 Expert - Bill Esdaile | |
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| Bill Esdaile has worked in racing journalism in the United Kingdom for over 20 years. He began his working career at the Sporting Life back in 1995, and has since worked for the Racing Post, The Sportsman, and is currently racing editor of London-based City AM. He is a keen form student, and will bring a unique insight into the major European races. | |
Expert Column for Prix Jean Prat Day (S4) (Bill Esdaile)
S4-1 2yo fillies unraced
MORENA QUEEN stands out in this 1,200m race for 2YO unraced fillies thanks to her impressive price tag. Sold as a yearling for €100,000, she recently changed hands again when she was sold for €400,000 at the Arqana Breeze up sale in May. A daughter of TOO DARN HOT out of a GALILEO mare, she is destined for a great future. She is trained by Fabrice Chappet, who unlike previous years hasn’t had any runners in the major events, but that could change with this promising filly.
COREY BEACH is a daughter of the very speedy BLUE POINT. On the maternal side, she comes from a family that has produced the likes of ROYAL EMPIRE and SCOTTISH. She too was bought for no less than €320,000 and is according to connections on the right path and ready to run. She is trained in Deauville by Yann Barberot and hence has the knowledge of the track and won’t have to endure any travel time.
Based on her pedigree, EPSON BLUE CEN should also be considered in this 1,200m race. By BLUE POINT out of EPSOM ICON, who is a daughter of SIXTIES ICON, she is the half-sister of MISSYOUNI who was placed in a Listed race. She already has an entry in the G1 Prix Morny at Deauville in August and while her trainer Maurizio Guarnieri hasn’t had much luck with the Yeguada Centurion owned horses, she will have the help of Christophe Soumillon in the saddle.
A trainer in form is Carlos Laffon-Parias, who saddles IRON BIRD. Owned and bred by the Wertheimer & Frere, IRON BIRD is a daughter of SHOWCASING and TEMPEL. Carlos Laffon-Parias, who will retire at the end of this season, is currently enjoying a good run and has already won a nice 2YO race with stable companion POLYVEGA, who runs in the same colours as IRON BIRD.
LARQANA does not run in the Wertheimer Brothers’ colours, but is from one of their families that has produced the likes of G1 winners or performers PLUMANIA, PLUMATIC and LEFT HAND. She was bought at the 2023 Arqana August sales by Jean-Claude Rouget for €320,000. A daughter of FRANKEL, she is also trained by Jean-Claude Rouget who has a satellite yard in Deauville and so she too, will benefit from already having experience of the track.
SELECTIONS: 6. MORENA QUEEN, 9. IRON BIRD, 1. COREY BEACH, 2. LARQANA & 11. EPSON BLUE CEN
1ST DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S4-1: Multiple – 6. MORENA QUEEN & 9. IRON BIRD
S4-2: Multiple – 7. TORPEN & 3. TUDO BEM
S4-2 Class 2 Handicap
TORPEN is the form horse in this 1,200m handicap at Deauville. Trained and owned by Robin Schoof, he won the Prix Hong Kong Jockey Club - Grand Handicap Des Sprinters over the same course and distance in August 2023. He gets on particularly well with young and upcoming jockey Hugo Besnier who steered him to victory in a handicap off the same mark last year in December. His last two runs at Saint-Cloud over 1,200m and ParisLongchamp over 1,300m suggest that he is still in good form. He likes good ground and will be a horse with a chance.
WHITE PLATIN must also be considered here even though he is far from consistent. He finished third to TORPEN in the 1,200m Prix Hong Kong Jockey Club - Grand Handicap Des Sprinters in 2023 and was again behind him when he finished fifth in the 1,300m in his last start where TORPEN came fourth. The gelding is trained by Corine Barande-Barbe at Chantilly and on a good day should find his place on the podium.
TUDO BEM has run in every type of race, from G1 races to handicaps to claiming races. And it was his start in a claiming race in April that saw him change stables from Mathieu Boutin to Nicolas Caullery. The Chantilly based trainer has enjoyed a lot of success with horses he has bought out of claimers, many of them returning to Group level. Whether he can do the same with the 8YO remains to be seen, but he did finish sixth in the G3 Prix de Saint-Georges over 1,000m in May. On this occasion he is dropped back in class and must have a great chance here.
