International Racing: Monday 11 May 2020 – Longchamp

Race 1 – PRIX DE SAINT-GEORGES
(Group 3)

The first Group
event on the day is for sprinters aged three years and older. A competitive
race starts off the meeting and caution is advised. The tentative first
selection is DUHAIL from the Andre Fabre stable. The lightly
raced son of Lope De Vega was an impressive winner of his first two starts and
then finished second in a Listed event at Deauville in July last year. He does
return from a 10 month break today, but his conditioner is no stranger to
bringing his horses back to the races fit for their return. Regular pilot Vincent
Cheminaud does duty once again and the pair may find themselves in the winner’s
enclosure. SESTILIO JET is another that is returning from a lengthy
break. He took on Group 1 company in his last start over this course and
distance when finishing just over seven lengths behind the winner. The drop
back in class today should suit him well as he has won once and finished fourth
once in Grade 3 company. He gets the services of Alex Badel and should pose the
biggest threat to the top selection. WE GO was an impressive
winner of his last two starts over 1300m on the all-weather surface. The son of
No Nay Never should have no issues with the drop in distance and if fit and
well, should be right there in the run down to the finishing post. Regular
pilot Pierre-Charles Boudot is in the saddle once again.

Race 2 – PRIX DES NENUPHARS

BLACK COMEDY is the value bet on today’s programme and he
is a maiden taking on winners, but his last two starts have been encouraging
when finishing second and third respectively. The run that catches the eye is
when finishing second over 1500m at Deauville on the all-weather track in his
penultimate start. He should come into this race fit and with Christophe Soumillon
in the saddle, he may be the one to cause the upset. DIVA DU DANCING is a filly taking on the males. Her last two starts over further have
been fair. She was a winner over 1500m on 27 January under today’s pilot Aude
Duporte who is an apprentice claiming the 3kgs. With a bit of luck in running
from her wide barrier position, she should be the one to throw out the biggest
challenge to the top selection. ROYAL
GHOST is another maiden taking on
winners and he has had just the three runs to date. The Freddie Head trained
son of Invincible Spirit would have been given time to strengthen up during his
break and with Maxime Guyon retaining the ride, he should have a decent chance
of running into the money in this contest.  

Race 3 – PRIX DE FLEURUS

This is another open
contest on the card and caution is advised. The narrow first choice is YOUNG MAN who was not too far off the winner in his form before given a break. The
son of Dabirsim finished second in his only outing on this course. The three-year-old
colt would have strengthened up during his time off and with Cristian Demuro in
the saddle, he should get back to winning ways. MUSSETA’S last three starts
have been very good, winning twice and finishing third once. She just got up to
win her last start over 1700m at Pornichet on the all-weather surface. The
return to the turf this afternoon shouldn’t pose a problem as she has placed on
the grass in the past. Jockey Alex Roussel knows her well and the pair should
be right there in the run down to the finishing post. HAVE DANCER was an impressive winner of his last start over this distance at Saint
Cloud. He has won once and finished third once is any many outings over this
trip. He gets the services of a 1.5kg claiming apprentice once again and should
be involved in the fight out to the finish.

Race 4 – PRIX D’ESCOVILLE

CHORBA was an impressive winner on debut over 1900m
at Deauville on the all-weather surface. He found plenty of betting support
that day which would suggest that he had been showing good work back at home.
The son of Olympic Glory would have strengthened up during his break and should
have more to come. Cristian Demuro retains the ride and the pair should keep
their unbeaten record intact.
SHINNING OCEAN followed up his
maiden victory with a good second place finish over ten furlongs last time. He
is returning from a six month break this afternoon, during which time he would
have strengthened up. He will enjoy the drop back to the mile and should the
top choice fluff his lines, he may be the one to pick up the pieces. SPEAK OF THE DEVIL is a filly taking on the males. She was an
impressive winner on debut over this distance at Deauville on this surface. She
too returns from a six month lay-off and if not in need of this outing, should
run into the money. Stephane Pasquier does duty once again and he will know how
to get best out of the daughter of Wootton Bassett.

Race 5 – PRIX DE FONTAINEBLEAU (Group 3)

The next Group 3 event on the day is for three-year-old colts over a
mile. VICTOR LUDORUM is the best bet on today’s programme. He is
unbeaten in three starts to date. The manner in which he won a Group 1 event
over this distance in October last year was impressive. He is having his first
run this year and may need this outing, but he has got tons of class and should
be good enough to keep his unbeaten record intact. Regular pilot Mickael
Barzalona does duty once again for the top yard of Andre Fabre. ECRIVAIN finished 1.2 lengths behind the top selection in the race referred to
above. The pair meet on the same weight terms this afternoon and he may have to
settle for the same result. He jumps from a mid-field position and must be
included in all bets. KENWAY was in need of his seasonal debut over this
distance at Saint Cloud. He finished 7.3 lengths behind the top selection in
his penultimate start. He is 1kg worse off at the weights with his conqueror
today, but with fitness on his side, he should finish a lot closer. His last
victory came under today’s jockey Theo Bachelot.  

