The Lowdown: Qatar Prix du Jockey Club

by Emma Berry & Heather Anderson

Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club is an enticing affair, with Group 1 winner Sunway appearing poised to return to his best form. There are several intriguing new shooters, including listed winner Fast Tracker, who will be making his debut in the Wathnan Racing colours. British raider and group winner Ghostwriter, who ran fourth in the 2000 Guineas, will be plying his trade in France for the first time. All in all, most of the field is in with a chance, with the potential wet weather definitely set to play a part.

WAHDAN (IRE)
Siyouni (Fr)–Lamorlaye (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire})
Sales info: Offered by Haras de Castillon, this Khalifa al Attiyah-bred colt was a 140,000gns buy-back at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1.
Pedigree/form notes: The sixth foal of his winning dam, Wahdan is a half-brother to the G3 Prix Imprudence third Talbah (GB) (Style Vendome {Fr}) and German listed winner Wasmya (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}). His granddam, Love To Dance (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), was third in the G2 Blandford S., and she, in turn, is a half-sister to six-time Group 1 winner and sire Dylan Thomas (Ire) (Danehill), who won the Irish Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe among other top-notch races. He is also related to the Classic winners Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Remember When (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Never worse than third in three starts, this winner was fourth to the re-opposing Fast Tracker (GB) (Churchill {Ire}) and Dollar Index (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) in the Listed Prix de Suresnes over 2,000 metres in soft ground at Chantilly on May 2. Needs to find more to make an impact on Sunday.

RAMADAN (FR)
Le Havre (Ire)–Raushan (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire})
Pedigree/form notes: A homebred for Nurlan Bizakov's Sumbe operation, the half-brother to stakes winner and G3 Hopping S. second Rasima (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) won a soft-ground maiden at Chantilly and then ran fourth in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud at Saint-Cloud to end his juvenile year. Kin to G1 Pretty Polly S. heroine Chinese White (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}), the sixth foal out of Raushan thumped the Listed Prix Omnium II field by five lengths this spring and added the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau next out in April before a solid fifth in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains this month. Ramadan should love the ground regardless of how much rain falls at Chantilly. A live chance.

GRECIAN STORM (GB)
Churchill (Ire)–Dalila (Ger) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire})
Pedigree/form notes: By the sire of 2022 Jockey Club winner Vadeni (Fr), Grecian Storm was bred by SCEA Marmion, Catherine Kairis and Nightchill, LLC. Already a winner of three races at two and three in ground ranging from good to soft to heavy, the son of Listed Premio Coolmore runner-up Dalila was third in the G3 Prix de Guiche. Kin to the three-time group-placed Drummer (Ger) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), Grecian Storm must find more, as the waters are deeper in this test.

FIRST LOOK (IRE)
Lope De Vega (Ire)–Bilissie (GB) (Dansili {GB})
Sales info: Part of breeder Haras de la Perelle's draft at the Arqana August Sale, he was purchased by BBA Ireland for €340,000.
Pedigree/form notes: A juvenile winner over the all-weather, First Look has shown marked improvement this year, with a third in the G3 Prix la Force in April before running second in the G3 Prix de Guiche on May 11. His dam won the Listed Prix Charles Laffitte, and he is her fourth foal and second winner. Second dam Balladeuse (Fr) (Singspiel {Ire}), who won the G2 Prix de Royallieu and is a half-sister to G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Plumania (GB) (Anabaa), produced G1 Prix Vermeille heroine Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) among other talented runners. No issues with soft ground, and could surprise at a price.

DOLLAR INDEX (FR)
Kendargent (Fr)–Kikinda (Fr) (Daliapour {Ire})
Sales info: A shrewd €36,000 buy by Chauvigny Global Equine from the Haras du Petit Tellier consignment at the Arqana October Yearling Sale.
Pedigree/form notes: Bred by Patrick Chedeville, Dollar Index sports a pair of wins over the all-weather (at two) and turf in heavy ground on April Fools' Day. He was a distant second to seven-length Listed Prix de Suresnes winner Fast Tracker on May 2. Not yet the most talented offspring of his winning dam, the 11th foal of Kikinda is a half-brother to listed winner High Alpha (Fr) (Fuisse {Fr}), who was second in the G3 Prix des Chenes, while Stillman (Fr) (Vespone {Ire}) placed five times in France a group level and was also third in the G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen (German 2000 Guineas). Well-related, but has more to find on his own merits.

