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France Form Sheet – 5th November
Race Preview
R1 – PRIX DE L’EPINAY – 1900m (a1 3/16m) – ALL WEATHER – Condition Race – Flat – EUR € 30.000
1. SHOLTO – Well-related Shalaa gelding whose dam, a Listed performer, is a daughter of
Sleepytime, who won the 1000 Guineas (Group I) at Newmarket
2. AL DAAYEN – Zelzal colt with a strong maternal pedigree, as his dam is a daughter of the 1996
Group I Prix de Diance winner Sil Sila. Keep safe
3. MIA MAN – Almanzor colt out of THE well-performed Cool Esprit, who never finished worse than
3rd. Respected
4. COLUMBUS – Well-bred Oasis Dream colt out of a mare who placed at Group III level. Stéphane
Pasquier has been engaged to ride for trainer Christophe Ferland whose stable is in very good
form
5. O PATRAO – Michel De Carvalho-trained newcomer to keep an eye on, with Aurélien Lemaitre
engaged to ride this Inns Of Court colt
6. MOTY MARC – Motivator colt trained by Florian Bellemere and to be ridden on debut by Clément
Lecoeuvre. Outsider
Summary : This opening event for unraced two-year-old colts and geldings could go the way of
well-bred COLUMBUS (4), a son of Oasis Dream and Group III-placed Cribbs Causeway, who
represents the Christophe Ferland stable which has been in very good form of late. SHOLTO (1)
has already been gelded but is also well-related, as his dam and sister have both performed well
in Listed races, so a forward showing from this son of Shalaa wouldn’t come as a surprise. MIA
MAN (3) and AL DAAYEN (2) are not taken lightly either, as their trainers have become known for
readying their youngsters to be competitive on debut.
SELECTIONS
COLUMBUS (4) – SHOLTO (1) – MIA MAN (3) – AL DAAYEN (2)
R2 – PRIX DE LA ROCQUE – 1900m (a1 3/16m) – ALL WEATHER – Condition Race – Flat – EUR € 30.000
1. PARAIBA – Soldier Hollow debutante closely related to Group III Prix Royaumont winner
Pelligrina. High on the shortlist
2. LOUMARINE BERE – Filip Caenepeel-trained Whitecliffsofdover filly to be ridden on debut by
Benjamin Marie. For another day
3. IBERIA – Bated Breath filly from the stable of Pierre Groualle, who has engaged Marie Vélon to
ride. Dark horse
4. SAILORS DELIGHT – Well-related Cloth Of Stars filly whose sister Terre A Terre is a two-time
Group I winner. Makes plenty appeal on paper
5. RUE DAGUERRE – Mikel Delzangles-trained daughter of Footstepsinthesand. Will benefit from
Sophie Chuette’s 2,5kg allowance
6. BIRTHE – Laura Vanska-trained Study Of Man newcomer who cannot be taken lightly given the
booking of Aurélien Lemaître. Beware
7. GRAND LILI – Gianluca Bietolini-trained Saxon Warrior filly out of a mare placed at Listed level
in Germany. One to note
8. PRIVATE DINNING – Lethal Force debutante representing the formidable Fabrice Chappet and
Ioritz Mendizabal combination. Warrants respect
9. AQUA AUGUSTA – Well-bred Lope De Vega filly whose brother Arapaho established himself at
the highest level in Australia. Keep safe
10. LEE LOOP GIN – Roman Candle filly to be ridden on debut by Simon Planque for owner-trainer
Mickaël Seror. Outsider
Summary : There are a number of candidates for success in this fillies’ equivalent of the opening
event, though PARAIBA (1) and AQUA AUGUSTA (9) make most appeal on pedigree, as they’re
closely related to Group winners/performers. BIRTHE (6), who has a Listed performer in her
pedigree, and Fabrice Chappet-trained PRIVATE DINNING (8) may also have a say in the finish,
along with well-related SAILORS DELIGHT (4) whose sister is a dual Group I winner.
SELECTIONS
PARAIBA (1) – AQUA AUGUSTA (9) – BIRTHE (6) – PRIVATE DINNING (8)
R3 – PRIX ZEDDAAN – 1400m (a7f) – ALL WEATHER – Condition Race – Flat – EUR € 60.000
1. SHOWPOWER – Finished 2nd on debut and confirmed that promise by winning next/last time
out. Respected despite conceding weight to all
2. SALALAH – Consistent for the most part and bounced back to form recently by winning her last
start. Has a place chance
3. SEDUISANTE – Finished 4th in a Listed race before finding the going tough in a Group III last
time, finishing 6th of 8. Should fare better back at this level
4. ARISAIG – Beat rivals with experience when winning on debut across the Channel at
Chelmsford. Could be anything
5. SEE YOU AROUND – Confirmed the promise of her debut 2nd by winning her next start and
improved markedly to score in impressive fashion at Toulouse last time. One to beat
6. OPERA MUNDI – Consistent filly with sound form references and sufficient means to be
competitive here. Will not be far off the action
7. VERMELHO – Consistent sort who has remained competitive in her 3 starts since winning a
conditions race at Saint-Malo in July. Has a lot more on her plate here
8. INDIE BRIGHT – Didn’t need to improve a great deal to win last time after her encouraging 3rd
on debut. Will have more to offer
9. DYPTIQUE – Debut winner who set the record straight when winning again last time, after her
sole defeat La Teste de Buch in July. Will be a factor
Summary : SEE YOU AROUND (5) finished 2nd on debut and has confirmed that promise with
back-to-back recent victories. She beat a good field at Toulouse last time and, with any amount of
improvement, ought to take this step up in class in her stride. Debut scorer DYPIQUE (9) bounced
right back to winning ways at Chantilly recently, beating the experienced Dance Sioux, and is likely
to fight for victory again. ARISAIG (4) was a facile winner on debut at Chelmsford and could be
anything, so must be respected/included. IMproving last-start winners INDIE BRIGHT (8) and
SHOWPOWER (1) are also capable of having a say in the outcome to this competitive Listed event.
