Too Sexy?

[Wandering Eyes]

There are no group 1 races in Europe on Sunday, but Maisons-Laffitte’s G2 Darley Prix Robert Papin always offers some intrigue. Key names with this 5 1/2-furlong test of precocity on their palmares include the heavyweights Blushing Groom (Fr) and Arazi and future Classic-winning fillies Ma Biche (Key To the Kingdom), Divine Proportions (Kingmambo), Natagora (Fr) (Divine Light {Jpn}) and Special Duty (GB) (Hennessy). There is just one filly in this year’s line-up and that is Phoenix Thoroughbred and Zen Racing’s June 20 G2 Queen Mary S. winner Signora Cabello (Ire) (Camacho {GB}), but the French may have a smart colt in Gerard Augustin-Normand and Alain Jathiere’s unbeaten acquisition Sexy Metro (Fr) (Diamond Green {Fr}). Bought by that partnership after his five-length debut success at Chantilly Apr. 3, the bay went on to garner the official stepping stone to this race, the Listed Prix la Fleche, here at the start of last month. On a literal reading of that form, he holds the other Phoenix Thoroughbred attendee Pocket Dynamo (Dialed In) who was a nose off catching Shang Shang Shang (Shanghai Bobby) and winning Royal Ascot’s G2 Norfolk S. last time June 21.

At The Curragh, the G2 Sapphire S. features the G3 Palace House S. winner and G1 King’s Stand S. third Mabs Cross (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) take on her amazing compatriot Caspian Prince (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) who upstaged Marsha (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in this 12 months ago, while the G2 Kilboy Estate S. sees the return of ‘TDN Rising Star’ September (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Passed over by Ryan Moore in favour of another off a lengthy absence in Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), last year’s G1 Moyglare Stud S., G1 Fillies Mile and GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf placegetter is bound to need this reintroduction. “Magical is just back,” Aidan O’Brien said. “She ran early and had a break. She had a little setback, so we had to stop and go slow again. She’s just ready to run and we’d be delighted to see her getting started back again. September had a setback in the spring and just took a bit of time. We were debating about running her in the [Irish] Oaks, but we didn’t think she was ready for it. We think she’s just ready to start off. We’ll be hoping that she just runs a nice race and hopefully progresses a lot from it.”

 

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