ROCK BOY also has some black type to his name. As a 3YO he won the G3 Prix Djebel over 1,400m at Deauville before failing to make any kind of impact in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains over 1,600m. He then suffered several setbacks and was absent from the racecourse for a long time. Now 5YO, he has made his comeback and has already won a Class 3 race at Lyon Parilly over 1,350m in April. He is slowly climbing back up the ladder and should not be underestimated in this race.
PUREST TIME is also a horse that could do well here. At 3YO, he was a winner and placed in several Class 2 races. This season, he has run exclusively in handicaps without managing to get his head in front, but he remains in good form and should get another place here.
SELECTIONS: 7. TORPEN, 3. TUDO BEM, 2. ROCK BOY, 5. PUREST TIME & 12. WHITE PLATIN
2ND DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S4-2: Multiple – 7. TORPEN & 3. TUDO BEM
S4-3: Multiple – 6. DEVIL'S POINT & 7. HAVANA CIGAR
1ST DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S4-2:
Banker – 7. TORPEN
Selections – 3. TUDO BEM, 2. ROCK BOY, 5. PUREST TIME & 12. WHITE PLATIN
S4-3:
Banker – 6. DEVIL'S POINT
Selections – 7. HAVANA CIGAR, 4. KIKKULI, 10. ROMANTIC STYLE & 2. SAJIR
S4-3 Prix Jean Prat
The feature race of the day, the G1 Prix Jean Prat over 1,400m, looks a hot contest with some talented 3YOs lining up.
The first to mention is DEVIL’S POINT for David Menuisier, who looks to be going from strength-to-strength since his return in April. He is eyeing up his third consecutive win this season following an impressive showing in the G2 German 2000 Guineas over 1,600m where he just about managed the trip, winning by a neck. Granted, we’d need to see some improvement from his form over 1400m shown as a 2YO to beat the likes of joint-favourite KIKKULI, but he comes here in great heart.
Juddmonte-owned colt, KIKKULI, looks a nice type for this race and has the form to back it up. Last time out, he came second by a short head to winner HAATEM in the G3 Jersey Stakes over 1,400m at Royal Ascot and looked a smart contender with plenty of firepower still in the locker. Proven to be a performer on all ground over this trip, Harry Charlton’s charge could go close.
HAVANA CIGAR has been taken back to this 1,400m trip since his seasonal reappearance in April, which has seemed to suit. Losing out by a short neck on two occasions in the Listed Prix du Pont Neuf and the G3 Prix Paul de Moussac at ParisLongchamp, both over 1,400m, HAVANA CIGAR will be keen to do one better here.
ROMANTIC STYLE flies the flag for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby, claiming a bit of weight from her rivals. This filly was mightily impressive on her reappearance this year when beating Royal Ascot favourite RAMATUELLE in the G3 Prix Imprudence over 1,400m at this track. However, she fell short of VESPERTILIO and KATHMANDU last time out in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches over 1,600m. She clearly likes the shorter journey and all ground seems to come alike, so she could find the frame.
Our final selection is SAJIR who has been exposed to G1 company before in his 2YO campaign, but is yet to compete at the top level since returning to the track in April. Last time out, he came in third a couple of lengths short of HAVANA CIGAR in the G3 Prix Paul de Moussac and will be set on reversing that form with another go over this trip.
SELECTIONS: 6. DEVIL'S POINT, 7. HAVANA CIGAR, 4. KIKKULI, 10. ROMANTIC STYLE & 2. SAJIR
3RD DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S4-3: Multiple – 6. DEVIL'S POINT & 7. HAVANA CIGAR
S4-4: Multiple – 1. SEE YOU AROUND & 3. LES PAVOTS
S4-4 Prix Amandine
SEE YOU AROUND appears to hold strong claims of making a return to winning ways dropped down in grade in the Listed Prix Amandine over 1,400m at Deauville. The Philippe Sogorb-trained filly put in a good effort in defeat on her G1 debut at ParisLongchamp when finishing a close up fifth in last month’s G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches over 1,600m. That result appears the best piece of form on offer with no other horse in the race finishing as close in a G1 contest this year. The daughter of SIYOUNI will have to give weight away to most of her rivals for a Listed success over 1,400m Toulouse on her penultimate start, but a repeat of her last effort, back over a trip she won over last year, should be good enough.
LES PAVOTS is yet to reproduce the form from her 2YO campaign, however the drop back to 1,400m could help her bounce back to form. The Francis-Henri Graffard-trained filly appeared to fail to see out 1,600m in the G2 Prix de Sandringham on heavy ground at Chantilly on her most recent start. Having won last year’s G2 Prix du Calvados over track and trip, it would be no surprise should she finish much closer to the front provided conditions are not too quick.
