Three of Godolphin's finest make up a stellar six-strong field for Sunday's G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, with the main focus on the operation's champion Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal). Back to a mile following his initial 3-year-old success in the seven-furlong G1 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville on July 12, last year's sensational G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. winner has yet to truly convince that he is as effective over this trip as he looked to be outstayed when third in the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on June 6 and second to Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot a fortnight later. Charlie Appleby said, “We were delighted to see Pinatubo get his head back in front in the Prix Jean Prat after gallant efforts in the 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace S. We purposely gave him a break after that run with the view of going for this race. His preparation has gone well and we are looking forward to stepping him back up to a mile. It's a very competitive race, but we are very confident that we have Pinatubo in great shape and he is going to run a big race. I think it will be tactical, but Pinatubo is blessed with the way he travels and his turn of foot. Hopefully, if we can get everything in the right order, he is going to be a big player.”
Also in the royal blue are the Andre Fabre-trained TDN Rising Stars Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and Victor Ludorum (Ire) (Shamardal), who are the two most recent winners of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and who both placed in their respective renewals of the G1 Prix du Jockey Club. While both have been tried over further, they have proven to be versatile with regards to trip and form a strong second line for the operation. Persian King was fourth when last year's Moulin winner Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was third behind Palace Pier in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on Aug. 16, with Romanised (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) back in fifth, but that was on deep ground which also played against Victor Ludorum as he was third in that track's G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano tackling 10 furlongs on Aug. 15. “The Prix Jacques le Marois was a race run under very particular circumstances and Persian King's performance reflected that,” Fabre commented. “The conditions are much more in his favour here. Victor Ludorum has come out of his last race in good form and we are looking forward to seeing him back over a mile.”
Robert Ng's Romanised went down narrowly to Circus Maximus in a battle royal 12 months ago and there was controversy that the stewards let the result stand. Romanised is a true class act when the ground is riding good or quicker as it is likely to be on Sunday and his Jacques le Marois effort can be forgiven with the surface sapping his class. Trainer Ken Condon is enjoying his best season and said, “We're very happy with the horse. He did his last piece of work on Tuesday morning and it went very smoothly. They tell me the ground will be good or even on the quick side, which will suit Romanised very well.”
Also from Ireland is Khalid Abdullah's June 12 G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Siskin (First Defence), who suffered a reversal for the first time when third behind Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and Circus Maximus in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood on July 29. “He was beaten by two better horses on the day at Goodwood, but it was a lovely run by the horse,” trainer Ger Lyons commented. “We were beaten by an exceptional miler in Mohaather and a rock-solid horse in Circus Maximus. I thought my horse ran a career-best and he was just found wanting against two stronger animals on the day. Physically he's definitely improved through the summer. He's not ground-dependent, but I know he likes faster ground–that's what he's most comfortable on.”
ParisLongchamp's card also features the G3 Prix la Rochette for 2-year-olds over seven furlongs and Appleby is represented by Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), the 4 1/2-length winner of York's Aug. 21 Convivial maiden over this trip. “Naval Crown won a strong maiden in good fashion and came out of the race well,” Appleby said. “He has come on with each run and this looks a nice race for him to step up to pattern company.” He meets Haras de la Gousserie and Guy Pariente's impressive Aug. 6 Listed Prix des Jouvenceaux et des Jouvencelles winner Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) and a promising Jean-Claude Rouget project in Jean-Louis Bouchard's June 30 Saint-Cloud winner Darkness (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}).
There are two 10-furlong contests on the card, with the G3 La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte for older horses featuring The Aga Khan's Aug. 23 G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet fourth Dariyma (Fr) (City Zip) and the G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange for the Classic generation seeing Team Valor International, Andre Brakha and Anant Singh's Hurricane Dream (Fr) (Hurricane Cat) bid to confirm the form of Deauville's Aug. 16 Listed Prix Nureyev with the runner-up Dawn Intello (Fr) (Intello {Ger}). Both took part in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on July 5, with Dawn Intello finishing fourth and Hurricane Dream ninth after contrasting trips throughout that 10 1/2-furlong Classic. Eighth was another Rouget runner in Ecurie Antonio Caro's Fantastic Spirit (Fr) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) and he has subsequently enjoyed a confidence-restoring handicap win on heavy ground at Deauville on Aug. 15.
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