Black-Type Analysis: Millkom Tests Sophomore Milers In France

[Wandering Eyes]

Friday, La Teste, France, post time: 15:28, PRIX MILLKOM-Listed, €50,300, 3yo, 8fT

Field: Kaadi (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}), Selenien (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}), Alem (Fr) (Golden Horde {Ire}), Charengo (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}), Grecian Destiny (Fr) (Masar {Ire}), Jenilat Bright (Fr) (Birchwood {Ire}), Skytree (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}), Madero (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Belong Together (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), Jokla (GB) (Zarak {Fr}).

TDN Verdict: Improving for a step up to this mile, Kaadi registered a clear-cut win in the course-and-distance Listed Prix la Sorellina last time but carries a penalty for that. Thought good enough to run in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, Selenien was only beaten around four lengths and enjoys a class drop for confidence. [Tom Frary].

Friday, La Teste, France, post time: 16:38, PRIX OCCITANIE-Listed, €50,300, 3yo, f, 9 1/2fT

Field: Al Dhaby (Fr) (Kingman {GB}), Dune (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Paix Des Dames (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}), She's A Tease (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), Ilda Rosa (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Ecology (Ire) (Earthlight {Ire}), Pyramide (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}), Miss Of Change (Fr) (King Of Change {GB}), Darkava (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Iron Bird (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), Place Fontenoy (Fr) (War Command).

TDN Verdict: A winner at Dax and Cholet, Al Dhaby has scope to improve being out of the Australian Group 3 winner Zargos from a top yard. Place Fontenoy sets the standard on her third in the G2 German 1,000 Guineas and may only need to reproduce that to win. [Tom Frary].

Saturday, Deauville, France, post time: 17:52, LUCIEN BARRIERE GRAND PRIX DE DEAUVILLE-G2, €183,000, 3yo/up, 12 1/2fT

Field: Sibayan (Fr) (Blame), Casapueblo (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}), Marquisat (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}), Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), New Ground (GB) (New Bay {GB}), Uther (GB) (Camelot {GB}).

TDN Verdict: Juddmonte's G1 Derby fourth and G1 Grand Prix de Paris third New Ground receives a significant weight allowance from his elders and bids for a pattern-race breakthrough in this ideal spot. Uther was adrift of New Ground in the latter contest and has since finished behind Marquisat in this month's G3 Prix de Reux. Marquisat is accompanied by stablemate Casapueblo, with both representing the Andre Fabre stable seeking a record-extending 11th edition. Last month's G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil victor Sibayan is best of the older brigade, while Sunway has failed to win in 11 starts since annexing 2023's G1 Criterium International. [Sean Cronin].

Saturday, Sandown, post time: 14:25, THE BETMGM ATALANTA STAKES-G3, £85,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 8fT

Field: Spiritual (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Bright Thunder (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Fair Point (GB) (Farhh {GB}), Lady Of Spain (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}), Molten Rock (Ire) (Fascinating Rock {Ire}), Skellet (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), Alobayyah (GB) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), American Gal (GB) (Kameko), Betty Clover (GB) (Time Test {GB}), Blue Bolt (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Cajole (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Cathedral (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Flight (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), Hey Boo (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}).

TDN Verdict: Three and four-year-olds have dominated in recent times and it is the former category that is favoured in the early betting, with Juddmonte's progressive Blue Bolt heading the list. She has more to do than when beating Cajole in the course-and-distance Listed Distaff last month, with that rival's stablemate Spiritual showing her class in the G3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes in June. Interestingly, William Haggas has opted to pitch the Yarmouth novice winner Alobayyah straight into a Pattern race despite not having been seen this season and that has to be read as a statement of her talent. [Tom Frary].

Saturday, Deauville, France, post time: 18:27, BARRIERE PRIX QUINCEY-G3, €73,200, 3yo/up, 8fT

Field: Volterra (Ire) (Farhh {GB}), Apax (Fr) (Guignol {Ger}), Devil's Point (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Contentious Soul (Fr) (City Light {Fr}), Vertbois (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Cicero's Gift (GB) (Muhaarar (GB), Tumbler (Fr) (Kingman {GB}), My Cloud (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Dark Trooper (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), No Lunch (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Dreamliner (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}), Tito Mo Cen (Ire) (Uncle Mo).

TDN Verdict: Victorious Forever's My Cloud was trespassing in handicap company when extending his winning sequence to four in June's Royal Hunt Cup and will be favoured to register with a benchmark triumph in this belated black-type bow. With weight-for-age concessions on their side, sophomores Dreamliner and Tito Mo Cen rate as obvious dangers in a competitive renewal. Last term's G2 German 2000 Guineas hero Devil's Point boasts a high-quality palmares and comes back off a 419-day sabbatical. With underfoot conditions in his favour and Christophe Soumillon in the plate, the lightly raced 2023 G1 Futurity Trophy runner-up is a contender of note. [Sean Cronin].