HAVANA BALL appeared to appreciate stepping up to 1,400m when making her turf debut a winning one with a front running victory in a Listed event at Hannover last time out. The Archie Watson-trained daughter of HAVANA GREY battled on well to see out the extra distance and with ground conditions set to be similar to those in Germany, she could prove tough to crack if getting an easy lead.
The drop back to 1,400m looks to be a positive move for FAIR ANGELLICA, who failed to see out 1,600m in the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot. Although this will be her first appearance at Listed level, the Richard Hughes-trained filly had been very progressive prior to her latest defeat having won four out of her five starts, with three of those victories coming over 1,400m.
WILD GODDESS can be forgiven her last run after appearing not to handle the dirt in the 1,600m Cocoa Beach Stakes on her final start for Charlie Appleby at Meydan in January. Given a lengthy break following that run, the daughter of CAMELOT could leave that form behind on her first start for Henri-Alex Pantall having won twice over 1,400m last year on good ground at Newmarket.
SELECTIONS: 1. SEE YOU AROUND, 3. LES PAVOTS, 2. HAVANA BALL, 9. FAIR ANGELLICA & 5. WILD GODDESS
4TH DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S4-4: Multiple – 1. SEE YOU AROUND & 3. LES PAVOTS
S4-5: Multiple – 1. TRIBALIST & 9. SHARTASH
S4-5 Prix de Ris-Orangis
The Prix de Ris-Orangis is a G3 over the 1,200m trip at Deauville and features a mix of French and British runners.
Andre Fabre is one of the all-time great French trainers and saddles TRIBALIST here. This horse is a high-class operator, third in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains over 1,600m as a 3YO and a narrow second in G3 company over the same distance that year. Since then, his form has been reliable, and he’s improved again this season, landing a G3 and a G2 both over 1,600m. The drop to 1,200m will test his speed, but he has the ability to suggest he’s the one to beat.
SHARTASH has always been well-regarded in his career. When trained by Johnny Murtagh, he was smart enough to defeat future dual G1 winner BLACKBEARD in a G2 before finishing third in two G1 events. His form didn’t progress markedly as a 3YO, but since moving to Archie Watson as a 4YO, he has won twice, including in Listed company over 1,400m. He ran with credit when beaten just over five lengths in a 1,200m G1 at Royal Ascot and should be able to give TRIBALIST a run for his money.
The winner of this race last year, SPYCATCHER, looks to hold an obvious chance again. Karl Burke’s gelding has been a consistent operator throughout his career, winning or placing in 18 of his 27 career starts. One of those wins came in last year’s race after he had just run with credit in narrow defeat in the G3 Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle. He did so eight days ago this year and could hit the frame again at Deauville.
Beaten into second in the race last year was BATWAN, who reopposes with SPYCATCHER again. Now a 9YO, Nicolas Caullery’s gelding has found winning difficult in his career, only victorious 5 times out of 51. However, on his day and in his ideal conditions of good ground over 1,200m, which he should get here, he has every chance of placing again.
The unknown quantity in the race is ELECTRIC STORM. She has only raced four times in her career, winning three times, including over this 1,200m trip in Listed class last time out at Haydock. Her trainer, James Tate, is known for bringing his horses on slowly and she could be about to show a new level of form.
SELECTIONS: 1. TRIBALIST, 9. SHARTASH, 5. SPYCATCHER, 3. BATWAN & 11. ELECTRIC STORM
5TH DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S4-5: Multiple – 1. TRIBALIST & 9. SHARTASH
S4-6: Multiple – 1. EXCELLENT TRUTH & 14. LEFT SEA
2ND DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S4-5:
Banker – 1. TRIBALIST
Selections – 9. SHARTASH, 5. SPYCATCHER, 3. BATWAN & 11. ELECTRIC STORM
S4-6:
Banker – 1. EXCELLENT TRUTH
Selections – 14. LEFT SEA, 4. NAOMI LAPAGLIA, 13. ROSE PRICK & 2. TURN CARTWHEELS
TREBLE SELECTIONS (27 unit bets):
S4-5: Multiple – 1. TRIBALIST, 9. SHARTASH & 5. SPYCATCHER
S4-6: Multiple – 1. EXCELLENT TRUTH, 14. LEFT SEA & 4. NAOMI LAPAGLIA
S4-7: Multiple – 3. TIEGO THE FIRST, 5. MADERO & 4. GONDOLO
S4-6 Prix Goldikova
The Prix Goldikova is a Listed race for fillies aged four and over, run over the straight 1,600m at Deauville.
