Is The Double On For The King

[Wandering Eyes]

After the heat of Saturday’s action at Epsom, the Chantilly faithful will be trying to keep their distinguished cool despite the presence of potentially Europe’s middle-distance champion elect in Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in Sunday’s G1 QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club. Bidding to become the fourth colt to complete the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains-Prix du Jockey Club double since the distance was shortened from a mile and a half to 10 1/2 furlongs in 2005, Godolphin and Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ will be aided by livelier conditions than those he encountered in the May 12 ParisLongchamp Classic. What will play against him is his wide draw, but that was no hindrance to the fellow Andre Fabre-trained Poulains-Jockey Club hero Lope de Vega (Ire), who emerged from stall 20 nine years ago.

“The draw is what it is and we’ll see what happens,” Fabre commented. ” He has progressed with every run of his life, only losing once and that was on his debut. Now, the next thing he needs to prove is that he can stay 10 furlongs. Kingman was only a miler, but since he has been at stud he has produced horses who have stayed further. On the dam side, there is no doubt about the trip being out of a Dylan Thomas mare.”

Fabre also saddles the Wertheimers’ unbeaten Slalom (Fr) (Intello {Ger}), who took the G3 Prix Noailles over this trip at ParisLongchamp last time on Apr. 14, and the May 1 G2 Prix Greffulhe scorer Roman Candle (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}).

“Slalom has good acceleration and is a horse I like, so we’ll see,” Fabre commented, while Godolphin’s Lisa-Jane Graffard said of Roman Candle, “He is possibly a horse for the [July 14 G1] Grand Prix de Paris, so we are hoping that he can run a good race here and potentially head there afterwards. We would be delighted if he made the frame.”

Andrew Balding brings across the impressive Listed Fairway S. winner Raise You (Ire), a son of the aforementioned Lope de Vega, and it is hard to say what the ceiling of his talent is at present. “It looks a very deep race, but he seems in good form and we’re looking forward to it,” his trainer said. “It’s a big step up in class obviously but I’ve been very pleased with his two wins this year and hopefully he’s up to it.” Aidan O’Brien’s trio include a full-brother to Highland Reel (Ire) in Cape of Good Hope (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was runner-up in the G2 Superlative S. and third behind Mohawk (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G2 Royal Lodge S. at two before returning to take Epsom’s Listed Blue Riband Trial over 10 furlongs on Apr. 24. “He has come forward a lot,” the Ballydoyle maestro warned.

Take out Persian King and the Classic is wide-open, with Freddy Head prepared to chance Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s unbeaten Motamarris (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}) after his eight-length success in a course-and-distance conditions race May 11.

“He is very well, but whether he is good enough is another question,” Head said. “He has had the perfect preparation. He has had his three easy races, which is what I wanted, but he has beaten nothing. This is a big step up in class, so we will see how good he is.” Roger Varian pitches the highly-regarded G2 Dante S. third Surfman (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and said of him, “He has had three runs, but he doesn’t have vast experience,” he said. “I thought he made up eye-catching ground in the straight [at York]. I thought it was a very good trial and performance.”

In front of Roman Candle and behind the subsequent Poule d’Essai des Poulains runner-up Shaman (Ire) (Shamardal) in the nine-furlong G3 Prix la Force at ParisLongchamp on Apr. 7, Claudine Excoubet’s Rockemperor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) is a live contender hailing from the yard of the youngest trainer Simone Brogi. “It has been raining a lot at Pau recently, but the colt’s preparation hasn’t been interrupted thanks to the considerable assistance provided by the racecourse,” the Pau-based 28-year-old explained. “The colt created a good impression when pitched in at group level. He was up against some quality performers and made a good visual impression. The trip should pose no problem. He likes good ground and he should get those conditions on Sunday.”

Chantilly’s clutch of group races begin with the G2 Prix de Sandringham for the 3-year-old miling fillies, where Obligate (GB) (Frankel {GB}) bids to back up the impression she made when winning the Listed Prix des Lilas on soft ground over this track and trip on May 6. She encounters the Wertheimers’ Matematica (Ger) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), who was fifth in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at ParisLongchamp on May 12 and therefore brings that Classic form under the microscope. The G2 Prix du Gros-Chene features last year’s G1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp runner-up Gold Vibe (Ire) (Dream Ahead) and Godolphin’s budding sprinter Inns of Court (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Successful over six furlongs in the Listed Prix Servanne at Maisons-Laffitte Apr. 26, the G1 Prix de la Foret and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois runner-up is looking to clinch a place on the plane to Royal Ascot. “Inns of Court won in good style on his first start of the season and looks to be in excellent form as a 5-year-old,” Godolphin’s Lisa-Jane Graffard commented. “The idea of running here is that, all being well and he runs a good race, he can head on to Royal Ascot for the [June 22 G1] Diamond Jubilee S. There are no suitable races over six furlongs in France, but this contest fits in well in terms of timing and should be a good prep race.”

Godolphin also have the Fabre-trained G2 Prix Eugene Adam winner Gyllen (Medaglia d’Oro) in line for the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly. Sixth in the G3 Prix d’Hedouville over this mile-and-a-half trip at ParisLongchamp on May 4, he re-opposes the first and second in that contest Petit Fils (Fr) (Makfi {GB}) and Folamour (GB) (Intello {Ger}). “Gyllen had a couple of little niggles last year and didn’t really convince anyone on his comeback race,” Lisa-Jane Graffard admitted. “We are hoping to see a slightly more encouraging effort this weekend.”

The G3 Prix de Royaumont plays host to another Fabre trainee who tantalises in Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Pelligrina (Ire) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). Successful over 10 1/2 furlongs at Saint-Cloud on debut on May 13, the homebred meets two His Highness The Aga Khan representatives including Dariyza (Fr) (Dawn Approach {Ire}), who was third in a decent conditions event also over that trip here last time on May 17. In Germany, Baden-Baden stages the G3 Derby Trial in which the British raider and Apr. 14 G3 Prix Noailles third Surrey Thunder (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) tackles the home team including Rennstall Gestur Hachtsee’s well-regarded Hanover maiden winner Peppone (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}).

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