Saturday, Deauville, France, post time: 19:02, BARRIERE PRIX DE MEAUTRY-G3, €73,200, 3yo/up, 6fT

Field: Ten Horns (Fr) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), Megarry (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}), Lesslepasser (Fr) (Penny's Picnic {Ire}), Balmoral Lady (Ire) (Invincible Army {Ire}), Rosy Affair (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Cacofonix (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Daylight (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: Yann Barberot nominee Cacofonix finished just ahead of Daylight in both G1 Prix Jean Prat and this month's Listed Prix Moonlight Cloud and both are evenly matched at the head of the home defence. Balmoral Lady, who enjoys the benefit of Christophe Soumillon's ringcraft, took care of subsequent G1 July Cup heroine No Half Measures in May's Listed Achilles Stakes, but has been found wanting in two starts since and needs more upped to six furlongs for the first time this year. George Boughey nominee Rosy Affair is on the upgrade and merits respect coming back off a breakthrough success over this trip in last week's Listed Flying Fillies' Stakes at Pontefract. [Sean Cronin].

Saturday, Sandown, post time: 15:35, THE BETMGM SOLARIO STAKES-G3, £65,000, 2yo, 7fT

Field: A Bit Of Spirit (Ire) (Palace Pier {GB}), He's Waliim (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Humidity (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), Looka (Munnings), Oceans Four (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), Pacific Avenue (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Publish (GB) (Kingman {GB}).

TDN Verdict: Godolphin's TDN Rising Star Pacific Avenue gets the vote of confidence from Charlie Appleby, having beaten the subsequently Superlative-placed stablemate Wild Desert at Newmarket in June. Juddmonte's Publish was arguably more impressive in defeat on debut than he was when winning on the second of two course-and-distance efforts and is a fascinating contender, while the Chesham winner Humidity gets the chance to atone for a disappointing run in the Vintage at Goodwood. [Tom Frary].

Saturday, Baden-Baden, Germany, post time: 15:50, 70TH PREIS DER SPARKASSEN-FINANZGRUPPE (EX SPRETI-RENNEN)-G3, €55,000, 3yo/up, 10fT

Field: Arnis Master (Ger) (Tai Chi {Ger}), Quest The Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), Petit Marin (Ger) (Flamingo Fantasy {Ger}), Atoso (Ger) (Guiliani {Ire}), New Emerald (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}), Daydream Express (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Diego Ventura (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Raposa (Ger) (Frankel {GB}), Royal Spirit (Ger) (Amaron {GB}).

TDN Verdict: Wathnan Racing's Diego Ventura, runner-up in this month's G3 Thoroughbred Stakes, has earned prize-money in each of his seven prior black-type starts and gets an ideal opportunity to make a pattern-race breakthrough. He is one of three sophomores on display and encounters Petit Marin and Atoso, who have hit the board in recent renewals. On recent form, both are held by veteran six-time Group winner Quest The Moon, who ran third in 2021 and fourth last year. The nine-year-old also has the measure of Daydream Express and is the leading domestic hope. [Sean Cronin].

Saturday, Curragh, post time: 14:20, NEWTOWNANNER STUD IRISH EBF STAKES (REGISTERED AS THE FLAME OF TARA STAKES)-G3, €39,000, 2yo, f, 8fT

Field: Cape Sounion (Ire) (No Nay Never), La Fogata (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Lookingforarainbow (Justify), Moments Of Joy (Justify), Queen Of Hawaii (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), Ridersinthesky (Ger) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Sugar Island (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: Having won four of the last seven renewals, Aidan O'Brien is the first port of call and he has two strong candidates. Ryan Moore has picked the course maiden winner Sugar Island over the Chesham third Moments Of Joy and that is probably all we need to know, but Joseph O'Brien may have something to say about it with the impressive Leopardstown maiden winner  Queen Of Hawaii. [Tom Frary].

Saturday, Curragh, post time: 14:52, HEIDER FAMILY STABLES ROUND TOWER STAKES-G3, €36,000, 2yo, 6fT

Field: Chicago Call (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), First Approach (Ire) (No Nay Never), Fresh Fade (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), Learntodiscover (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Mission Central (Ire) (No Nay Never), Mushaffar (Fr) (Van Beethoven), Red Earth (Ire) (No Nay Never), The Publican's Son (Beau Liam), Arugam Bay (Ire) (Soldier's Call {GB}), Ipanema Queen (Ire) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}), Magny Cours (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: Aidan O'Brien won this 12 months ago with Ides Of March and he bids to repeat the trick with the highly-regarded Mission Central, who took the same course-and-distance maiden earlier this month. The Listed Curragh Stakes winner Ipanema Queen is one of the most likely candidates along with Mushaffar, who also took a course-and-distance maiden and is back just a fortnight later. [Tom Frary].

Saturday, Curragh, post time: 15:27, SNOW FAIRY FILLIES STAKES-G3, €36,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 9fT

Field: Snellen (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}), Azada (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), Barnavara (Ire) (Calyx {GB}), And So To Bed (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), Easy Mover (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Red Letter (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Sand Gazelle (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Spicy Margarita (Ire) (Earthlight {Ire}).

TDN Verdict: It is fair to say that by now connections of Red Letter would have been hoping for more than just a Listed Cairn Rouge Stakes win, but there is time for the deeply promising juvenile of 2024 to gain momentum. Up in trip here, she re-opposes Barnavara who beat her in the Listed Kooyonga Stakes in June and who is disadvantaged by a penalty having followed up in the G3 Jannah Rose Stakes. The Gosdens send over the Listed Lyric Stakes winner Sand Gazelle and she is another who undoubtedly has more to give. [Tom Frary].

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