Sunday’s two mile classics at Longchamp took on a more definitive character
Wednesday as a host of withdrawals left 24 colts standing in the Group 1 Poule
d’Essai des Poulains and 22 fillies in the Pouliches.
Among the most notable of the forfeits were Big Break from the fillies’ race,
with trainer Dermot Weld looking to the Irish One Thousand Guineas at The
Curragh May 26, and Trading Leather from the colts’ equivalent. His absence
leaves trainer Jim Bolger with two contenders in Loch Garman and Leitir Mor,
with the former also engaged in Sunday’s Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at
Leopardstown.
“I don’t think you’ll see a better looking horse on the track this year and
he was always a stand-out,” the Coolcullen conditioner said of last year’s
Criterium International winner, who seems likely to stay at home at present. “He
had to prove to us that he had an engine as well, but because he’s so big and
needed to furnish, we didn’t get to run him until October. He’ll most likely go
for the Derrinstown and we’ll see how we get on. He seems to have plenty of
boot, so we’ll probably run in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas and then go back
up to a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half.”
Occupying pole position in the French Two Thousand Guineas is Prix Jean-Luc
Lagardere winner Olympic Glory, while the home defense appears strong with
Jean-Claude Rouget in particular well-represented. Among his three remaining
entries are Criterium de Saint-Cloud hero Morandi and the unbeaten Mutin. Andre
Fabre has left in the similarly flawless Intello. Freddie Head could also have a
significant runner for that operation in the recent course-and-distance
conditions scorer Anodin, a full-brother to Goldikova.
In the Pouliches, Mikel Delzangles is set to saddle Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Fillies Turf heroine Flotilla, while owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani
also has last year’s Prix Marcel Boussac runner-up Topaze Blanche from the
Carlos Laffon-Parias stable. The latter was third on her re-introduction behind
the re-opposing Kenhope and Tasaday in the April 14 Prix de la Grotte over the
course and trip.
“We knew before that race that there was no pace, but we decided to wait in
behind and give her a prep for the Pouliches,” Laffon-Parias said. “It was just
a 400-meter race and (jockey) Olivier (Peslier) was very happy with the way she
finished. She definitely needed it and didn’t have a hard race. We are very
pleased with how she has come on and faster ground will be better.”
Alain de Royer-Dupre could run Siyenica, who made a successful winning debut
over the course and distance April 22.
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