Black-Type Analysis: Gstaad And True Love Vie For Phoenix Honours

[Wandering Eyes]

Saturday, Curragh, post time: 16:00, KEENELAND PHOENIX STAKES-G1, €210,000, 2yo, c/f, 6fT

Field: Do Bronxs (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Gstaad (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Power Blue (Ire) (Space Blues {Ire}), Puerto Rico (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Green Sense (Ire) (Starman {GB}), True Love (Ire) (No Nay Never).

TDN Verdict: If allowed to run against each other, Gstaad and True Love will offer an exciting poser given how impressive they were at Royal Ascot. Ryan Moore is booked for the former, one of the best winners of the Coventry in some time who could be on course to do a “Johannesburg” and attempt the clean sweep of Europe's premier juvenile six-furlong contests in 2025. Since dominating the Queen Mary, True Love has followed up in style over course and distance in the Railway and her three-pound allowance could swing matters. It looks as if there is a gap between the Rosegreen pair and the Robert Papin winner Green Sense, while we know there is a sizeable one separating them and the consistent Power Blue and Puerto Rico. [Tom Frary].

Saturday, Haydock, post time: 15:00, THE BETFRED ROSE OF LANCASTER STAKES-G3, £85,000, 3yo/up, 10f 100yT

Field: First Conquest (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), Certain Lad (GB) (Clodovil {Ire}), Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}), Haunted Dream (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Military Order (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Okeechobee (GB) (Time Test {GB}), Royal Dubai (Fr) (Seahenge), Detain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

TDN Verdict: Back at the trip over which he took Royal Ascot's Listed Wolferton Stakes, Haatem holds pole position from the three-year-old Detain who needs to recapture the form of his Prix du Jockey Club third. Eight pounds weight-for-age will help Juddmonte's runner, who is joined by the operation's Okeechobee, another who needs to get back on track after a disappointing start to the campaign. [Tom Frary].

Saturday, Newmarket, post time: 15:40, THE NEWSELLS PARK STUD SWEET SOLERA STAKES-G3, £60,000, 2yo, f, 7fT

Field: Dance To The Music (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Midnight Tango (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Princess Petrol (GB) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}), Sapphire Steps (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), True Test (GB) (Time Test {GB}), Venetian Lace (Ire) (Masar {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: Withdrawn from the Princess Margaret last month, Dance To The Music bids to make up for that lost opportunity taking on the experienced Midnight Tango who was fourth in that Ascot contest. Princess Petrol impressed in a novice at Ascot last time and may be the most progressive of the other unexposed types. [Tom Frary].

Saturday, Curragh, post time: 15:25, FBD HOTELS AND RESORTS PHOENIX SPRINT STAKES-G3, €42,000, 3yo/up, 6fT

Field: Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Big Gossey (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}), Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Kind Of Blue (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}), King Cuan (GB) (Tasleet {GB}), My Mate Alfie (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Spycatcher (Ire) (Vadamos {Fr}), Tango Flare (Ire) (Fulbright {GB}), Nighteyes (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Babouche (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), Black Forza (Complexity), Ides Of March (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Fregada (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Lady With The Lamp (Ire) (King Of Change {GB}).

TDN Verdict: Art Power's record in Ireland reads 1111164, but this is his seasonal debut and is a tough assignment at his veteran stage. To varying degrees, last year's wonderkids Kind Of Blue and Babouche are threatening to go the wrong way along with Ides Of March and when you add in the likes of Bucanero Fuerte, Vespertilio and Black Forza this is definitely the most interesting race of the day. [Tom Frary].

Saturday, Deauville, France, post time: 13:58, PRIX DUBAI RACING CLUB (PRIX DE REUX)-G3, €73,200, 3yo/up, 12 1/2fT

Field: Marquisat (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}), Rashford (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Sevenna's Knight (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), Uther (GB) (Camelot {GB}).

TDN Verdict: Revived this term, Simca Mille could be on the way back to his prime which would be bad news for these rivals. In his last five starts, Sevenna's Knight has finished fifth in the Arc and runner-up in the Royal-Oak and Vicomtesse Vigier and the strength of the older brigade here makes life tough for the three-year-old Uther, who has flattened out after his win in ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix Noailles in April. [Tom Frary].

Saturday, Deauville, France, post time: 14:33, PRIX DE LA VALLEE D'AUGE-Listed, €54,900, 2yo, 5fT

Field: Graft (Ire) (U S Navy Flag), Pen And Sword (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), First Legion (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Valasara (Fr) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), Miss Yechance (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), Wateen (Ire) (Profitable {GB}), Shine On Me (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}).

TDN Verdict: Sixth in the Queen Mary and fourth in the Duchess Of Cambridge, Shine On Me forms the spearhead of a typically-strong British challenge on a Deauville August two-year-old race along with the Listed National Stakes runner-up First Legion. The Aga Khan Studs are represented by Valasara, who beat the subsequent winner Repel on debut over six here last month but who as a member of the all-conquering “V family” may find this on the sharp side. [Tom Frary].

