Morgan Readied For Saint-Cloud Test

[Wandering Eyes]

After France’s mini heatwave, Sunday’s temperatures promise to be more manageable for those assembled for the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud which appears at the mercy of the fillies and mares. Godolphin’s former stayer Morgan Le Faye (GB) (Shamardal) heads the home contingent, having proved a revelation since being shortened up by Andre Fabre in 2019. Bloodless wins in the 10 1/2-furlong Listed Prix Zarkava at ParisLongchamp on Apr. 7 and the G2 Prix Corrida here on May 20 have been gained either side of another in the G3 Prix Allez France over a mile and a quarter also at ParisLongchamp on Apr. 28 and a rise in trip is certainly no hindrance. Third in the Arc meeting’s marathon G1 Prix du Cadran and in the 15-furlong G1 Prix Royal-Oak at Chantilly in October, the 5-year-old is the epitome of versatility. “This is a much tougher race than what she’s been winning, but the advantage is it is over further and she stays well,” Fabre said. “Hopefully she can show the same acceleration that she has been and if so then she has a good chance. It will be good ground and a hot day. Everybody will have to adapt, but it should be cooler on Sunday.”

Beaten a nose by Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in this 12 months ago, ‘TDN Rising Star’ Coronet (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) returns after a break having disappointed when fourth in the G2 Jockey Club S. at Newmarket on May 4. That downturn in form could be an aberration and if that is the case Denford Stud’s homebred has the ideal opportunity to garner the top-level success she was kept in training for. Placed in seven of these, the latest involved finishing a length second to Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. at Ascot in October and a repeat of that effort could easily be sufficient to break her duck.

“I imagine Frankie had the choice–he’s friendly with both sets of owners,” commented Denford Stud’s Richard Evans. “Frankie felt it was a falsely-run race at Newmarket and we should just write it off. We’ll find out if it was this weekend, but it looks a very good race. She certainly deserves a Group 1. She’s come up against them all–Enable, Sea of Class, Magical–but the closest she’s come was in this last year and you’d have to think this might be her best chance again.”

In the British Champions Fillies & Mares, fellow ‘TDN Rising Star’ and stablemate Lah Ti Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was a further 3/4 of a length away in third getting weight-for-age and she also has a question to answer as she bids to rebound from a below-par effort. Only sixth in the G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom on May 31, Lord Lloyd-Webber’s G1 St Leger runner-up is perhaps better judged on her return win a renewal of the May 16 G2 Middleton S. at York that is working out well.

Five of the seven runners hail from Britain and another is Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Aspetar (Fr) (Al Kazeem {GB}) who beat the re-opposing Ziyad (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) by 3/4 of a length in the June 2 G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly. “He seems in good form and having won a Group 2, it is the natural progression to let him take his chance in a Group 1,” Aspetar’s trainer Roger Charlton said. “There are some decent horses in the race that are rated either the same or higher than him, so we’ll see how he gets on.”

Another fascinating runner from the Charlton yard in action on the card is ‘TDN Rising Star’ Headman (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who was taken out of the G3 Hampton Court S. at Royal Ascot due to the ease in conditions and will have a livelier surface in the G2 Prix Eugene Adam. Khalid Abdullah’s May 18 London Gold Cup winner follows the route that former Juddmonte star Twice Over (GB) (Observatory) went down as a 3-year-old when taking this in 2008 at its traditional home of Maisons-Laffitte. He will have to contend with the Wertheimers’ Flop Shot (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), who looked to have a bright future when taking the G3 Prix de Guiche over nine furlongs at Chantilly on May 6.

“Headman is interesting,” Charlton commented. “He’s in good form and we scratched him from Ascot because we felt the ground was too soft. I’m hoping he’ll run well, but he is up against some decent horses including Andre Fabre’s horse who was very impressive in a Group 3 last time.”

Earlier in the afternoon, the raiding party holds a strong chance in the G2 Prix de Malleret with the May 31 G1 Epsom Oaks seventh Mehdaayih (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Out of luck at crucial stages during that Classic, Emirates Park’s impressive May 8 Listed Cheshire Oaks winner sets the form standard for the domestic hopes such as His Highness The Aga Khan’s June 10 Listed Prix Melisande scorer Edisa (Kitten’s Joy) to aim at.

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