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France Race Card – 1st October
English Form Guide
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R1 – QATAR PRIX JEAN-LUC LAGARDERE (GRAND CRITERIUM) – 1400m (a7f) – TURF – Group 1 – Group – Flat – EUR € 400.000
1. ZABIARI – Another fine Aga Khan colt with impeccable credentials. Drops back in trip after
winning the Prix des Chênes in good order and must be afforded significant respect
2. ROSALLION – Has looked a very good colt to date. Caught the eye last time out and has a
realistic chance of finishing close
3. UNQUESTIONABLE – Classy colt whose form has been called into question but comes here
fresh and can set the record straight
4. BEAUVATIER – Superb colt that has yet to be fully tested. Keeps getting better and looks set to
secure a maiden Group 1
5. HENRY ADAMS – Unbeaten in two starts to date and, while his presence be of use to his
stablemate, he is still a decent sort in his own right and, with Soumillon onboard, is not to be
underestimated
6. WEST MAN – Acquits himself well for the most part. Makes his first sortie outside of Germany
but may well find the going tougher this time around
7. JAYAREBE – Smart winner on his debut late August. Has freshness on his side but is unlikely
to be the horse to give Frankie a big send-off
8. EVADE – Handy individual that pleased behind the favourite here early last month. Little chance
of winning but can still get in on the action
9. JOHANNES BRAHMS –
10. BALLYMOUNT BOY – Justifiably well-regarded sort that has twice just missed out on Groupglory. Solid over the distance at York and makes the long journey with legitimate ambition
11. NATIVE AMERICAN – Improving colt that trounced the opposition at the Curragh last time out.
Steps up in class but looks good enough to do well under these conditions
Summary : A man with an excellent eye for a horse, Philippe Allaire could not have asked for better
than BEAUVATIER (4) who has yet to be dethroned. He met little opposition in the Prix la Rochette
over course and distance and will again garner the lion’s share of support. EVADE (8) finished a
valiant runner-up to him that day and will have come on for the run, but he will first have to defer to
the progressive ROSALLION (2) who left a very good impression at Doncaster a fortnight ago, and
Richard Fahey’s unbeaten NATIVE AMERICAN (11) who won a valuable handicap at the Curragh
three weeks ago.
SELECTIONS
BEAUVATIER (4) – ROSALLION (2) – NATIVE AMERICAN (11) – EVADE (8)
R2 – QATAR PRIX MARCEL BOUSSAC – CRITERIUM DES POULICHES – 1600m (a1m) – TURF – Group 1 – Group – Flat – EUR € 400.000
1. ZANDY – Beautifully-bred filly with little experience. Just won her maiden last month but, if André
Fabre lines her up here, there must be a reason
2. FREVILLE – Progressive sort that made up for her Deauville Listed disappointment with a
tenacious Gr.3 Prix d’Aumale success and, on similar going, will not be far off the mark
3. ROSE BLOOM – Facile winner of both starts to date. Is a filly with tons of progress in her and is
not incapable of maintaining her unbeaten status
4. LES PAVOTS – Has come on leaps and bounds during the summer. Opened her black-type
account smartly at Deauville last time out and is good enough to finish in the thick of things
5. VOODOO MAGIC – Useful sort that has progressed respectably but does not appear to have
shown enough to be considered a priority
6. RIBALTAGAIA – Sensational on her debut early last month. Has earned the right to take her
chances here and must be respected
7. DARNATION – Quality element that just keeps getting better. Secured a Doncaster Gr.3 with
ease recently and will have her chances
8. EXTRAORDINAIRE – Has yet to live up to her name and only won a fillies’ maiden midSeptember. Is not here for reasons of tourism but still looks to have a mountain to climb
9. OPERA SINGER – Good class of filly that gave us a taste of her future with an excellent success
at the Curragh late August and will be a tough nut to crack if she replicates that performance
10. JULICA – Unbeaten in both public appearances so far. Encountered no opposition in either
start and, while unlikely to pull off the hat-trick, should still give another competitive account
Summary : After winning her maiden in late July, OPERA SINGER (9) has gone from strength to
strength and, considering the nature of her recent Curragh Gr.3 success, looks eminently capable
of repeating. ROSE BLOOM (3) has looked a classy professional since her first steps on the track
and has the profile to win a race of this nature. DARNATION (7) has done everything asked of her
to date and, given how well she won at Doncaster recently, must be afforded significant respect.
RIBALTAGAIA (6) won her maiden, in good company, at Lyon-Parilly with consummate ease and
looks a player.
