LONGCHAMP

3:20 PRIX D'ISPAHAN (GROUP 1) (4YO+) (4yo+) 1m1f

SAGEBURG 9-2 ~ Failed to live up to the hype last season for Andre Fabre but made an encouraging debut for his new trainer behind Duke Of Marmalade in the Group 1 Prix Ganay. He definitely ran as if wanting further so the step down in trip is a big concern and enough to be put off his chances. He also looks short of the class of a proper Group 1 horse and he is likely to struggle in todays race.

BORIS DE DEAUVILLE 9-2 ~ All of the horses best form has come in soft ground so he really needs the rain to arrive before he can be seen to full effect. He is a well exposed 5yo now and he looks short of Group 1 class so is unlikely to be winning again until dropped down in class.

LOUP BRETON 9-2 ~ Closely matched with Boris De Deauville so another horse in the line up who looks out of his depth in this Group 1 event. He was comfortably beaten by Literato last season and no reason to think he can reverse the form.

LITERATO 9-2 ~ He had fine season last year and was only beaten on his reappearance and when finishing 2nd in the French ‘Derby’. He managed to rack up a hat trick of wins at the end of the season with the final victory coming in the Group 1 Champion Stakes. Not hard to find holes in that form though with several fancied horses either disliking the ground or having had enough for the season. Still he was soon snapped up by Godolphin and was sent to Dubai for the winter. On World Cup night he started favourite for the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free but finished well down the field after getting trapped out wide and taking a hold off the slow pace. Best to forgive him that poor effort and the yards runners are starting to come into form. However there is no guaranteed pace angle in the race and he looks likely to be seen to better effect over slightly further and off the back of a decent gallop. Still he is a genuine Group 1 horse so he has to be respected in todays race.

DARJINA 8-13 ~ Progressed last season into one of the Worlds best milers and her win in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin is without doubt outstanding form, in any company. In todays race a reproduction of that performance would she her win with consummate ease. She was last seen in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free and only failed to hold off the rallying Jay Peg. The 3rd Archipenko has franked the form by winning the Group 1 QE II Cup so the form is rock solid. Darjina saw out the extra furlong well enough so the trip shouldn’t be a concern and neither should the ground as long as it doesn’t turn out to be testing.

TURFROSE 8-13 ~ Group 1 winner in Italy before making the switch to the Andre Fabre yard over the winter. She made her seasonal reappearance Group 2 Prix du Muguet and ran an encouraging race behind Gris De Gris. She looks a progressive sort who should appreciate the extra furlong and she isn’t without a chance. However she would probably prefer testing ground and so in this company she might struggle to beat the principles.

CONCLUSION

With little pace in the race the speedy Darjina is likely to be at a significant advantage. She is a prominent runner so is likely to be in the right place to use her pace and she is clearly the class act in the field. If the rain stays away then she will be extremely hard to beat in her current form.

3pt WIN – DARJINA @ 6/5

RESULT

DARJINA 2nd = -3pts