Now in its ninth year as a classic run over the intermediate trip of 2,100
meters (about 1 5/16 miles), the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club offers a
contrasting test to its predecessor staged over the traditional 1 1/2-mile
“Derby” distance. Won in the past by strong stayers like Top Ville, Caerleon,
Darshaan, Bering, Old Vic, Hernando, Peintre Celebre and Dalakhani, it now
requires a touch more zip from its main protagonists more in the mold of
Shamardal, Lawman and Lope de Vega, a son of the former.
One of the rare ones who could fit both categories is the Wertheimers’
Intello, who has a perfect blend of stamina and miling speed in his pedigree,
and who arguably would have won the Poule d’Essai des Poulains had he not
suffered from the vagaries of the draw and momentum-stopping traffic in the
straight. Finishing with a rattle to be third in that May 12 classic, he had
previously put the subsequent Two Thousand Guineas runner-up Glory Awaits to the
sword in the Feilden over nine furlongs at Newmarket April 17 and it will be a
surprise if he does not manage to pick up a classic this term.
With Ocovango performing so creditably in fifth at Epsom Saturday, the
Niarchos Family’s Bravodino has to come into the equation despite his wide draw.
Runner-up to that rival in the Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud last time May 4,
the half-brother to Kris Kin looks as if he would appreciate a stiffer stamina
test than this and he will need everything to fall right from his post position.
Beyond that duo, this renewal has a wide-open feel to it and the Aga Khan’s
second-string Shikarpour could enter the picture despite his inexperience. He
beat the Fabre trainee Paco Jet in a debutantes contest over 11 furlongs at
Longchamp May 12 and may have more scope for improvement than the
owner-breeder’s May 14 Prix de Guiche winner Dalwari, who faces a stiff task
from stall 16.
Jim Bolger’s disappointment at the wayward performance of his stable star
Dawn Approach at Epsom could be lessened by a big run from his homebred Loch
Garman. Reportedly in need of the race when a promising second to the close-up
Epsom Derby fourth Battle of Marengo in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at
Leopardstown last time May 12, last year’s Criterium International scorer
remains an intriguing prospect, but he will have to deal with a potential
rough-house environment for the first time here.
Godolphin, also smarting from the dramatic eclipse of Dawn Approach, field a
strong contender in the unbeaten Sky Hunter, a half-brother to the classy pair
Nayyir and Highest. Successful in three minor events so far, he needs to find a
bit more to be competitive in this race but has caught the eye each time he has
appeared, and it is interesting that his trainer runs him against Intello.
Also on the loaded program at Chantilly, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Thani
goes into the Group 2 Prix de Sandringham double-handed with two serious fillies
in Topaze Blanche and What a Name, who are both on a retrieval mission following
their respective classic disappointments. While the former was 13th in the Poule
d’Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp May 12, What a Name managed only a seventh in
the One Thousand Guineas at Newmarket May 5. They had already proven their
ability at the highest level at two, when runner-up in the Prix Marcel Boussac
and Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere respectively on the Arc undercard, and those efforts
are probably a fairer indication of their ability.
What a Name’s trainer Mikel Delzangles said, “She is in great form and we
found after the Guineas at Newmarket she was in season, which explains why she
ran disappointingly. She is fine now, I am happy with her and I hope she will
bounce back this weekend. If all went well, we would look to run her in the
Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot (on June 21).”
Marquesa de Moratalla’s Dauphine Russe was a place behind Topaze Blanche when
fourth in the Prix de la Grotte won by Kenhope over this one-mile trip at
Longchamp April 14, but she fared better than that duo when fifth in the
Pouliches.
Fabre has eight renewals of the Group 2 Grand Prix de Chantilly on his resume
and saddles a trio Sunday headed by Khalid Abdullah’s Dance Moves, who is the
type of slow-burner that his trainer excels with. Fourth in this 12 months ago,
the homebred went on to annex the Prix de Boulogne over 10 furlongs at Longchamp
in September, where the subsequent Prix du Conseil de Paris and Prix Exbury
winner Saga Dream was back in third.
Last seen finishing fourth in the Prix Vase d’Argent over 10 furlongs at
Toulouse April 26, Dance Moves is joined by Teruya Yoshida’s Pirika, who beat
Haya Landa in the Prix d’Hedouville over 12 furlongs at Longchamp last time May
8 and OTI Management’s Only a Pleasure. Third in the Prix de Lutece over 1 7/8
miles at Longchamp in September, he was a disappointment on his seasonal finale
when ninth in the Prix Chaudenay back over that track and trip in October.
Last year’s Prix du Jockey Club hero Saonois has something to prove now, but
he offered some encouragement that he was returning to that kind of form when
fifth in the Prix Ganay over 1 5/16 miles at Longchamp last time April 28.
Fabre has an above-average squad of sophomores this term and Lava Flow is the
latest to test the pattern-race waters in the Group 3 Prix de Royaumont. Off the
mark in black-type company in Longchamp’s Prix de la Seine over 11 furlongs last
time May 12, Godolphin’s homebred will relish this extra trip as she works
toward the top level. Wildenstein Stables’ Planete Bleue was second to the Prix
de la Seine runner-up Venteuse on debut over 10 furlongs at Longchamp April 14,
but has since gone one better against three Fabre trainees in a maiden over this
trip at Saint-Cloud May 1.
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