Changing Picture

Staged over a mile for the first time since 2001, Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp reverts to its prior guise as more of a test of stamina than speed as it was when it was known as the Grand Criterium. Unsurprisingly, this year's renewal has drawn its customary quota of British and Irish-trained challengers headed by the high-class middle-distance prospect Johannes Vermeer (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) from the seven-times winning Ballydoyle stable. That tally would have been eight had Michael Tabor's star Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) not been disqualified 12 months ago and the same owner's silks are sported by the Sept. 12 G3 Golden Fleece S. winner owned in partnership with Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier and Teo Ah Khing. With the form of that mile contest having been boosted last week by the win of the third Sanus Per Aquam (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and the fine effort of the runner-up True Solitaire (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) when filling the same spot in the G2 Beresford S., the bay will likely start favorite in a strong renewal. Johannes Vermeer's compatriot Herald the Dawn (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) followed success in the G2 Futurity S. over seven furlongs at The Curragh Aug. 23–where Shogun (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was back in third–with a second to Air Force Blue (War Front) in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. back over that track and trip Sept. 13 and his breeder and trainer Jim Bolger is looking forward to getting Godolphin's bay back on a faster surface than he encountered on both occasions. “Herald the Dawn didn't fancy the soft ground at the Curragh last time and has come out of his race in good form–I am very happy with him,” he said.

Amazingly, Andre Fabre has not won this since 1995 and relies on a dark one this time in the unbeaten Ultra (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}), another Godolphin representative who took his tally to a perfect two-for-two in a course-and-distance conditions event last time Sept. 9. The operation's Lisa-Jane Graffard commented, “Ultra has won his two starts in good style and has some strong form. He is quite unexposed compared to a few of his rivals, but he is a horse with a lot of class and should hopefully acquit himself well.” The Wertheimers' Attendu (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}) tries a mile after winning the seven-furlong G3 Prix la Rochelle here last time Sept. 6, with trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias in the dark as to how he will cope with the stamina demands. “He is improving with each race and in his work and won a very tactical race with a good turn-of-foot the other day, so we have to try,” he said. “Longchamp's mile is easy and I think he can stay–he has everything.”

Al Shaqab Racing are represented by the July 28 G2 Vintage S. scorer Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) and conditioner Hugo Palmer is hopeful he will be able to hold his own in this elite company. “He's a Paco Boy and he's out of a Galileo mare from the family of Montjeu, so he's only going to get better with time, in my eyes,” he explained. “He'd had four quick races and he'd just gone a little light, so I thought it was time to just back off him a little. I didn't want to run him in another Group 2 with a penalty and the owners sponsor this race, so it made sense to wait for this. We've had it marked down a long way out and I'm very happy with him.”