Saturday, Deauville, France, post time: 17:35, PRIX MICHEL HOUYVET-Listed, €50,300, 3yo, 15fT

Field: Asmarani (Ire) (Sottsass {Fr}), Dschingis Spirit (Fr) (Dschingis Secret {Ger}), I Got Rhythm (Fr) (Telecaster {GB}), Allure (Fr) (Persian King {Ire}), Hotheaded (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Starlord (Fr) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Espoir Avenir (Fr) (Montmartre (Fr), Golden Weaver (Fr) (Romanised {Ire}), Zingaro (Fr) (Kingman {GB}), Sapodilla (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Through The Flames (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: Andre Fabre has four in here, with the G3 Prix du Lys fourth Hotheaded perhaps the pick, but they all have to step up markedly to get to the level of the G3 Prix Hocquart runner-up Asmarani. Disappointing in the Queen's Vase when last seen, he will be more comfortable in these waters. [Tom Frary].

Sunday, Hoppegarten, Germany, post time: 15:40, WESTMINSTER 135TH GROSSER PREIS VON BERLIN-G1, €155,000, 3yo/up, 12fT

Field: Cold Heart (Brz) (Alpha), Junko (GB) (Intello {Ger}), Narrativo (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Straight (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}), Nastaria (GB) (Outstrip {GB}).

TDN Verdict: Godolphin's globetrotting superstar Rebel's Romance has saluted seven times at the highest level and will bid for a repeat success having annexed the 2022 renewal of this contest. He will head postward at prohibitive odds and has little to fear coming back off a repeat third-place finish in Ascot's G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Junko's two Group 1 victories have come at this trip and his chances of victory will hinge on the Charlie Appleby contender falling below his usual high standard, while the largely uninspiring home defence is led by G2 Grosser Hansa-Preis runner-up Narrativo. [Sean Cronin].

Sunday, Deauville, France, post time: 16:05, ARC PRIX MAURICE DE GHEEST – FONDS EUROPEEN DE L'ELEVAGE-G1, €380,000, 3yo/up, 6 1/2fT

Field: Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal), Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Sajir (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), Regional (GB) (Territories {Ire}), Tribalist (GB) (Farhh {GB}), Topgear (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}), Shadow Of Light (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Symbol Of Honour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Woodshauna (Fr) (Wooded {Ire}), Rayevka (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: Wathnan Racing's Lazzat took care of Inisherin and Topgear in Royal Ascot's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes and will be a warm order to defend his title in this straight dash. Resolute Bloodstock's Woodshauna is an obvious danger, having notched a career high in last month's G1 Prix Jean Prat, and is taken to confirm form with G1 2000 Guineas third Shadow Of Light. Ed Bethell-trained G1 King Charles III Stakes third Regional has hit the board in all three starts this term and goes beyond six furlongs for the first time here. [Sean Cronin].

Sunday, Deauville, France, post time: 17:15, PRIX DAPHNIS – SAMUEL LIBERMAN (ARG)-G3, €73,200, 3yo, 8fT

Field: Sahlan (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Selenien (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}), Chibitty (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}), Khafiz (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Ciaran (Fr) (Van Beethoven), Al Aali (Fr) (City Light {Fr}), Heybetli (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), Scoville (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Tiego The First (Fr) (Blue Point {Ire}), Madero (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Silius (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Tito Mo Cen (Ire) (Uncle Mo).

TDN Verdict: William Haggas representative Scoville is unbeaten in two career starts and encounters hotter opposition on black-type debut coming back off a 14-length rout over this distance at Newmarket last month. Silius snagged three of his first five starts this term, finishing second at this level in the other two, and will head postward coming back off an eighth when highly tried in last month's G1 Prix Jean Prat. Lucie Pontoir trainee Al Aali finished just over six lengths adrift of Camille Pissarro when 12th in June's G1 Prix du Jockey Club, having previously finished second in May's G3 Prix de Guiche, and holds each-way claims dropping down to one mile for the first time this year. [Sean Cronin].

Sunday, Deauville, France, post time: 13:56, PRIX MOONLIGHT CLOUD – URUGUAY BOOK 1 (URU)-Listed, €50,300, 3yo, 6fT

Field: Burhan (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), Misunderstoond (Fr) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), Dos Mukasan (Fr) (Golden Horde {Ire}), Mise En Boite (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}), Cacofonix (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Kerkila (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Fraise Des Bois (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}), Daylight (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}), Secret Wood (Fr) (Birchwood {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: Last term's dual Group 1-placed G3 Prix de Cabourg victrix Daylight gets some respite from elite-level action and has an opportunity, down significantly in grade, coming back off close-up unplaced efforts in this year's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix Jean Prat. Al Shaqab's G3 Prix des Chenes winner and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere third Misunderstood is another on a retrieval mission and returns off an unplaced effort in May's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains. Dos Mukasan finished just under two lengths ahead of Misunderstood in that Longchamp Classic, but has been unplaced twice and gelded in the interim. Fraise Des Bois and Secret Wood boast pattern-race form, but need to step up to feature. [Sean Cronin].

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