (fifteenth) and James Owen’s Wetsand won an ordinary fillies maiden at Doncaster on her only start. If the Euros are leaving France, they might be going home with Donnacha O’Brien courtesy of Balantina, third in the Albany and stepping up a furlong today. Francis-Henri Graffard fields Narissa, easy winner of a Saint Cloud maiden race at this distance in June, who might well be favourite on the PMU; however, with the British bookies the favourite is Christopher Head’s Kingman filly Green Spirit, winner of a maiden and a conditions race at Saint Cloud.
The Prix de Cabourg (6.00 BST) has just six runners and one raider. Archie Watson’s Tadej has been fitted with a visor but the Coventry sixth will have to do better than when last visiting France where he finished two necks third in a sub-standard Prix Robert Papin. He could well do that. Also visored first time is Amy Murphy’s filly Baileys Encanta, last seen finishing third in a Vichy maiden race when ridden by a claimer. The reality of the matter is that they are going to struggle to handle the unbeaten filly Shiri. Francis-Henri Graffard’s Mehmas filly beat a more fancied stablemate on debut at Longchamp and followed up in a conditions race at Chantilly. Norfolk Stakes sixth Afjan was runner-up at this track in a Listed race last time (Jeudixx a length behind in third) and steps up to six furlongs today.
Seven line up for the first of the pattern races, the Prix de Psyche (1.31 BST). British interest is in the form of Life Is Beautiful from the Gosden yard. Lady Bamford’s filly was last seen finishing fifth in the Ribblesdale so this might be considered a drop in class; however, the home defence consists of unbeaten Al Uqda, winner of a Vichy Listed contest last time following on from two conditions races; and the Prix de Diane third Cankoura (Zia Agnese eleventh), who looks very much the one to beat.
So to the very competitive looking Prix Rothschild (3.40 BST) where seven of the thirteen are looking to export the prize money. A quick look at the ratings tells us that several of the runners are hoping for place black type at the best. The four year olds Riyabovka (fourth in the Listed Prix Goldikova last time after two handicap wins) and Start Of Day (fifth in the Duke Of Cambridge) look to have too much to do here. Godspeed won the Group 2 Prix de Sandringham having previously been eighth in the Pouliches (Mandanaba third, Exactly fourth) and also looks up against it. German-bred Matilda is the unknown quantity in the field. She makes her first start for Francis-Henri Graffard but thrashed the boys in the German 2000 Guineas at Cologne in May, a race in which Graffard had the odds-on favourite (second last). James Fanshawe’s Pina Sonata has not been seen since May either when winning a Leicester novice with something in hand and this looks like too big a jump in class. Donnacha O’Brien’s Atsila won a Group 3 back in May but subsequently was seventh in the Irish 1000 Guineas (January eighth) and sixth in the Falmouth Stakes (January second, Crimson Advocate third), that latter form suggesting she will struggle to reverse form with rivals today. Aidan O’Brien’s Exactly was sixth in the Coronation Stakes when last seen with stablemate January ahead in third; and the Falmouth second looks the more likely to win today. Crimson Advocate won the Duke Of Cambridge but was behind January in the Falmouth and it is hard to see why she should reverse placings back. The other Gosden runner, Spiritual, won the Group 3 Princess Elizabeth easily on Derby Day and that would suggest that he has fair claims to some black type but it would be a surprise if she was good enough to win. Mandanaba followed up her third in the Pouliches with fourth in the Prix de Diane and now drops back to a mile after a seven week break. I wonder if she is taking in this as a warm up for the Prix Jacques le Marois. Last year’s Irish 1000 Guineas winner Fallen Angel has certainly fallen from grace; she has not won since. This term she started with sixth of eight in the Lockinge and she was third behind Crimson Advocate in the Duke Of Cambridge. Today they have reached for the blinkers, probably out of frustration. From the win bet point of view, I think January looks the most likely (favourite with the British bookies) but I have a notebook horse in the field in the form of PINTA, a lightly raced four year old who was given far too much to do over course and distance last time in the Prix Goldikova and will be carrying my money as an each way bet at 16/1 four places with Bet365 in the hope that today’s pilot does not get her boxed in and she finishes fast for at least a place!
