3 minute read
On Sunday at Chantilly over 2100m will the continents combine again?
Yesterday at Epsom a Japanese-sired colt won the Derby and there is a Japanese-sired colt in the French version. Both have European dams. The one in the French Derby is Continuous by crack Japanese sire Heart's Cry, trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien and to be ridden by Ryan Moore, the winning combo at Epsom. 6/1 the current quote in UK.
He will be up against some strong local opposition led by Big Rock, a son of Rock of Gibraltar and going for his 5th consecutive win. He's trained by Christopher Head and will have Aurelian Lemaitre riding. He's 2/1 to continue his winning ways. Feed the Flame is described by his trainer Pascal Bary as a late developer and the son of Kingman is very lightly raced. Christophe Soumillon rides and they are on 4/1.
Then there is the Poulains winner Marhaab Ya Sanafi who is trained by Andreas Schütz, who says he is a versatlle horse who can go forward or stay back and that the extra distance should suit. Mickael Barzalona rides and they are on 8/1 in the UK.
Then American Flag who was 4th to Marhaab Ya Sanafi in the Poulains but whom he beat in their previous encounter. He didn't have much luck in the Poulains either. Yves Barbarot trains and Stépane Pasquier will ride the son of Wooton Basset who is on 9/1.
On the undercard there's the Grand Prix de Chantilly G2 over 2400m with 5 starters so we think that should go the way of Simca Mile but very short on 10/11. A roughie for a quinella could be Lartotchka on 20/1.
The Prix Sandringham is G2 over 1600m for 3yo fillies and 10 go to post. Sauterne appeals but is quite short on 3/1 so we are going wider with Calistoga 10/1 one of two Fabre fillies and the other Spirit Gal is on 14/1.
The Prix Royaumont is G3 also for 3yo fillies over 2400m and 7 to run. Aidan O'Brien is giving Boogie Woogie a chance for redemption here and the daughter of Dubawi is on 15/8. Engaliwe also looks capable of handling this trip and is on 4/1.
The last race is the Prix Gros-Chêne G2 over 1000m and there's an invasion of raiders here with Marshman heading the call on 9/4 for Karl Burke and Cliff Lee, and Believing 9/2 for George Boughey who was booked locally-based Murzabayev for the ride. We also liked the last run of one of the locals – Forza Capitano who could be huge value on 16/1 – Pantall-Guyon the connections.
Weather is fine and they were going to water on Friday so that the track would be "ideal" for Sunday's big day.
We send our condolences to Christopher Head and all the Head family on the death of his grandmother Ghislaine.
