Flag Faces Poulains Test

[Wandering Eyes]

ParisLongchamp is unforgiving on those drawn out wide at the mile start, and despite the employment of the kinder “Moyenne Piste” and introduction of an “open stretch” or cutaway rail this year, post position remains critical in the G1 The Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains. That is bad news for Ballydoyle’s US Navy Flag (War Front) on Sunday, as Ryan Moore will have to navigate the outside stall on last year’s European champion juvenile. Ground is also vital to the G1 Middle Park S. and G1 Dewhurst S. hero and that has become a controversial issue in recent days, with some jockeys and trainers openly critical of the state of the turf here. His ability to stay a mile is also in question, but all that aside if such Classics were decided on juvenile merit then he has a comfortable margin to play with as he bids to provide his sire with a first European Classic. Aidan O’Brien is happy with where he is at after a 15-lengths fourth of four in Leopardstown’s Listed Ballylinch Stud 2,000 Guineas Trial S. on heavy ground Apr. 14.

“He’s a real good-ground horse and he’s a fast horse, obviously,” he said. “We wanted to start and get a run into him. The ground wasn’t ideal, but now going to his next run, we’re delighted we did get him started.”

Jean-Claude Rouget broke his duck in this with Brametot (Ire) (Rajsaman {Fr}) when it was staged for the second time on Deauville’s straight course last year and has received good fortune here as Olmedo (Fr) (Declaration of War) has drawn three. Dogged by soft ground since gaining ‘TDN Rising Star’ status on his emphatic debut over 7 1/2 furlongs at Deauville in August, Antonio Caro and Gerard Augustin-Normand’s latest prodigy needs the forecast rain to stay away. Narrowly denied in Chantilly’s G3 Prix des Chenes in September and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in October, he was second again on his return as Wootton (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) had the edge in the course-and-distance G3 Prix de Fontainebleau Apr. 15. The fourth home there, Rostropovich (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), boosted the form in style at Chester this week and Rouget was firm in his belief after that race that the front two are the best of the home-trained colts heading here. He reiterated that in an interview on Equidia. “He has grown up mentally since last year, though he has always been pretty straightforward,” he said. “For me, Olmedo and Wootton are the two form horses, though I don’t know what order they’ll finish in.”

Henri-Alex Pantall last enjoyed Classic glory with West Wind (GB) (Machiavellian) in 2007 and has every chance of bridging that gap with Godolphin’s unbeaten Wootton, who had won the Listed Prix Isonomy by five lengths when signing off as a juvenile at Deauville in October. “Wootton is in top order,” his trainer said of the game colt, who made all the running in this Classic’s premier trial last month. “He worked very well on Tuesday and he has improved at home since his prep race. I couldn’t be happier with him. He appears to be at his optimum racing weight.” He is drawn next to Olmedo in four, with a possible pace angle to run at in the British raider Hey Gaman (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) in two. Last year’s Listed Washington Singer S. winner wears his heart on his sleeve and was only caught late when runner-up to Seahenge (Scat Daddy) in the G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster in September and when third in Newbury’s G3 Greenham S. on his return over seven furlongs Apr. 21. Trainer James Tate expects improvement from the imposing bay. “He’s in really good form and he’s improved a lot since his Greenham third,” he commented. “Obviously a Classic is a tough ask, but he couldn’t be in better shape. It’s never really crossed my mind he won’t stay the trip. We did use the Greenham very much as a trial and he will be 100% for this race.” Successful by five lengths in the G3 Prix Djebel at Deauville Apr. 9, Dice Roll (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}) enters the equation but that was on a straight track and he has to navigate his way around here from stall eight.

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