Black-Type Analysis: Delacroix Continues on the Derby Trail

[Wandering Eyes]

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 16:25, EMIRATES POULE D'ESSAI DES POULAINS-G1, €650,000, 3yo, c, 8fT

Field: Ridari (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), Sahlan (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Selenien (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}), Misunderstood (Fr) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), Dos Mukasan (Fr) (Golden Horde {Ire}), Aomori City (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Reach The Sky (Fr) (Calyx {GB}), Detain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Jonquil (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Heybetli (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), Zarraf (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Luther (GB) (Frankel {GB}), TIpinso (Fr) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Houquetot (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Serengeti (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Camille Pissarro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

TDN Verdict: Ballydoyle look to get off the mark in the 2025 Classics and will be buoyed by the news on Friday that Henri Matisse has received a highly favourable draw in six for this turning test. Kept back for this following his success in the G3 Ballylinch Stud Red Rocks Stakes in March, the experienced son of Immortal Verse has all boxes ticked with Ryan Moore on board despite the presence of last year's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Camille Pissarro. Drawn in 15, that stablemate will have to navigate the crowd to overcome a terrible post position, but at least he is a hold-up merchant and Christophe Soumillon clicked on him here on Arc day. Another Irish challenger to do well in the draw is the G1 Futurity Trophy and G2 Beresford Stakes winner Hotazhell, but he has a length to find on Henri Matisse on their G2 Futurity Stakes meeting last summer and will need to be sharp to win this on his seasonal bow. First and second in the course-and-distance G3 Prix de Fontainebleau, Ridari and Sahlan have fared contrastingly with the draw and that has probably killed the chance of the latter, while Juddmonte's G3 Greenham Stakes winner Jonquil has a tricky stall in 12 so Oisin Murphy will be in full analysis mode in the lead-up. [Tom Frary].

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 17:05, EMIRATES POULE D'ESSAI DES POULICHES-G1, €550,000, 3yo, f, 8fT

Field: Mandanaba (Fr) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Zarigana (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), Ghoufrann (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Shes Perfect (Ire) (Sioux Nation), Godspeed (Fr) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Exactly (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Merrily (No Nay Never), Daylight (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}), Mimos (Fr) (City Light {Fr}), Better Together (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Heavens Gate (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), Celestial Orbit (GB) (No Nay Never).

TDN Verdict: Francis-Henri Graffard has the draw gods to thank for the mercy shown to his star duo Zarigana and Mandanaba and their showdown greatly enhances this renewal. Preference is for the former, who bids to erase the memory of her painful course-and-distance defeat in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac on Arc day with her stablemate perhaps more one for the Diane next month. Better Together represents the G3 Prix Imprudence form and she will love this mile, while the main Ballydoyle hopes Exactly and Bedtime Story are fascinating contenders. Exactly was bang there with Zarigana at the end of the Marcel Boussac and could just have improved more, while the latter was only fifth there as she staged a meek retreat into the shadows having looked champion material earlier in the season. Few will ever forget her sensational Royal Ascot display last June, when the thought of Ryan Moore not even choosing her for a Pouliches would have been unimaginable and from stall nine she will be hunted around by Colin Keane in what could be the start of a process of re-education. Outside Godspeed is not out of things, having impressed with her effort behind Zarigana in the G3 Prix de la Grotte, while Ollie Sangster looks to get heavily involved in a second fillies' Classic in the space of eight days with the classy Celestial Orbit. [Tom Frary].

Sunday, Hoppegarten, Germany, post time: 14:00, COMER GROUP INTERNATIONAL 54TH OLEANDER-RENNEN-G2, €130,000, 4yo/up, 16fT

Field: Lordano (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), Alpenjager (Ger) (Nutan {Ire}), Flatten The Curve (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Sir Siljan (Fr) (Cloth Of Stars {Ire}), Waldadler (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), Atlantica (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Enfranchise (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Nastaria (GB) (Outstrip {GB}) and Partnun (Ger) (The Grey Gatsby {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: Multiple Group winner Lordano is back up to a staying trip, having looked more than comfortable in this sphere when dominating the 15-furlong G3 Silbernes Pferd in 2023. French challenger Sir Siljan is an unexposed stayer from a stable that has to be respected on their German forays. [Tom Frary].

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 14:33, AUGUSTE RODIN COOLMORE PRIX SAINT-ALARY-G2, €130,000, 3yo, f, 10fT

Field: Audubon Park (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), Jones (Fr) (Elarqam {GB}), Flaming Stone (GB) and Gezora (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}).

TDN Verdict: Just four in this former Group 1 which now takes on more of the guise of a Diane trial, but it's a tight affair. Audubon Park didn't achieve anything out of the ordinary on the formbook despite winning Saint-Cloud's Listed Prix Rose de Mai by four lengths, but she hails from a Wertheimer family that seems to get top-class middle-distance fillies year upon year. Flaming Stone split this card's leading G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches hope Mandanaba and Gezora in the G3 Prix Vanteaux here last month and is probably the one to beat on that evidence. [Tom Frary].

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 13:58, PRIX DE SAINT-GEORGES-G3, €80,000, 3yo/up, 5fT

Field: Keran (Fr) (Blue Point {Ire}), Kylian (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Zorken (Fr) (Goken {Fr}), Ponntos (Ire) (Power {GB}), Ciao Pa' (Fr) (Shamalgan {Fr}), Lesslepasser (Fr) (Penny's Picnic {Ire}), Pradaro (Fr) (Penny's Picnic {Ire}), Mgheera (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) and Electric Storm (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: Ponntos bids for a third renewal, having conquered in 2022 and last year, but has the progressive mare Electric Storm to contend with as well as The Aga Khan Studs' unexposed Keran. He gave the impression when second in the Listed Prix Cor de Chasse at Deauville last month that he has a lot more to give. [Tom Frary].

Sunday, Leopardstown, post time: 15:30, CASHEL PALACE HOTEL DERBY TRIAL STAKES-G3, €60,000, 3yo, 10fT

Field: Acapulco Bay (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Purview (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Rock Of Cashel (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Tennessee Stud (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

TDN Verdict: Delacroix looks the obvious one here, based not only his smart 2-year-old form but also on his course-and-distance G3 Ballysax Stakes success which has been boosted by the two stablemates he had in arrears. At this rate, it is almost inconceivable that Ballydoyle could lose one of these but if there is one who can put something in the spokes it is Joseph O'Brien's Tennessee Stud. Closely matched with the favourite on last year's formlines, the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner is joined by fellow Westerberg colour-bearer Acapulco Bay, an intriguing back-up for Ballydoyle who we haven't seen anywhere near the best of yet. [Tom Frary].

Sunday, Leopardstown, post time: 14:20, AL SHIRA'AA RACING 'MUTAMAKINA' STAKES-G3, €36,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 7f 53yT

Field: Elinor Dashwood (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), Vera's Secret (Ire) (Epaulette {Aus}), Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Bella Isabella (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Chantez (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Easy Mover (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Fiery Lucy (GB) (Without Parole {GB}) and (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

TDN Verdict: This sees the return of the hardy campaigner Fiery Lucy, who brings the most exciting form to the table having been fourth when last seen in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Last year's Listed Ingabelle Stakes winner Chantez faces a quick turnaround following her disappointing effort in Monday's G3 Athasi Stakes, while the fact that Dermot Weld asks a fairly big question of his Cork maiden winner Bella Isabella can only be a positive given how intimately connected he is with her esteemed family tree. [Tom Frary].

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