Joseph Allen’s War
Dispatch (War Front) returns from a break to take in the Prix Eugene Adam
(Fr-G2) on Sunday at Maisons-Laffitte.
Stepping up from his February 21 win in the listed Prix Policeman over
Sunday’s 10-furlong trip on Cagnes-sur-Mer’s Polytrack to add the nine-furlong Prix
de Guiche (Fr-G3) to his resume at Chantilly on May 8, the gray sophomore was a
touch unlucky not to finish closer to New Bay (Dubawi) and Highland Reel (Galileo) in that venue’s 10 1/2-furlong
classic, the Prix du Jockey Club (Fr-G1), at the end of May.
One who contested a different Derby (Eng-G1) was Khalid Abdullah’s Epicuris (Rail Link), who was 12 lengths behind Golden Horn (Cape
Cross) when fifth in the June 6 Epsom feature. Unbeaten from the front at two,
including in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud (Fr-G1), the imposing homebred endured
a tricky lead-up to his classic test after finishing four-lengths second to Silverwave (Silver Frost) in the Prix la Force
(Fr-G3) over Sunday’s trip at Longchamp on April 6.
He refused to load ahead of the Prix Greffulhe (Fr-G2), and was only taken to Epsom due to a
technicality in the French rules regarding stalls procedure in the Prix du
Jockey Club. Epicuris still has time on his side as he looks to fulfill his physical
prowess.
Fourth in the Prix du Lys (Fr-G3) going 12 furlongs at Chantilly
last out on June 14, His Highness The Aga Khan’s Dariyan (Shamardal) is worth
closer attention dropping back in distance, particularly as the winner of that
contest, Erupt (Dubawi), has since annexed the Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-G1).
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