MONDO MAN (GB)
Mondialiste (Ire)–Moghrama (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire})
Sales info: Sent through the Arqana ring for the May Breeze-Up Sale by the Bloodstock Connection, the Elwick Stud-bred caught the eye of trainer Pia Brandt for €30,000.
Pedigree/form notes: He found the Deauville all-weather to his taste when a four-length winner over 1,800 metres making his 3-year-old bow in February. Third in the Listed Prix Maurice Caillault at Chantilly in March, Mondo Man was second in the G3 Prix la Force at ParisLongchamp in heavy ground on Apr. 7. His dam is a half-sister to the group winners Mythical Magic (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Esentepe (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}). It remains to be seen whether the long break will have served him well.

SUNWAY (FR)
Galiway (GB)–Kensea (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr})
Sales info: This full-brother to G1 Gran Criterium/G1 Champion S. hero and Jockey Club second Sealiway (Fr) was retained at €300,000 at the Arqana August Yearling Sale by his breeder Guy Pariente.
Pedigree/form notes: Second in the G2 Champagne S. and a winner of the G1 Criterium International at two, this son of Listed Prix Herod heroine Kensea appeared to be lacking fitness when fifth in the G3 Prix la Force on Apr. 7. He showed plenty of progression to be only a neck behind Wootton Verni (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the G3 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud on May 6. Deservedly one of the favourites, especially as he has already shown he thrives on ground with plenty of cut.

LOOK DE VEGA (FR)
Lope De Vega (Ire)–Lucelle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire})
Sales info: Haras de la Morsangliere bought out breeding partner Ecurie des Charmes for €180,000 when the colt was offered at the Arqana August Yearling Sale.
Pedigree/form notes: From the further family of the 2007 winner of this race, Lawman (Fr), Look De Vega is out of the treble winner Lucelle, a half-sister to G2 Lancashire Oaks winner The Black Princess (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}). All four of the mare's foals are now winners, and he is unbeaten in his two starts for Carlos and Yann Lerner. He made his debut over 1,800m at Fontainebleau last November before winning easily over 2,000m at Longchamp in early May. Takes a big step up here but is clearly progressive.

ALCANTOR (FR)
New Bay (GB)–Bianca De Medici (GB) (Medicean {GB})
Sales info: Bred by SCEA du Grand Chene, he was a €180,000 Arqana foal, bought by Nick Bell on behalf of Baron Edouard de Rothschild's Haras de Meautry.
Pedigree/form notes: A close third in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, improving nicely on his sixth-place finish in the Craven S. at Newmarket. He was also runner-up in the G1 Criterium International at two. He is the sixth winner from as many runners out of his winning dam – a half-sister to the Hungarian champion Thunder Teddington (GB) (Halling) – with the others including the G2 Oppenheim-Union-Rennen victor Boscaccio (Ger) (Mount Nelson {GB}). The descendants of his third dam, Trevillari (Riverman) – a full-sister to the G1 Prix Saint-Alary victrix Treble – include the dual G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}, while his fourth dam Trevilla (Lyphard) is an unraced half-sister to the great Triptych (Riverman).

GHOSTWRITER (IRE)
Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Moorside (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB})
Sales info: Offered by his breeders Norelands Stud and the Irish National Stud as a foal at Tattersalls, he was bought by David Bowe on behalf of Jeff Smith's Littleton Stud for 100,000gns.
Pedigree/form notes: His Juddmonte-bred granddam Marching West (Gone West) is a sister to the 1993 2,000 Guineas winner Zafonic and also to Zamindar, who ran fifth to Entrepreneur in that same race four years later. Moorside, who was second in the Cheshire Oaks, was her sole black-type performer. Ghostwriter won all three starts last year, including the G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S., and took fourth in the 2,000 Guineas, in what is already starting to look like a strong edition of that Classic. The second and third – Rosallion (Ire) and Haatem (Ire) – went on to finish first and second in the Irish 2,000 Guineas last weekend. He should cope with this step up in distance.

