ParisLongchamp Springs Back Into Action

[Wandering Eyes]

ParisLongchamp begins its new season on Sunday, where the G3 Prix la Force and G3 Prix Vanteaux offer ample support to the featured G2 Prix d’Harcourt.

The main event features the unexposed 4-year-old Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), one part of a strong Godolphin presence in the 10-furlong contest. Trained by Charlie Appleby, the bay has been hard to spot since winning the G3 Autumn S. in October 2017, with his only other outing coming when successful in the G3 Prix du Prince d’Orange over this course and distance in September.

“Ghaiyyath won at Longchamp on his only start last year and has done very well out in Dubai over the winter,” Appleby commented. “His preparation for this race has gone nicely and he should get conditions to suit. We could go up in trip with Ghaiyyath at some point, but we feel that a mile and a quarter is ideal at this stage of his career and I am looking forward to seeing him back in action.”

Andre Fabre saddles a duo in the royal blue, with the Mar. 17 G3 Prix Exbury winner Soleil Marin (Ire) (Kendargent {Fr}) joined by the fascinating Nocturnal Fox (Ire) (Farhh {GB}), who has not been seen since taking Chantilly’s 12-furlong G2 Prix Hocquart in June. Godolphin’s Lisa-Jane Graffard said of the duo, “Nocturnal Fox was progressing very nicely last year until his campaign was cut short by illness. We hope that he can make an impact in some of the top middle-distance races this season. This will be his first start for a while and he has a bit to find on the ratings with one or two of his rivals, but we are hoping for a nice comeback race, which should put him on the right path for the rest of the year.

“Soleil Marin is in good form at moment and showed a great attitude when taking the Prix Exbury. He lost his way in the second half of his 3-year-old campaign, after which he was gelded, and it took him a long time to come back. He seems to be back in the right place now and we hope that he can run another good race.”

Fabre is well-represented in the Force, with Godolphin’s 10-furlong Deauville maiden winner Roman Candle (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}) joined by the 7 1/2-furlong Saint-Cloud debutante scorer Urwald (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}). Lisa-Jane Graffard said of the former, “Roman Candle is a very nice and straightforward horse, who has done everything that has been asked of him so far. He made a nice impression when winning his maiden and this will show us where he fits in compared to his peers.”

Haras de Saint-Pair’s Urwald is sure to appreciate the move up to nine furlongs, being a relative of the stable’s Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). They need to reach the level of the Wertheimers’ Shaman (Ire) (Shamardal), who was fifth in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere here in October and who has match-fitness to tell, having won the Listed Prix Omnium II at a mile at Saint-Cloud Mar. 17. The same connections are represented in the Vanteaux by the Mar. 12 Chantilly Polytrack winner Platane (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}), a relative of the great Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) who meets a pair of potentially smart fillies in Lordship Stud’s Alimnia (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), a daughter of Alpine Rose (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) who scored on debut at Pornichet Mar. 23, and the Rouget representative Etoile (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) who looked better than the average Cagnes-sur-Mer runner when scoring by four lengths there Feb. 9.

 

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