By Tom Frary
Twelve months ago, Cheveley Park Stud's Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was using Deauville's G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois as a springboard back to the big time having suffered a shock reversal in the G1 Falmouth S. This time around, the John and Thady Gosden-trained homebred is in Normandy attempting to make up for another defeat having been bogged down in Goodwood's unexpectedly tacky surface in the G1 Sussex S. As she had shown when disappointing in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on Champions Day, easy ground is not her thing and so the drying conditions ahead of Sunday offer a sense of relief to connections of the high-class filly.
“Goodwood was a sort of disappointment having been the target, but with the ground conditions she just didn't relish that at all,” the Stud's Chris Richardson said. “Frankie made his move to come to the rail and his injection of pick-up was short lived in those conditions. Conditions in France look to have dried up. I think John and Thady were happy with the fact Frankie was kind to her once her chance was gone at Goodwood. Of course there is always a slight concern, but we know she's talented, she's only had two races this year and they tell me she's in a good place. There should be plenty of pace and we will let the filly do the talking. She was kept in training to race on and that's where we are at this point.”
Inspiral was unable to get past Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot, but the times show that she had a stiff task attempting to come off that pace and Karl Burke's surprise winner has to do it all again with inevitable pace pressure from Yeguada Centurion SL's Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}). That G3 Prix de Guiche and G3 Prix la Force winner has no meaningful form at this mile trip, but he represents the red-hot G1 Prix du Jockey Club form and is a fascinating contender.
Hisaaki Saito's Good Guess (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) is two-for-two over this straight course this season, but at seven furlongs having mastered the G3 Prix Djebel and G1 Prix Jean Prat and has stamina to prove. He was sixth behind Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains over ParisLongchamp's round mile in May, but has developed markedly in the interim and is from a family of smart milers. Good Guess is joined by the fellow Fabrice Chappet-trained G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who is making a welcome return to action this term as he gears towards the middle-distance tests of late summer and the autumn.
Jaber Abdullah's Marhaba Ya Sanafi, who has subsequently finished six-lengths third in the Prix du Jockey Club, is one of two representatives for the owner alongside the G1 2000 Guineas and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas-placed Hi Royal (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) who is on a retrieval mission. His assistant racing manager Philip Robinson said of the pair, “This race brings out all the top horses, but our two are there and will have some kind of shout if at the top of their game. I think they will both run good races and won't be far away, but they are going to have to find a little bit better and improve a bit to win. Marhaba Ya Sanafi has got form over a mile, but I think the French Derby is his better form.”
A Renewed London In Berlin?
Sunday also sees the G1 Westminster 133rd Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten, with Godolphin's promoted G1 St Leger second New London (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) tackle the Haras de la Perelle and Stephane Wattel's four-times group winner Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) in the 12-furlong feature. Given a wind operation after his disappointing return third in the Listed Fred Archer S. at Newmarket at the start of July, New London needs to catch up now so deep into the season. “New London has definitely come forward since his first start of the year at Newmarket,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “We have been pleased with him going into this and he showed during his three-year-old campaign that he is a talented campaigner.” Last year's G1 Deutsches Derby and G1Grosser Dallmayr-Preis winner Sammarco (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Eckhard Sauren and Liberty Racing 2020's G2 Grosser Hansa-Preis winner Assistent (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) appear the pick of a smart home team in another intriguing top-level European encounter between the Arc underdogs.
Hot Action Continues At Deauville…
Sunday also sees the 10-furlong G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron, where Al Shaqab Racing and Ballylinch Stud's G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) bids to get her season started in earnest, while the juveniles get their chance in the G3 Circus Maximus Prix Francois Boutin over seven furlongs. Godolphin's Doncaster maiden winner Majestic One (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) adds spice from the Charlie Appleby stable successful twice in the last six years along with Qatar Racing Limited's six-furlong debut course scorer Evade (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) from the Andre Fabre stable. Tuesday's G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano will only serve to ramp up the excitement, as Gousserie Racing and Ecuries Serge Stempniak's G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) was among eight confirmations revealed on Saturday for the 10-furlong feature. Aidan O'Brien has declared the returning GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}).
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