EXCELLENT TRUTH has won three of her nine starts to date and was a winner in G3 company last season when landing the Prix de Psyche over 2,000m at Deauville. She stayed on best to get the better of LEFT SEA that day and looked to appreciate the trip. Her return this season was by no means a bad effort, when running on well from the back of the field to finish fourth at ParisLongchamp over 1,600m off a slow gallop. That run should ensure she is ready to show her best now, and she should have every chance with Christophe Soumillon in the saddle once again.
LEFT SEA has been campaigned at a higher level since winning a Listed race over 2,000m at ParisLongchamp last summer. Carlos Laffon-Parias’ filly struggled on her first two starts of the season, over 2,000m at ParisLongchamp and 2,100m at Saint-Cloud, but showed a bit of her old spark when dropped back to 1,600m at Chantilly in the G3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil last time. She led the field that day and only weakened into fifth inside the final 200m, so it hinted that she may be ready to win once more. With this drop back in class, she looks a strong player.
British raider NAOMI LAPAGLIA was a winner on her debut at Kempton over 1,600m in 2022. She was highly tried last season, beginning her campaign in the G1 1000 Guineas over 1,600m, and running several good races after that. Her third in the Listed Prix Ceres over 1,400m at Fontainebleau on her last start looks decent form, and this daughter of AWTAAD should stay this 1,600m trip on the expected better ground. Ryan Moore is an eye-catching booking for the Richard Spencer yard.
ROSE PRICK is another British raider that has run some solid races in Listed class in recent times. Ed Walker’s filly finished a good third in Listed company at Kempton over 1,600m on her reappearance this season and that was followed by a second in a Class 2 handicap at Ascot over 1,600m. A repeat of those runs would see her go well again.
TURN CARTWHEELS was a winner at Listed level over 1,600m last season and on the back of a short break following running fifth at Toulouse in May, could be one to fill the frame.
SELECTIONS: 1. EXCELLENT TRUTH, 14. LEFT SEA, 4. NAOMI LAPAGLIA, 13. ROSE PRICK & 2. TURN CARTWHEELS
6TH DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S4-6: Multiple – 1. EXCELLENT TRUTH & 14. LEFT SEA
S4-7: Multiple – 3. TIEGO THE FIRST & 5. MADERO
S4-7 Prix Roland de Chambure
This 1,400m Listed race looks a good opportunity for TIEGO THE FIRST. He showed an excellent change of pace to grab top prospect GUN OF BRIXTON close home when making a winning debut over 1,200m at Saint-Cloud in May. It was slightly disappointing he couldn’t follow up over 1,200m at Chantilly two weeks ago but there were reasons for that defeat. The steady pace wasn’t to his liking in a race dominated by the early leaders, and he just couldn’t get to grips with the front pair when finishing in third place. He should enjoy stepping up in distance to 1,400m for the first time.
MADERO looked very inexperienced on his debut over 1,200m at Saint-Cloud, but he still managed to run out a comfortable winner. He was probably helped by being right up with the pace throughout that race, but he was very strong in the closing stages to see off GRISELDA. There’s little doubt he will love this extra 200m and he’s likely to have improved a lot for his debut victory.
GONDOLO might have been a little fortunate to make a winning debut over 1,400m at Saint-Cloud last month, as the runner-up, PARAMECIUM, got caught in all sorts of traffic problems. He would probably have won with a clear passage, but GONDOLO showed a good attitude in the closing stages to make a successful start to his career. There’s a lot of quality in his pedigree and he should sharpen up for the experience of his debut victory.
GRISELDA got up right on the line when successful at the second attempt over 1,200m at Saint-Cloud in May. She travelled well in last place and she had to wait for a clear run when slicing through the field down the finishing straight. The step up to 1400m should suit her.
FLY HALF was never really travelling well when finding the jump up to G3 level too much for him over 1,200m at Chantilly last month. He had earlier made a winning debut over 1,000m at the same track in May when he showed plenty of speed. The step up to 1,400m for the first time could help but others look more likely to handle the rise in class to Listed level.
SELECTIONS: 3. TIEGO THE FIRST, 5. MADERO, 4. GONDOLO, 6. GRISELDA & 1. FLY HALF
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