Hey guy’s it’s Rich! The first Group 1 of the European flat turf season is upon us at Paris – Longchamp & you can find my thoughts below…
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12.58 – Prix de Barberville – Group 3 – 4yo+ – 1m 6f 200yds..
8 runners come to post for the first group race on the card, although we have a clear Favourite at the head of the market in the shape of DOUBLE MAJOR, who is a Group 2 & latterly the Group 1 winner of the Prix Royal Oak.
The 4yo gelding is making his season return & expected to beat all comers despite carrying 9s 4lbs. 6 of the 8 runners have had a run already this season & fellow Wertheimer & Frere runner – Sober runs in first time blinkers, having finished 2nd & 9th on both starts this term.
Sober, Double Major & Skazino are all C&D winners, while Galego Star, Palus Agenteus have won over the distance.
Double Major had Shembala & Sevennas Kinght in 3rd & 4th respectively, when winning the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay over 1m 6f 200yds back in September.
Skazino was a 7 & 1/2 length 2nd to Double Major in the Royal Oak with Galego Star was back in 6th that day over C&D.
Double Major should win if fit & ready, although Shembala has a nice Each Way chance…
– Sevenna’s Knight wins, Shembala 2nd & Double Major in 3rd
1.33 Prix le l’Arve Listed Stakes – Class 1 – 3yo Only – 1m 3f 204yds
We have 8 runners for this Listed race, all of which have had a run this season. Roadshow is a Galileo colt, who won on debut last season & run on April 1st, finishing 5 lengths behind MISTER GATZ, who was having his 2nd run of the season & had stepped up in trip. 5 lengths is a lot to make up, although the ground is soft & not heavy, I think Mister Gatz will confirm that from.
Yoox was 4th on return in a Listed race & is likely to come on for that run, while we have 2 German raiders in Shahbazi & Anspurch, who both won on debut.
Trafalgar Square has run 4 times in 2024, winning once & was 3rd on his last run in a Group 3 race on April 14th.
Mister Gatz & Roadshow are the most likely to win, although the form of the 2 German runners are unknown & could land a place.
– Trafalgar Square wins with Mister Gatz 2nd
PRIX GANAY
2.50 Prix Ganay – Group 1 – 4yo+ – 1m 2f 96yds..
9 runners come to post for the first European Group 1 race of the season & it’s a very good field.
Al Riffa is having his first run of 2024, winner of the Group 1 Vincent O’Brien stakes & was last seen finishing 2nd to Arc winner – Ace Impact in September.
Fantastic Moon finished 11th to Ace Impact in the Arc, has won the Prix Neil last season at this course & has previously won over the distance.
Zarakem won the Prix de Harcourt Group 2 over C&D on seasonal return..
Haya Zark is a double Group 3 Exbury Stakes ( 23&24) winner over C&D & is the only 5yo in the field.
Horizon Dore landed the Group 2 Prix Dollar in 2023 & finished 2nd to Zarakam in the Prix de Harcourt..
Feed the Flame was the 2023 winner of the C&D Grand Prix de Paris but hasn’t been the same since..
And Birr Castle is a distance winner & finished 3rd to Ace Impact in the 2023 Group 2 Prix Gullaume d’Ornano & finshed 2nd to Zarakem on seasonal return…
The last 2 runners – Zarir has won both starts in 2024, both on the All Weather at Chantilly over 1m 5f, he beat Sober ( See 12.58 race) on March 8th & drops back in trip, while Crypto Force is the 2022 Curragh Group 3 Beresford Stakes winner, who has switched yards & wasn’t seen for 574 days until finishing 6th to White Birch at the Curragh on April 20th – Both are outsiders.
Personally, I think a fully tuned AL Riffa wins this but fitness is taken on merit, so with FANTASTIC MOON already having had a run this maybe the factor at the later end of the race. Zarakem & Horizon Dore in a battle for the minor places…
1st – Haya Zark 16/1
2nd – Zair 13/2
3rd – Feed the Flame 11/1
Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts on a cracking day in Paris.
Good Luck.
Aresonlineracing Publication – Published – April 2024.
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