The big race on Sunday takes place at Longchamp, although this year’s running of the Prix du Moulin will not be won by Baaeed. Last year’s runner up Order Of Australia returns having finished fourth in the Prix Jacques le Marois when last seen, a race in which he was third last year. He was well beaten in the Marois but he did finish in front of disappointing Coroebus, who will once again by a short priced favourite. Prior to that Charlie Appleby’s 2000 Guineas winner had just done enough to hold off Lusail in the St James’s Palace but Richard Hannon’s son of Mehmas has hardly advertised that form subsequently being third in the Prix Jean Prat and just seventh in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes. Prix d’Ispahan winner Dreamloper is dropped to a mile today but she has been well beaten in the Pretty Polly and the Nassau since that Group 1 win in May and she may simply not be up to this standard. I expect to see plenty of use made of her here. Peter Schiergen’s German raider Rocchigiani needs to improve substantially on his Group 3 success at Goodwood but a line through the beaten favourite on the Sussex Downs, Bayside Boy, makes him look overpriced compared to the favourite. Goldikova’s daughter Goldistyle looks out of her depth here, having been just third in the Prix Rothschild last time with Prix Jean Prat winner Tenebrism ahead of her; however, a Group 1 place would obviously improve her paddock value. Unbeaten God Blessing would need to improve enormously on his Listed win at Deauville to get involved here having previously won two minor races in the provinces. Old boy The Revenant likes to get his toe in, has collected two Saint Cloud races this term and is probably heading for a fourth tilt at the QEII, a race that he won two years ago. He should run his usual race but he will surely find one or two of these too good for him. Whilst I would like to see Coroebus bounce back, I can give him a miss at the odds and if forced to have a bet I would do the German horse each way.
On these shores, eight contest the Listed Garrowby Stakes at York. Old boy Judicial showed that he still has a zest for the game with an admirable second in the Shergar Cup Dash last time (Lampang third) with ten stone including Frankie on his back but it is hard to see him beating younger rivals today. Blackrod started his campaign with a win at HQ but has been well beaten in the Wokingham and the Great St Wilfrid since and looks out of his depth here. Pure Dreamer has won four of five in handicaps and would need a career best today by some margin whilst Irish raider Prisoner’s Dilemma looks more likely to manage the step up from handicap company, having won easily at The Curragh last time off a mark of 103. Ed Walker’s filly Primo Bacio has been running consistently in pattern races but she drops to six furlongs today, having only run once at that distance, two years ago at Chelmsford. Ventura Diamond was third in a Chester Listed race last time, has not won for two years but the easing of the ground is a positive for her. The form pick here is clearly Michael Dods’ GALE FORCE MAYA. The six year old mare was second last time in a Listed event at Pontefract after previously winning two of three races at this track, the most recent of those off a mark of 105. The main concern would be any further easing of the ground.
Condolences to all involved with Coroebus
