The Return Of The King

[Wandering Eyes]

After the excitement of Newbury on Saturday, the latest Classic trials of note take place just 24 hours later at ParisLongchamp, with the highlight undoubtedly the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau. Surprisingly, Andre Fabre runs TDN Rising Stars Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and Epic Hero (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) who despite sharing that distinction are countries apart at present with regards to their respective form. Persian King, who is part-owned by Godolphin and Ballymore Thoroughbreds, is as exciting a prospect that France has this season and his relaunch is eagerly anticipated. Last seen beating the subsequent G1 Racing Post Trophy hero Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the G3 Autumn S. at Newmarket in October, he is on another level to fellow Godolphin colour-bearer Epic Hero as things stand.

Persian King’s immediate Classic target is as-yet unknown, but his trainer is keen to glean evidence here. “Looking at his breeding, I’d think 10 furlongs is possible this year,” he explained. “We are still learning about Kingman as a sire. His dam is by Dylan Thomas, so there is stamina there. His form last year is solid. I’d say it’s a level below Too Darn Hot and Ten Sovereigns, but not too far.” Fabre is well aware of the changing nature of Classic contenders in springtime and it is significant that he tries Epic Hero in this company.

He faces a stiff examination of the obvious talent he flaunted when an eight-length winner over a mile on Chantilly’s Polytrack Mar. 19. “This is the best time of year–there are lots of questions to answer,” he added. “Some will disappoint you and some will surprise you. I doubt he [Epic Hero] will stay any further than a mile this season–he has lots of pace.” One bred for Classic duty is Khalid Abdullah’s Price Range (First Defence), a son of Price Tag (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who was demoted from first to third in the 2006 G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches. What the form of his two Polytrack wins in the space of a fortnight over a mile and 7 1/2 furlongs at Chantilly and Deauville in November is worth is a mystery, but it should be clearer by Sunday evening.

In the fillies’ trial, the G3 Prix de la Grotte, Freddy Head unleashes last year’s G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Lily’s Candle (Fr) (Style Vendome {Fr}), who is now in the ownership of Katsumi Yoshida after she was bought from Martin Schwartz for €1.1-million at Arqana December. She is re-opposed by Rocques (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}) in the Gerard Augustin-Normand’s silks after that G3 Prix d’Aumale winner was sixth but beaten only two lengths in the Marcel Boussac. Also running for Augustin-Normand is the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Montviette (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), but she has a half length to make up on her G3 Prix des Reservoirs conqueror Cala Tarida (GB) (Garswood {GB}) with no obvious reason to do so. The card also sees the Prix du Jockey-Club hopefuls test their mettle in the G3 Prix Noailles, where George Strawbridge’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Lone Peak (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) takes on two Fabre representatives in Godolphin’s G3 Prix de Conde runner-up Syrtis (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and the Wertheimers’ unbeaten Slalom (Fr) (Intello {Ger}).

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