SELECTIONS
SEE YOU AROUND (5) – DYPTIQUE (9) – ARISAIG (4) – INDIE BRIGHT (8)
R4 – PRIX DU PAYS DE BRAY – 1900m (a1 3/16m) – ALL WEATHER – Divised Handicap – Flat – EUR € 70.000
1. BEHTAR – Consistent colt with sound form references. Was extremely unlucky when finishing
6th here in August and has remained consistent/competitive in two outings since – has obvious
claims
2. CICCIO BOY – An honest hard-knocker and fibresand specialist who achieved deserved success
in a race of reference on this course last month. Up 3kg for that win but should make his presence
felt
3. AMI SOLEDAD – Left Julien Phelippon’s stable to join Sascha Smrczek in the spring and has
won 3 handicaps since, but been penalized 10,5kg in total as a result. Others make more appeal
4. PRINCIPE – Was penalized 2kg after winning a conditions race at Argentan last time in his first
attempt at 1900m. Ought to remain competitive
5. KATOUCHA – Won a Listed race on this course last year and proved her competitiveness in this
category at ParisLongchamp recently. Will be a factor
6. PRECIOUS SEA – Regally bred filly who had Classic aspirations in her early days. Has been
costly to follow this year but remains more than capable so cannot be written off in her first start on
this surface
7. THE CHARMER – Made an encouraging reappearance after almost a year of absence and has
proven himself to be competitive in this category. Has never disappointed on PSF but may not be
sufficiently fit
8. BEVAN – Winner of two Quinté+ events this year but, as a result, has no margin at this handicap
value and is more effective on the turf. Others preferred
9. QITURA – Performed remarkably as a three-year-old, when 2nd in a Listed race, but has been
beset by health issues. Absent since May and faces hardened older rivals here – best watched for
now
10. INDIAN PACIFIC – Has continued to acquit himself competitively/consistently despite getting
long in the tooth, like many Patrice Cottier inmates. Confirmed on this course and at this level, so
is respected
11. UZEL – A model of consistency on the PSF and has improved considerably this year given a
sterner test of his stamina. Proven at this level and over this track and trip, so has a winning chance
12. DANTES – Was returning from a two-month absence when finishing an encouraging 2nd at
Argentan behind PRINCIPE (4). Inconsistent but has proven himself capable at this handicap value
13. PONT MIRABEAU – Possesses a potent turn of foot and produced some spectacular finishes
last year. Caught the eye when finishing 4th on his return at Bordeaux and should improve to be
competitive here
14. GIVE ME GOLD – Looked better than ever when winning a handicap last time, a performance
that earned her a 3kg penalty. Has a lot more on her plate now 15. TRUE TEDESCO – Failed in three previous appearances at this level before finishing a shock
3rd in a similar race at 53/1 last month on the turf at ParisLongchamp. Must now confirm in his first
start on PSF
16. SAINT ETIENNE – Made a winning handicap debut in his one and only start on PSF in August.
Improved to finish 3rd at this level last time but faces his elders here for the first time – has only a
place chance
Summary : A typically competitive Quinte+ event in which several runners have leading claims.
However, none make more appeal than fibresand specialist UZEL (11) who has found his niche
lately racing beyond a mile on this surface. He proved his competitiveness in two similar races over
this course and distance recently with this handicap value and, on the strength of that form, is good
value to reconnect with success. BEHTAR (1) is proving hard to win with but has maintained a
good level of form and consistency, so also has a legitimate shot at victory. Both PRECIOUS SEA
(6), who hasn’t yet lived up to her prestigious origins but has sufficient means to be competitive at
this level, and KATOUCHA (5), returning to the scene of her Listed race success, are others
capable of fighting for victory. INDIAN PACIFIC (10), PONT MIRABEAU (13), PRINCIPE (4), and
CICCIO BOY (2) complete the shortlist.
SELECTIONS
UZEL (11) – BEHTAR (1) – PRECIOUS SEA (6) – KATOUCHA (5)