SELECTIONS
OPERA SINGER (9) – ROSE BLOOM (3) – DARNATION (7) – RIBALTAGAIA (6)
R3 – QATAR ARABIAN WORLD CUP – 2000m (a1 1/4m) – TURF – – Flat – EUR € 1.000.000
1. RAJEH – Superb earlier in his career but no longer the horse he once was and will need to
improve on his recent Prix Dragon performance
2. HADI DE CARRERE – Plainly useful but has not been as sharp as he was in Saudi last year.
Will have come on for his re-entry race but still no more than a minor place prospect
3. MOSHRIF – Consistent servant that finished 4th in the race of reference and, with form
maintained, can make the frame this time
4. CH’EZZA – Remarkably regular sort that won at this level over track and trip earlier in the year.
Is clearly in shape and can pleasantly surprise
5. FIRST CLASSS – Highly impressive in the UAE over the winter. Beaten, but a decent 2nd
nonetheless, by AL GHADEER (7) at Goodwood and again looks the main threat
6. MESSI – Previously a good sort but nowhere near as fast as his namesake these days and will
have few friends
7. AL GHADEER – Classy campaigner that seldom puts a foot wrong. Currently amassing as many
Gr.1s as he can and will take all the beating
8. OCEAN AL MAURY – Is not without merit and always gives his best but, in this company, will
struggle to make his mark
9. MEZOWN – Capable on a good day but takes on a field of quality this time around and can be
passed over
10. AL DOHA – Decent filly that has already proven her Gr.1 credentials. Impressive over this
distance and again looks a decent candidate for a place on the podium
Summary : Triple-handed in this event, François Rohaut’s stable-star AL GHADEER (7) has been
beaten just once, boasts 3 Gr.1 victories to his name, and is thoroughly capable of adding another
to his tally. Fifth in this race 12 months ago, FIRST CLASSS (5) ran (3.75L) second to him at
Goodwood and can play the same role. Fourth on that occasion, Rohaut’s MOSHRIF (3) has shown
very good consistency and should not be far off the mark, and neither should AL DOHA (10) who
won the Arabian Derby earlier in the season.
SELECTIONS
AL GHADEER (7) – FIRST CLASSS (5) – MOSHRIF (3) – AL DOHA (10)
R4 – QATAR PRIX DE L’ARC DE TRIOMPHE – 2400m (a1 1/2m) – TURF – Group 1 – Group – Flat – EUR € 5.000.000
1. SISFAHAN – Non Runner
2. HAYA ZARK – Twice a Gr.3 winner, he is a quality colt in his own right but is not of the calibre
to win a race of this stature
3. ONESTO – 2022 Grand Prix de Paris winner that made a good seasonal re-entry in Prix Jacques
le Marois before disappointing at Leopardstown. Has ability but hard to envisage him finishing in
the mix
4. SIMCA MILLE – One of the most consistent horses in the field. Twice Gr.1 runner-up before
landing the big prize in Germany mid-August. Should thrive over this ground and looks a player
5. BAY BRIDGE – Has not lived up to expectations this season after winning the Champion Stakes
in 2022. Did everything right in his prep at Kempton though and should not be underestimated
6. WESTOVER – Quality English-trained middle-distance horse. Flew up in Grand Prix de SaintCloud before going down by just a head to HUKUM (7) at Ascot. Has a good draw and can again
go close
7. HUKUM – One of the best older horses in the UK. Beat WESTOVER (6) in King George and,
while no 6 year-old has ever won the Arc, he could prove the exception
8. PLACE DU CARROUSEL – Last year’s Prix de l’Opéra winner before being put away due to
some health issues. Showed her form however, beating Iresine in Prix Foy and must be afforded
respect
9. THROUGH SEVEN SEAS – Has looked a different sort this season, notably running 2nd to
Equinox in the Takarazuka Kinen, but still looks nothing more than an outside chance
10. FREE WIND – Not the best mare in the Gosden’s yard but a classy individual nevertheless, and
Frankie Dettori’s last Arc ride. Reassured with a close 2nd in Yorkshire Oaks but still looks no more
than a secondary chance
11. MR HOLLYWOOD – 2nd in German Derby then close runner-up to Zagrey in Grosser Preis von
Baden. Short on experience but has bags of ability and, like past German Arc winners, is eminently
capable of springing a surprise
12. FEED THE FLAME – Impressive during the spring at Longchamp but disappointing in the
Jockey-Club. Made amends with Grand Prix de Paris success and, although beaten by
FANTASTIC MOON (14) in the Niel, he can still exact revenge
13. ACE IMPACT – Unbeaten in five starts and highly impressive in Prix du Jockey-Club. Got
straight down to business on re-entry mid-August and would not be here if he couldn’t get 2400m.
The horse to beat?
14. FANTASTIC MOON – German Derby winner that went on to win the Prix Niel in style. Has
never been bested over 2400m and looks competitively well in. Attention
15. CONTINUOUS – Disappointing in the spring but has since come good again and a repeat of
his recent St. Leger performance could well see him double his money
Summary : A veritable phenomenon, ACE IMPACT (13) has not once had to force his class in any
of his 5 unbeaten runs. Questions remain over the distance, but he still looks the one to beat.
HUKUM (7) and WESTOVER (6) finished respectively 1 – 2 in the King George, but the latter has
a better draw this time which could just give him that necessary edge to turn the tables. There will
be others preferred over SIMCA MILLE (4) but he nevertheless boasts a fine Longchamp record
and winning a Hoppegarten Gr.1 is no mean feat.
SELECTIONS
ACE IMPACT (13) – WESTOVER (6) – HUKUM (7) – SIMCA MILLE (4)