Race 6 – PRIX DE LA GROTTE
(Group 3)

This race is for the
three-year-old fillies over a mile. TROPBEAU
was not disgraced when finishing
third in the Group 1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes last time. She was an
impressive winner of a Group 2 and Group 3 event in her two starts prior to
that outing. She takes a step up to the mile for the first time and the manner
in which she races, suggests that she will enjoy the extra distance on offer.
Mickael Barzalona knows her well and the pair should get back to winning ways
today. DREAM AND DO is a winner of her last three starts, the
latest of which was a Group 3 event over seven furlongs. She returns from a six
month lay-off today and should return as a much stronger horse. The daughter of
Siyouni won her maiden over this distance and may be the one to pick up the
pieces should the top selection fluff her lines. KHAYZARAAN was an
impressive winner of her last two starts over this distance. The daughter of
Kingsman does take a step up in class this afternoon, but she is highly rated
by her conditioner Freddie Head and she looks to have plenty of class. From
barrier position five, she has every chance of notching up the hat-trick.   

Race 7 – PRIX D’HARCOURT (Group 2)

The main event on
the day is open to horses four years and older over a distance of ten furlongs.
We see the much-anticipated return of last year’s French Derby winner SOTTSASS. He was not disgraced when finishing third, 3.5
lengths behind the winner in the Group 1 L’Arc De Triomphe last year. He loves
racing on this course with record of one win and a third-place finish from
three outings. Regular pilot Cristian Demuro is in the saddle once again and
the pair may be too strong for the rest of this field. SOUDANIA is a filly taking on the males. She was not disgraced when finishing
fourth in the Group 2 Prix Du Conseil Du Paris last time. The run that catches
the eye is her penultimate start when winning a Group 3 event over this course
and distance by three lengths. Freddie Head is no stranger to bringing his
horses back to the course fit for their return. She receives her sex allowance
today and should be the one to throw out the biggest challenge to the top
selection. WAY TO PARIS was in need of his last start over this
distance at Saint Cloud. The seven-year-old gelding has won once and finished
second four times from ten outings on this course. He should come into this
race a much fitter horse and has a good chance of running into the money from
his positive barrier position.  

Race 8 – PRIX MAURICE ZILBER – FONDS
EUROPEEN DE L’ELEVAGE (Listed)

SPINNING MEMORIES is much better than her last start suggests.
She has raced twice on the all-weather surface and is yet to shape. The
daughter of Arcano is a much better horse on the turf having won four times and
finishing third once from eight starts. She has won three times and finished
third on one occasion from five attempts over this distance. Top jockey
Christophe Soumillon knows her well and the pair should get back to winning
ways. AIR DE VALSE finished 0.2 lengths in front of the top
selection in her last start, but she is 1.5kgs worse off at the weights today
and that should be enough for the tables to be turned. Plus, the former is a
much better horse on this surface. Thomas Trullier who was aboard her when she
on her penultimate start steps back into the saddle today and the pair cannot
be ignored. WASMYA did not shape in a Group 1 event in October
last year. She was however an impressive winner in her two starts prior to that
outing. The daughter of Toronado has won twice from three outings over this
distance. If not in need of the run, she should be right there in the run down
to the wire. 

Race 9 – PRIX DU PAVILLON DES ANGLAIS

This a weak Class 3
Handicap and caution is advised. The narrow first choice is BARSHAM who is the only ride on the day for jockey Marc Nobili. He is slowly
returning to his best form and the two-month break may have done him the world
of good. He ran a creditable fourth in his last start over this distance at
Compiegne. Nobili has struck up a good partnership with the son of Olympic
Glory and the pair merit healthy respect. LOONA SPIGAO is a filly
taking on the males and she is the only ride on the day for jockey Stephane
Breux. She got back to winning ways in her last start over this distance at
Compiegne. She makes her course debut this afternoon and if suited to the
track, she should be the one to throw out the biggest challenge to the top
selection. NEELAKURINJI is much better than her last two starts on
the all-weather surface suggests. She tries the ten furlongs for the first time
today, which may be what the daughter of Rio De La Plata is looking for. She
gets the services of a 3kg claiming apprentice which should help her chances.  

Race 10 – PRIX DU TOTALISATEUR AUTOMATIQUE

Another weak Class 3
Handicap closes off the meeting. The tentative first selection is MISTER MARIO. His last start can be completely ignored as
the jockey was dislodged that day. He produced two decent efforts prior to that
outing and it is encouraging that Mickael Barzalona retains the ride. He jumps
from a handy barrier position and with a bit of luck in running, he may be the
one to beat in this type of field.
ANDREA DORIA has not finished too
far off the winner in her last two starts. The going is predicted to be good to
soft and it must be noted that her best form has come in that type of going.
From her good draw of four and with Theo Bachelot in the saddle, she may be the
one to side with in this type of field. RUUDJE is much better than
his recent form suggests. It must be noted that he finished third in his only
start on this course. If finding the form of that race, he should be right
there in the run down to the finishing post.