DIEGO VELAZQUEZ (IRE)
Frankel (GB)–Sweepstake (Ire) (Acclamation {GB})
Sales info: Bred by Denis Brosnan's Epona Bloodstock, he sold to MV Magnier and White Birch Farm for 2.4 million gns at Tattersalls October Book 1.
Pedigree/form notes: Earned a 'TDN Rising Star' on debut at two before following up in the G2 Champions Juvenile S. Ran a solid fourth in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, only a length off the winner, and it would be no surprise to see him step forward again on only his second start this year.
He is a half-brother to the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) as well as Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who gained the sixth black-type victory of his career in this year's G3 Ormonde S. Their dam is a Listed winner out of the Suave Dancer mare Dust Flicker (GB), herself a full-sister to the G3 Prix de la Nonette victrix Dust Dancer (GB). Dust Dancer, in turn, is the granddam of the late sire and Group 1 winner Zoffany (Ire) (Dansili {GB}).

ARROW EAGLE (FR)
Gleneagles (Ire)–Absolutly Me (Fr) (Anabaa Blue {GB})
Pedigree/form notes: Owned and bred by Waltraut Spanner, this colt has plenty to live up to as a half-brother to last year's sensational winner Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}). He has made a similarly promising start to his career, winning twice at Cagnes-sur-Mer over the winter and more recently finishing second to fellow challenger Sosie in a conditions race at Longchamp.
Arrow Eagle will be bidding to become the fourth black-type performer for his dam, who was herself a winner over a mile as well as being Listed-placed.

FAST TRACKER (FR)
Churchill (Ire)–Emma Knows (Ire) (Anabaa)
Pedigree/form notes: Bred by Guy Heald, in whose colours he has run until his recent private sale to Wathnan Racing, Fast Tracker only made his debut in late January but has had plenty of seasoning since then and now has five starts under his belt. He has won his last three races, at Cagnes-sur-Mer, Chantilly and Longchamp, progressing from 1,500m to 2,000m, with his most recent win coming in the Listed Prix de Suresnes. That contest was won last year by Ace Impact en route to Classic glory.
His dam Emma Knows, also bred by Heald, is an unraced half-sister to the stakes-placed Leader Writer (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) and King Of Camelot (Fr) (Camelot {GB}), and she has also produced the Listed-placed My Scholar (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}).
Fast Tracker is proven on the type of ground he is likely to encounter on Sunday and looks to have a major chance.

ATLAST (FR)
Farhh (GB)–Pitamore (More Than Ready)
Pedigree/form notes: His dam won over 7.5f and is a half-sister to the prolific stayer Funny Kid (Lemon Drop Kid), whose eight wins include the Prix de Barbeville.
A strapping individual, Atlast was a winner at two on the Chantilly all-weather and bounced out at three with an impressive win in the G3 Prix La Force in heavy ground. Keenness perhaps got the better of him when fading to last of five in the G3 Prix de Guiche on his most recent start. If he settles he could be a leading player and he is one of two in the race for owner-breeders Wertheimer & Frere.

SOSIE (FR)
Sea The Stars (Ire)–Sosia (Ger) (Shamardal)
Pedigree/form notes: The second of the Wertheimer duo, Sosie got the better of Arrow Eagle on his most recent start at Longchamp over 2,150m. Last year he won on debut at Chantilly on September and returned to that track to take second in October's Listed Prix Isonomy behind War Chimes, who was third in the Oaks on Friday.
He is a half-brother to three black-type performers, including dual Listed winner Anasia (GB) (Intello {Ger}), out of a winner from one of the best families in Germany. Granddam Sahel (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) is a full-sister to three German Classic winners in Samum (Ger), Schiaparelli (Ger) and Salve Regina (Ger), making Sosie similarly bred to the Deutsches Derby winner Sea The Moon (Ger).