Ideal Opportunity

[Wandering Eyes]

Wednesday’s G3 Prix Texanita at Maisons-Laffitte offers the chance for the country’s 3-year-old sprinters to begin their journey towards a possible tilt at Royal Ascot’s G1 Commonwealth Cup. Among them is Godolphin’s unexposed Beau Ideal (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), who nosed out the re-opposing Absolute City (Fr) (Elusive City) in the Listed Criterium de Vitesse over five furlongs on very soft ground at Chantilly in October.

The operation’s Lisa-Jane Graffard commented, “Beau Ideal has done very well from two to three. But this is his seasonal comeback and he had little setback, nothing serious, in February so he is likely to need the run. He should like the ground if, as expected, it remains on the fast side.”

Alistair (Fr) (Panis) was best of these to have raced in the six-furlong G3 Prix Sigy at Chantilly Apr. 13, having finished a short-neck second to Sands of Mali (Fr) (Panis) there and while the winner is not here, there is another British raider worthy of respect in the ultra-consistent all-weather specialist Corinthia Knight (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}). He comes here on the back of a four-timer, with the penultimate success coming in the Listed Prix Montenica over 6 1/2 furlongs at Chantilly Mar. 15.

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