Sunday’s Prix Jean Prat (Fr-G1) at Chantilly features two
leading home-trained milers in Full Mast (Mizzen Mast) and Territories (Invincible Spirit)
as well as a pair of high-profile British raiders in Dutch Connection (Dutch Art)
and Kodi Bear (Kodiac), all of whom are closely matched on ratings having already
made their mark at this level.
Full Mast was the beneficiary of the demotion of
Gleneagles (Galileo) in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Fr-G1) at Longchamp last October, being
awarded that prize by the stewards, and he submitted a respectable return effort when
second in the June 6 Prix Paul de Moussac (Fr-G3) over Sunday’s track and
one-mile trip. Just a short neck
behind Almanaar (Dubawi) while attempting to give that subsequent Prix Daphnis
(Fr-G3) winner seven pounds, Khalid Abdullah’s homebred is otherwise unbeaten and still potentially a star in the firmament.
Godolphin’s Territories was second to Gleneagles in the Two Thousand Guineas
(Eng-G1) when last seen at Newmarket on May 2, which suggests he has improved since previously finishing third before being upped to second behind Full Mast in the Lagardere on Arc day.
“Territories is in great form,” Godolphin’s Lisa-Jane Graffard stated. “He has overcome the stone bruise that ruled him out of Royal Ascot, which was nothing serious. He has got everything in his favor and should run well.”
Susan Roy and Cheveley Park Stud’s Dutch Connection, who
was another to finish behind Gleneagles when third in the Vincent
O’Brien National S. (Ire-G1) in his juvenile finale at The Curragh in September, was seventh in the
Two Thousand Guineas before taking the seven-furlong Jersey S. (Eng-G3) at Royal Ascot
on June 17.
“The
owners were very keen to go and I wasn’t going to hold them back,” trainer Charlie
Hills said. “I’m very happy with the horse, he’s done everything right since Ascot and there was
no reason not to run him. He has to prove he gets the mile, but if you’re going to try
it anywhere this is the place to do it. Territories looks the one to beat, but hopefully it’s a
good opportunity.”
Olive Shaw’s Kodi Bear was second in the Dewhurst S.
(Eng-G1) at Newmarket in October and returned to win Windsor’s listed Midsummer S.
on June 27,
earning a tilt at this prize.
“Windsor went perfectly to plan; we couldn’t have wished
for any more, really,” trainer Clive Cox remarked. “The signs have been positive at home
since then and I’m happy he’s going there in good form. This is obviously a step
back up to a higher division, but his 2-year-old form suggests he belongs there.”
Over in Germany, Jaber Adbdullah’s unbeaten Full Rose (Aqlaam) has a distinct
class edge over mainly exposed rivals in Sunday’s Meilen Trophy (Ger-G2) at
Hanover, despite it being guesswork as to how the three-year-old miler filly
will fare taking on older horses.
Beating subsequent listed winner Nymeria (Soldier Hollow) in Dusseldorf’s German
One Thousand Guineas (Ger-G2) at the end of
May, the chestnut lass will be tested by Zalim Bifov’s veteran Red Dubawi (Dubawi), who won
the Meilen Trophy last year but needs to rebound from a latest seventh in the
June 4 Badener Meile (Ger-G2).
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