Three-year-olds in Longchamp on the test bench

Longchamp, Sunday, 17 April: Derby is the focus of today`s eight-race event in Paris-Longchamp.

The first Group 3 race is aimed at the mares. In the Prix de la Grotte (4th race/15.50/80,000 Euro/1600 m), Raclette (Olivier Peslier), unbeaten by Andre Fabre, is seen as the winner, but whether it will be enough against the three-time winner Mangoustine (Gerald Mosse) and Kosacea (Mickael Barzalona) remains to be seen. The latter two have already won at today`s level. Times Square (Maxime Guyon) caused a sensation here in the Prix Marcel Boussac (Group 1). As the longest outsider, she took the place of honour far ahead of Acer Alley (Christophe Soumillon), who before that pinned the Prix la Rochette (Group 2) to her banner.

The stallions are under order in the Prix de Fontainebleau (5th race/16.25 h/80,000 Euro/1600 m). Ancient Rome (Olivier Peslier) placed in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Group 1) and the Critérium International (Group 1) after his triumph in the Prix des Chênes (Group 3). Andre Fabre`s three-year-old has the class to beat them all, but the competition is lurking. Jean-Claude Rouget is bringing out the big guns. Welwal (Cristian Demuro), Hauran (Coralie Pacaut) and the list winner Vadeni (Christophe Soumillon) will not make it easy for the Fabre protégé. Making Moovies (Alexandre Gavilan) announced himself with a convincing success in Toulouse and should be just as sharp a blade as Mathletic (Mickael Barzalona), who still looked pale on his seasonal debut in the Prix Omnium II (Listed race) and for whom two victories from last year speak.

The Prix Noailles (6th race/17.00 h/80,000 Euro/2100 m) leads over the middle distance. Once again, the way to victory leads through Andre Fabre. He will saddle Junko (Maxime Guyon), who has been unbeaten twice on sand this year. He will be tested by Maximus (Olivier Peslier) and Cuncerto (Mickael Barzalona), who have also performed well this year. Garachico (Gerald Mosse) has already shown decent performances at the upper level and could thwart the reckoning of the Means. Master Gatsby (Ioritz Mendizabal) and Le Sicilien (Christophe Soumillon) are not without chances judging by their winning performances.