Saturday's European action sees the flat season issue one of its final flourishes with a host of prestige races across Britain, France and Ireland concentrated mainly on the 2-year-olds. It is a shame that the international race-planners could not avoid a clash between the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy S., the latter of which re-adopts its old title before the Racing Post took up sponsorship in 1989.
As ever, Ballydoyle have enough quality middle-distance Classic prospects for 2019 to spread around and have live chances of pulling off a double. Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is the chosen one for Rosegreen at Doncaster and bids to bring up a ninth renewal for Aidan O'Brien, while Norway (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) leads the way at Saint-Cloud. Things have come up quickly for the former, with his impressive winning debut over seven furlongs at Naas Sept. 30 preceding a narrow reversal at the hands of 'TDN Rising Star' Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in Newmarket's G3 Autumn S. over this mile trip Oct. 13. “Magna Grecia is in good form. Obviously it's not long since he ran in Newmarket, but he seems to be in good form since,” Aidan O'Brien said.
Magna Grecia is met by 'TDN Rising Star' Turgenev (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), another industrious fast-learner whose sole defeat also came at the hands of a serious piece of kit in Royal Marine (Ire) (Raven's Pass) on debut at Doncaster Sept. 14. Ballydoyle have a line on him after he beat their Il Paradiso (Galileo {Ire}) in a mile Newmarket novice stakes Oct. 6, but Princess Haya of Jordan's bay has a resolute nature which will take him far in this renewal.
“He's a progressive horse. He is only a novice winner and he doesn't come with any group-race form, but he is a nice horse,” trainer John Gosden commented. “He has pleased us since winning at Newmarket and deserves to take his chance in a race of this nature.” Gosden also saddles Qatar Racing's authoritative Sept. 27 Newmarket maiden scorer Kick On (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) and he said of him, “He won well at Newmarket and I'm happy to let him run. He had a setback after his first run so he had a nice holiday. He has grown a lot and is a genuine galloping horse. The mile helped last time, as he has got a huge stride and covers a lot of ground.”
Norway, who appeared on the same card as Magna Grecia and was successful in his task in the 10-furlong Listed Zetland S., meets another numerically-poor representation of French juveniles during a season in which that has been the norm in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud. “Norway is in good form. He won nicely the last day in Newmarket and he's a horse that we think is progressing,” O'Brien said.
Godolphin put up the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Shoot For Gold (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who scored by seven lengths over a mile at Windsor Oct. 8 and the relative of Grand Couturier (GB) (Grand Lodge) is held in high esteem. “Shoot For Gold is a nice colt, who has improved with every start and won well at Windsor,” his handler commented. “He has shown some class in his work and we would prefer some ease in the ground, although good going will be fine for him. He is ready to go again and the step up to 10 furlongs should suit.”
France's most unexposed contender is the Wertheimers' Anecdotic (Anodin {Ire}), who beat a subsequent winner on debut over this trip at Compiegne Oct. 4.
Even Leopardstown gets in on the act, hosting a significant juvenile contest of its own over nine furlongs and therefore nestled between the mile of the Futurity and the 10 furlongs of the Criterium de Saint-Cloud. His Highness The Aga Khan's Masaff (Ire) (Raven's Pass) boasts the best form and possibly also the most potential, having chased home two smart peers in Madhmoon (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) and Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in the G2 Champions Juvenile S. at a mile here Sept. 15. Jockey Declan McDonogh commented, “I think it's a nice race for him. This will probably be his last run of the season, he's a nice colt and I'm looking forward to riding him.”
At Newbury, the G3 Horris Hill S. over seven furlongs sees Chairmanoftheboard (Ire) (Slade Power {Ire}) bid to back up the impression he created with an eight-length debut success over a furlong shorter at Goodwood Oct. 14, while Bernard Kantor's May 9 G3 Chester Vase and Sept. 22 G3 Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup winner Young Rascal (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) looks to offer further prognostication of what could come from him in 2019 in the G3 St Simon S. “He should give a good account of himself. He has got a penalty, but he should run well,” trainer William Haggas said. “I wanted to go for the Prix Chaudenay on Arc weekend, but the ground was too fast. He needs cut in the ground. He wasn't right after Epsom for a long time, so we have nursed him back and we don't want to put him on the back foot again. If I'm allowed to run him, I think next season he is absolutely tailor-made for the Yorkshire Cup.”
Godolphin's Wootton (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is back in the G3 Prix Perth, making up a trio in the royal blue as he seeks to end his campaign on a high. Considered a Classic winner waiting to happen after his return success in ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau Apr. 15, the Henri-Alex Pantall trainee needs a confidence boost after some reversals in better company. “Wootton is a colt with a lot of quality, but things just haven't gone his way this year,” Lisa-Jane Graffard commented. “It is hard to be confident, but he should have conditions to suit.”
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