Following Tuesday's Derby pointer at Leopardstown, there are more preps for the upcoming middle-distance Classics on Wednesday in France and Ireland, with Chantilly staging the G3 Prix de Guiche which is a key pointer to the July 5 G1 Prix du Jockey-Club. There are two from ParisLongchamp's May 14
G3 Prix la Force re-opposing in the third and fourth Chachnak (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) and 'TDN Rising Star' Another Sky (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) respectively and the form of that nine-furlong contest has already been boosted by the runner-up Ocean Atlantique (American Pharoah). The other trio are unexposed maiden winners, with Guy Pariente's Hurricane Cloud (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) having significant upside despite the subsequent mixed form messages from his debut win over a mile on soft ground at Saint-Cloud May 12.
Also over nine furlongs at Chantilly is the Listed Prix Finlande for potential G1 Prix de Diane prospects and His Highness The Aga Khan's unbeaten May 23 Salon-de-Provence winner Vadsena (Fr) (Makfi {GB}) is a fascinating contender for the Jean-Claude Rouget stable. Haras du Logis Saint Germain's authoritative Feb. 1 Cagnes-sur-Mer scorer Light Breeze (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) and Heike Bischoff-Lafrentz's May 11 Listed Prix Caravelle runner-up Moon a Lisa (Ger) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) are other unexposed types who hold entries in the July 5 Classic. The latter had the subsequent G3 Prix Cleopatre scorer Neige Blanche (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}) a length back in third at Toulouse and if that form is true she will pose a major threat. Also on the card is the 12-furlong G3 Prix de Royaumont for 3-year-old fillies, where Stella Thayer's Fontainebleau debut winner Control Tower (Fr) (Youmzain {Ire}) is tested by Nicolas Clement with a Diane entry still intact.
Fillies with Oaks aspirations are also set to be tested at Navan, where the 10-furlong Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil S. could again prove important as an Epsom pointer. Jessie Harrington is the first port of call when it comes to 3-year-old fillies and her two representatives Silence Please (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and One Voice (Ire) (Poet's Voice {GB}) command respect. The former, who runs for Gary Barber and Team Valor International, took her record to two-for-two when defying topweight in a seven-furlong nursery at Cork in September, while Craig Bernick's One Voice was impressive when breaking her maiden over seven furlongs at Leopardstown in July.
Runner-up to One Voice on that occasion was Newtown Anner Stud Farm's Auxilia (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) and she went on to score by five lengths at Naas in August and be third behind Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the Listed Staffordstown Stud S. over a mile at The Curragh in October. Her trainer Ger Lyons also saddles SBA Racing Limited's Yaxeni (Fr) (Maxios {GB}) who was successful on her sole start at Cork in August.
Older horses get their turn at both venues, with the Listed Prix de Montretout arguably the day's most intriguing race as it plays host to the returning Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). Off since finishing runner-up in the G1 Prix du Jockey-Club last June, Godolphin and Ballymore Thoroughbred's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero faces five useful rivals including Fair Salinia Limited's dual group 3-placed Queen (Fr) (Kingman {GB}).
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