By Sean Cronin
A select field of nine will assemble for Sunday's G1 Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp, Europe's first Group 1 contest of the season, with G1 Deutsches Derby hero Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) among the likely protagonists.
Liberty Racing's 4-year-old added to his Classic score when annexing September's G2 Prix Niel at the Bois de Boulogne venue, but failed to make an impression and was down the field in the following month's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He returned for this campaign with a pipe-opening second in last month's Listed Preis von Dahlwitz at Hoppegarten, but his participation is not certain should track conditions deteriorate overnight. “Fanta is in a great mood and everything has gone according to plan so far,” trainer Sarah Steinberg told GaloppOnline. “We hope that the weather gods are kind to us and that the amount of rain will be small. He needs a good track to perform at his best, but soft is okay. Anything worse than soft wouldn't be good and, if it is worse than soft, we will make a decision on Sunday morning.”
Joseph O'Brien trainee Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), winner of 2022's G1 Vincent O'Brien National S., is on the comeback trail. He was out just twice last term, finishing second in both G3 International S. and G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano, with the latter a 3/4-of-a-length defeat by subsequent Arc hero Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}). “The dream is he is an Arc-type horse, but we'll take it race by race with him,” his trainer said. “The Ganay is a logical starting point for what we hope is a top-class middle-distance horse. We were proud of his run in the Guillaume d'Ornano. He showed a good turn of foot and came strong in the last 100 yards. That bodes well for what may come this season. He didn't have any significant setbacks [last year]. He had an infection leading up to the Irish 2000 Guineas and he was lame on the eve of the [Irish] Champion [S.]. It was a little frustrating, but his ownership group is patient and, hopefully, their patience will be rewarded.”
Another on the comeback trail is Amo Racing's Crypto Force (GB) (Time Test {GB}), who has been sighted just once since annexing 2022's G2 Beresford S. at the Curragh. Depth is provided by a home defence which includes G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Feed The Flame (GB) (Kingman {GB}), this month's G2 Prix d'Harcourt victor Zarakem (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) and the consistent multiple pattern-race winner Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}).
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